Laredo, Texas is a southern Texan city located on the Rio Grande, south-southwest of San Antonio. It was established in 1755 by Spanish settlers and has had seven flags flown over it since then. This diversity is perhaps why Laredo continues to attract people from various backgrounds. Currently, 94.1% of its population of 217,506 individuals are of Hispanic origin, with only 5% being white non-Hispanic and American Indians representing 0.6%. Two and a half percent belong to at least two races while 13.9% belong to other races (Laredo, Texas”). Due to its importance as a port of entry as well as a retail, industrial and tourist hub, Laredo’s population increased by 20% between the years 2000 and 2007 (“Laredo;” “Laredo, Texas”).
The city of Laredo has a railway bridge and four bridges connecting the United States and Mexico. It is a strategically important location with an international airport (Laredo”). The city has one police station and twelve fire stations to serve its residents (“City of Laredo Public Safety”). In 2006, there were 480 full-time police officers working in the city (“Laredo, Texas”). The number of officers per 1,000 residents in Laredo is 1.83, while the U.S. city average is 3 (“Laredo, Texas”). To date, there have been 13,752 violations of law in the city resulting in over seven thousand arrests with traffic violations exceeding 40,000 (“City of Laredo Public Safety”).
Laredo boasts three professional athletic teams: the Bucks, the Heat, and the Broncos. The city’s dry to mild climate year-round makes outdoor recreational activities popular among residents. Visitors can enjoy Lake Casa Blanca International State Park as well as over thirty other parks. Golf courses are also available in the city, along with museums, a planetarium that sees frequent visitors, and a public library. Laredo has various churches catering to different denominations such as Mormons and Lutherans. Additionally, there are five medical centers in the city including Laredo Medical Center and Doctor’s Hospital (Laredo”).
There are two school districts serving the community of Laredo, in addition to eight private schools. The city is also home to Laredo Community College, Texas A&M International University – a well-known institution that adds to the diversity of cultures in the area – and the University of Texas Health Science Center. Residents of Laredo can enjoy access to top-notch shopping centers. The majority of people living here work in either business or transportation and utilities industries. There are four banks located within the city that have their base in South Texas.
Furthermore, Laredo boasts a month-long Washington’s Birthday Celebration which attracts tourists from around the nation each year; as many as 400,000 people attend this event annually. The Jalapeno Festival is also part of this celebration and is known throughout America as one of the top ten festivals for eating. Additionally, Jamboozie – another popular festival – takes place during this time.
The city remains a bustling trade and tourist center throughout the year with nightlife venues and attractive places such as Rio Grande for visitors to explore (Laredo”).
Works Cited
- City of Laredo Public Safety.” Retrieved on December 6, 2008 from http://www.ci.laredo.tx.us/other/public_safety.html.
- “Laredo.” Answers. Retrieved on December 6, 2008 from http://www.answers.com/topic/laredo-texas.
- “Laredo, Texas.” City Data. Retrieved on December 6, 2008 from http://www.city-data.com/city/Laredo-Texas.html.
