Brownsville is the principal city of the Brownsville–Harlingen Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the larger Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville Combined Statistical Area.
As of the census of 2000, there were 139,722 people, 38,174 households, and 32,180 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,737.8 people per square mile (671.0/km²). There were 42,323 housing units at an average density of 526.4/sq mi (203.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 81.65% White, 0.41% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 14.66% from other races, and 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 91.28% of the population.
There were 38,174 households out of which 50.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 20.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.7% were non-families. 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.62 and the average family size was 3.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.6% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,468, and the median income for a family was $26,186. Males had a median income of $21,739 versus $17,116 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,762. About 32.4% of families and 36.0% of the population were below the poverty line, giving it the highest poverty rate of any city in the country, including 45.0% of those under age 18 and 31.0% of those age 65 or over.
In 2000, the median gross rent paid for housing in Brownsville was $405 per month. This was the lowest of any city in the United States with more than 100,000 people.
The Census Bureau ranks Brownsville as the most impoverished city in the nation, according to the bureau's 2006 American Community Survey. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 51.7% of the population has a high school diploma and 87.2% speak a language other than English at home.
According the Census.gov, twenty-five percent of the people living in Brownsville--Harlingen--San Benito, TX were foreign born. Seventy-five percent were native, including 84 percent who were born in their state of residence.
Among people at least five years old living in Brownsville--Harlingen--San Benito, TX, 87 percent spoke a language other than English at home. Of those speaking a language other than English at home, 98 percent spoke Spanish and 2 percent spoke some other language; 56 percent reported that they did not speak English "very well."
Established in mid-Brownsville in 1978, with expanding bus service to rapidly developing North Brownsville. The Brownsville Urban System (BUS) consists of 14 buses running 11 routes covering a large portion of Brownsville. [5]
Brownsville is served by the following U.S. Highways:
Brownsville has three international bridges:
Brownsville has its own city-owned airport, the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport. The airport is used for general aviation and is served by Continental Airlines (service to Houston-Intercontinental) and, beginning June 2009, American Airlines (service to Dallas-Fort Worth).