Rural living 11 miles from the city of Mission
Vast orchards once dominated Citrus City, a small border community of the Rio Grande Valley, one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. "When we first started our business, the area was nothing but citrus orchards for lemons, oranges and grapefruits," says Sara Wong, an owner of Northwest Puppies and a long-standing resident of Hidalgo County. "The valley is known for citrus, but over time, they started to develop, and the area started to populate." Citrus City is rural and filled with generational neighbors who take pride in their culture, self-sufficiency and blue-collar roots. The area is 11 miles from Mission and 20 miles from McAllen, with little except tight-knit neighbors, a few local businesses, schools and stretches of farmland.
Dinner close to home at Taqueria La Viga
Most businesses cluster around 7 Mile, comprising hardware stores, auto shops, hair salons and restaurants. Northwest Puppies is a family-owned pet groomer and dog hotel that has seen the area grow around it. "We have clients that have come here for years and years," Wong says. "When the clients' dogs see me, they run to me so fast, and they always say, 'My dog loves you more than me.'" Las Carretas is the local meat market with a casual sit-down area where diners can snack on taco and hamburguesa combo meals. Taqueria La Viga is a small lime green and yellow shack often filled with patrons parked outside for Mexican-style favorites. Raspas Lucas is also a tiny yellow spot with a drive-through for ice cream on the go. A few grocery items are convenient at Dollar General or any corner store around town. Junior's Supermarket is a 3-mile ride west when needing to restock the pantry. Jerry's Mini Flea Market is 2 miles south for antiques and second-hand wares, and 812 Market RGV is a larger flea market just 7 miles east, open on weekends. There are more recreation, retail, and dining options in La Joya, Mission, Palmhurst and McAllen, all within a 20-mile radius.
20 miles from the The McAllen Miller International Airport
Citrus City is just 25 miles from the international bridge that leads to Mexico. "We are more of a border city. We have this term called Winter Texans, which describes people from northern states like Oklahoma and Nebraska," Wong says. "They come here to live for a few months during the winter and contribute a lot to the economy." Citrus City's 7 Mile Line is the community's primary connector leading to Interstate 69E. Interstate 2 routes locals in and out of town, with an entry point 7 miles south. The McAllen Miller International Airport is 20 miles away, and the Mission Regional Medical Center is 14 miles away. The school districts and food manufacturing companies are among the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area's top employers.
Celebrating winter harvest at the Texas Citrus Fiesta
While there are few events in Citrus City, residents of the Rio Grande Valley anticipate the Texas Citrus Fiesta in Mission, 9 miles south. This celebration was established in 1932 and honors the region's deep roots in grapefruit and orange harvesting. The fiesta is held annually in December or January, featuring rides, food and local vendors.
STEM programs at Suarez-Lincoln High
The La Joya Independent School District serves the community, and the pipeline varies depending on the home location. Many students begin at Juan Seguin Elementary on Western Road, earning a C on Niche. Further southeast on North Bentsen Palm Drive is Juan De Dios Salinas Middle, rated C-minus. Juarez-Lincoln High is on West Mile 7 Road and is home to the T-Stem Academy, centered around project-based learning. Most of the high school's 2,000-plus students participate in at least one extracurricular activity, including Mariachi, Welding and E-Sports.
Quick day trip to Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park Farmland surrounds the small city, with wid
Farmland surrounds the small city, with wide-open fields stretching in each direction. Behind the community schools, there are sports fields and playgrounds for locals to take the kids. Katrina Park is 3 miles east, a simple setup with soccer fields and play structures. Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is just 11 miles south, with miles of trails where birdwatching is a staple to observe its 360 bird species.
Cottages surrounded by farmland in Citrus City
Surrounded by backcountry roads and rural farmland, Citrus City's houses rest on the community's eastern edge on both sides of the West 7 Mile Line. Homes sit behind wire fences, enclosing spacious grassy yards dotted with flouncy palms. Citrus City was founded in 1943 by Howard Moffitt, a builder known for his self-titled cottage architectural styles, a few of which remain around the city. Tile-topped Spanish Revival styles sit side-by-side with 500-square-foot ranch homes along Citrus City's timeworn streets. Prices can range from $85,000 for a cottage needing TLC to $225,000 for up to 6 bedrooms.
Photography Contributed By
Derrick Frohne
