CQPolitics

Webb and Hidalgo counties on the Mexican border are the two major population centers in the 28th, a heavily Hispanic and Democratic-leaning district. One of five districts redrawn by a federal court in 2006, the 28th also stretches northward along Interstate 35 to absorb territory northeast of San Antonio.

Under the old 2004 map, Laredo and surrounding Webb County were split between the 23rd and 28th districts, but the 2006 map placed the county wholly within the 28th. About 30 percent of district residents live in Webb, where international trade is crucial for Laredo, the nation’s largest inland port of entry. Agriculture also is important to this area, with peanuts, cotton, sorghum, carrots and beef dominating the market.

Another 30 percent of the 28th’s population lives in Hidalgo County, a fast-growing area where the district takes in nearly half of McAllen and almost all of Mission. Like Webb, the 28th’s share of Hidalgo (shared with the 15th District) is overwhelmingly Hispanic. West of Hidalgo, Starr County is the nation’s most heavily Hispanic county (97.5 percent). At 77.5 percent, the 28th is the third-most heavily Hispanic district in the nation, just behind Texas’ 16th and 15th districts.

Hidalgo and Starr also are among the most economically depressed counties in the nation. In Starr, nearly half of all families live below the poverty line, and the 28th overall has a greater share of families below the poverty line than any other Texas district. But the economy is starting to show improvement as the number of small businesses rise.

Under its 2004 configuration, the 28th’s dominant population center was Bexar County in and around San Antonio. But the 2006 court map excised nearly all of Bexar from the 28th, save for an eastern sliver of the county that includes Randolph Air Force Base.

Major Industry

Agriculture, international trade, defense

Military Bases

Randolph Air Force Base, 4,178 military, 4,000 civilian (2006)

Cities

Laredo, 176,576; McAllen (pt.), 44,756; Mission (pt.), 42,721; Seguin, 22,011

Notable

The “streets of Laredo” inspired titles for a cowboy ballad and a novel.