Space Florida is the aerospace economic development agency of the State of Florida . Founded in 2006, it works with commercial space companies, other governmental agencies, and academic institutions to develop space-related infrastructure.
86-934: The agency was created by consolidating three existing state space entities into a single new organization via the Space Florida Act , enacted in May 2006 by the Florida Legislature . The predecessor entities were the Florida Space Authority, the Florida Space Research Institute and the Florida Aerospace Finance Corporation. In 2008, Aviation Week magazine reported that the U.S. Air Force committed to lease Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36 to Space Florida for future use by
172-521: A U.S. Army soldier during the Mexican–American War (1846–1848). As a county seat , the city and county governments are major employers. Other primary employers fall within the service, trade, and manufacturing industries, including a growing aerospace and space transportation sector. It operates international trading through the Port of Brownsville . The city experienced a population increase in
258-417: A commercial spaceport at Shiloh , in northern Brevard County , but those plans never came to fruition. Located immediately north of the U.S. Government 's Kennedy Space Center , the open access to the U.S. Air Force's Eastern Range over the open Atlantic Ocean to the east, and easy access to the range's tracking facilities made the location attractive on many margins. Among other potential users of
344-519: A humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa ). Winters are warm, and summers are hot and humid. Due to its location on the Gulf Coast about 2.49° north of the Tropic of Cancer , the climate closely borders a tropical savanna climate . Due to its proximity to the deserts of Chihuahua and Gulf Coastal Plains , Brownsville's geographic location lies near the boundary of a hot semi-arid climate . Snow
430-490: A 1,200-acre (1.9 sq mi) system of parkland and 32 mi (51 km) of bike lanes. The city also has three gymnasiums, two public pools, and 55 athletic fields. Brownsville's proximity to the coast has allowed the city to register several locations under the list of protected areas of the United States . Resaca de la Palma State Park is one of six nature preserves (and three state parks) that are part of
516-573: A 5.8% jobless rate the following year. Despite high unemployment rates, the urban area is also one of the fastest growing in the United States. Brownsville's economic activity is derived from the service and manufacturing industries. Government and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are both large contributors to the local economy. Other prominent industries in Brownsville include education and aerospace and space transportation. During
602-677: A 60-day Regular Legislative Session each year. Regular Legislative Sessions in odd-numbered years must begin on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March and on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in January of each even-numbered year. Before 1991, the Regular Legislative Session began in April. Senate Joint Resolution 380 (1989) proposed to the voters a Constitutional Amendment (approved November 1990) that shifted
688-540: A historic building named after Baldwin G. Stegman, one of the city's first streetcar line developers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selected Brownsville as one of six cities for their "Greening America's Communities" program. The agency worked on a revitalization project for Market Square, a building constructed in 1850. The city also received a $ 3.4 million grant from the Façade Improvement Program for this project. Brownsville
774-414: A murder rate of 1.4. Robbery crimes make up 25% of overall crime in the city, with a rate of 58.1 per 100,000 residents. In 2011, Brownsville became one of the first cities in the United States to require stores to charge a fee for single-use plastic shopping bags. The ordinance was enacted to reduce pollution and litter around the city. The city repealed the ordinance in 2018 after it was ruled illegal by
860-549: A rover mission to attempt to claim the prize. The Florida Space Authority was created as a Florida state government space agency by Florida's Governor and legislature in 1989. The Authority's mission (as authorized in Chapter 331, Part Two, Florida Statutes) was to retain, expand and diversify the state's space-related industry. Chapter 331 gives FSA governmental powers similar to those of other types of transportation authorities ( airport , seaport , etc.) to support and regulate
946-458: A significant degree of salinity in many places; other types of soils present around the city include Cameron clay and sporadic amounts of Laredo silt loam. Due to Brownsville's proximity to the coast, Lomalta clay is common around the swamp areas of the vicinity. Several parts of the city have a high risk of localized flooding because of flat topography, ubiquitous low- permeability clay soils, and inadequate infrastructure funding. According to
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#17327811440691032-566: A smuggling point for Confederate goods into Mexico. Most significantly, cotton was smuggled to European ships through the Mexican port of Bagdad to avoid Union blockades . The city was located at the end of the "Cotton Road", southwest of the Cotton Belt . In November 1863, Union troops landed at Port Isabel and marched towards Brownsville to take control of Fort Brown. In the ensuing Battle of Brownsville , Confederate forces abandoned
1118-558: A year typically. On December 25, 2004, Brownsville recorded its first instance of measurable snow in 109 years with 1.5 in (3.8 cm), and the first recorded White Christmas . Brownsville's lowest temperature on record occurred on February 13, 1899 , when the city reached 12 °F (−11 °C). Based on 30-year averages obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 's National Climatic Data Center weather records, 24/7 Wall St. ranked Brownsville
1204-476: Is the fourth-highest proportion of Hispanic Americans of any city in the United States outside of Puerto Rico . In 1781, Spanish government officials granted José Salvador de la Garza 59 leagues of land (408 sq mi). He used the land to construct a ranch several miles northwest of the area. During the early 1800s, Brownsville was known to residents as los tejidos (English: " pasturelands "). The area
1290-533: Is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Cameron County , located on the western Gulf Coast in South Texas , adjacent to the border with Matamoros, Tamaulipas , Mexico . The city covers 145.2 sq mi (376.066 km ), and had a population of 186,738 at the 2020 census . As of the 2020 U.S. Census , it is the 135th-largest city in the United States and 18th-largest in Texas. It
1376-650: Is a very rare event in Brownsville. Its wet season is concentrated during the late summer and early fall, peaking in September, when the threat from tropical cyclones is greatest. In most years, November through April is the dry season . As such, Brownsville receives modest annual rainfall, averaging about 26.78 in (680 mm) annually based on records between 1991 and 2020. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 62.9 °F (17.2 °C) in January to 87 °F (30.6 °C) in August. Heat waves during
1462-664: Is accepted by some historians as the last battle of the American Civil War. President Grant sent Union General Frederick Steele to Brownsville to patrol the United States–Mexico border after the Civil War to aid the Juaristas with military supplies. Texas, like other Southern states, passed a new constitution and Jim Crow laws that established racial segregation and disenfranchised African Americans at
1548-577: Is authorized by the Florida Constitution to create and amend the laws of the U.S. state of Florida , subject to the Governor's power to veto legislation. To do so, Legislators propose legislation in the forms of bills drafted by a nonpartisan, professional staff. Successful legislation must undergo Committee review, three readings on the floor of each house, with appropriate voting majorities, as required, and either be signed into law by
1634-527: Is expected to create 700 jobs and generate $ 3 million in private investments. Brownsville's economy is based mainly on its international trade with Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Due to Matamoros' maquiladora (English: textile factory) boom, Brownsville experienced growth in the air cargo industry during the late 1980s. It is home to one of the fastest-growing manufacturing sectors in
1720-720: Is home to the Sabal mexicana , the only species of palmetto palm native to Texas with a significant trunk ( Sabal minor , also native to Texas, is nearly trunkless). Though it used to cover a large portion of the land next to the Rio Grande, the city contains one of the last native stands of S. mexicana . Citharexylum berlandieri (Tamaulipan fiddlewood), Rivina humilis (pigeonberry), and Leucophyllum frutescens (Texas sage) are also native flora. Soils are mostly of clay to silty clay loam texture, moderately alkaline ( pH 8.2) to strongly alkaline (pH 8.5) and with
1806-469: Is intended to provide students and faculty access to radio frequency technologies used in spaceflight operations, and will include satellite and spacecraft tracking . SpaceX's presence caused the median price for a home to rise to $ 239,000 in April 2022, almost $ 100,000 more than three years earlier. BEDC purchased five lots in Boca Chica Village totaling 2.3 acres (0.93 ha) near
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#17327811440691892-730: Is located in Brownsville. It has a capacity of 10,000 and it opened in 1957. The stadium is used mostly for American football and soccer. FC Brownsville is a soccer team that formed in 2015 and joined the National Premier Soccer League in 2018. FC Brownsville currently uses the Brownsville Sports Park for Home matches. In 2023, FC Brownsville won the NPSL Lone Star Conference, defeating the Lubbock Matadors 1-0 in
1978-619: Is located in northwest Cameron County and measures 90,788-acre (36,741 ha). The refuge contains trails that are connected to the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail . The Boca Chica State Park and Brazos Island State Park are state parks that were transferred by separate lease agreements to the Lower Rio Grande Valley refuge center in 2007. They measure 10,680-acre (43.2 km ) and 217-acre (0.88 km ), respectively. Laguna Madre
2064-419: Is located on the eastern side of the county. It is a long, shallow, hypersaline lagoon , and is one of the most protected lagoon ecosystems in the United States. Brownsville has a council–manager government . The mayor and a six-member city commission are selected in nonpartisan elections. Four members are elected from geographic districts; the remaining two members are elected at-large. Since Brownsville
2150-705: Is native to the Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) bush, Opuntia engelmannii (prickly pear), and Yucca treculeana (yucca). The city encompasses two national wildlife refuges. Located in northeast Cameron County, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge protects several endangered species, including the Texas ocelot ( Leopardus pardalis albescens ), a rare wild cat , and the Aplomado falcon ( Falco femoralis ). The refuge measures 65,096-acre (263.43 km ). The Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge
2236-767: Is not to be considered an "agency," even though it receives funding directly from the state of Florida, according to its website. With the Space Florida Act, enacted in May 2006, the Florida Legislature consolidated FSA, the Florida Space Research Institute , and the Florida Aerospace Finance Corporation to create Space Florida. In 2012, Space Florida partnered with NanoRacks to host the Space Florida International Space Station (ISS) Research Competition. Participants competed to fly scientific research payloads in NanoLabs to
2322-545: Is one of the southernmost cities in the contiguous United States ; only a handful of municipalities in Florida 's Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties (plus Everglades City in Collier County ) are located farther south than Brownsville. The city has a total area of 84.867 sq mi (220 km ), of which 81.528 sq mi (211 km ) are land and 3.339 sq mi (9 km ) are water, according to
2408-466: Is part of the Matamoros–Brownsville metropolitan area . The city is known for its year-round subtropical climate, deep-water seaport , and Hispanic culture. The city was founded in 1848 by American entrepreneur Charles Stillman after he developed a successful river-boat company nearby. It was named for Fort Brown , itself named after Major Jacob Brown , who fought and died while serving as
2494-710: Is projected to employ 75–100 full-time workers in the early years with up to 150 full-time employees/contractors by 2019. Musk helped fund a revitalization of downtown Brownsville, with new restaurants and bars. As of October 2014 , the University of Texas at Brownsville and the Brownsville Economic Development Council (BEDC), in collaboration with SpaceX, are building radio-frequency (RF) technology facilities for STARGATE (Spacecraft Tracking and Astronomical Research into Gigahertz Astrophysical Transient Emission). The facility
2580-615: Is the county seat of Willacy County. The Brownsville-Harlingen-Raymondville combined statistical area is home to 445,309 people (2017 estimated), making it the 106th-largest combined statistical area in the United States. Based on the Uniform Crime Report conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2013, the Brownsville metropolitan area ranked last on its list of the "Most Dangerous Cities" in Texas, with "240 incidents of violent crime per 100,000 people" and
2666-456: The 2020 United States census , there were 186,738 people, 53,506 households, and 42,240 families residing in the city. The ancestry of Brownsville was 0.9% German , 0.6% English , 0.5 Irish , 0.4% French , 0.4% Italian , and 0.2% Dutch . The median age was 29.9 years old. A total of 12.0% of the population was 65 or older, with 7.1% between the ages of 65 and 74, 3.3% between the ages of 75 and 84, and 1.6% 85 or older. A total of 25.9% of
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2752-677: The American Civil War took place in the city, such as the Battle of Brownsville and the Battle of Palmito Ranch . The city was also involved in the Texas Revolution . Brownsville's idiosyncratic geographic location has made it a wildlife refuge center. Several state parks and historical sites are protected by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department . Brownsville has a predominantly Hispanic population, which at 93.9%
2838-588: The Athena III launch system, but that program had not moved forward as late as 2013. In 2010, Space Florida became a "Preferred Partner" of the Google Lunar X PRIZE (GXLP), and, as such, had offered an additional US$ 2 million bonus to teams that might have launched their Google Lunar X PRIZE-winning missions from the state of Florida. In the event, the GXLP expired in 2018 before any team had even launched
2924-642: The Florida Constitution , adopted in 1968, defines the role of the legislature and how it is to be constituted. The legislature is composed of 160 state legislators (120 in the House and 40 in the Senate). The primary purpose of the legislature is to enact new laws and amend or repeal existing laws. It meets in the Florida State Capitol building in Tallahassee . The Senate is the upper house of
3010-686: The Florida Constitution . The House of Representatives is headed by the speaker of the House , while the Senate is headed by the Senate president . The House speaker and Senate president control the assignment of committees and leadership positions, along with control of the agenda in their chambers. The two leaders, along with the governor of Florida , control most of the agenda of state business in Florida. Brownsville, Texas Brownsville ( / ˈ b r aʊ n z v ɪ l / BROWNZ -vil )
3096-621: The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway of Texas. The port has become an important economic hub for South Texas , where shipments arrive from other parts of the United States, Mexico, and other foreign countries. The port also participates in ship recycling ; it has five of the country's eight ship-recycling companies. It received a $ 1.8 million grant from the United States Department of Commerce to support business and infrastructure development. The grant
3182-543: The International Space Station . The experiments were then conducted on board the U.S. National Lab. Space Florida covered the costs of research payload transportation to the ISS for the eight winning applicants. The Space Florida ISS Research Competition is designed to inspire innovation and enable unique research opportunities and access for customers to the ISS. In the early 2010s, Space Florida proposed
3268-627: The Secure Fence Act of 2006 . The act administered the construction of a border fence extending from San Diego in California through the entry of the Port of Brownsville . In 2008, the United States Department of Homeland Security issued a proposal to add 70 mi (110 km) of border fence and reallocate portions of the University of Texas at Brownsville campus. The proposal would have transferred 180 acres (73 ha) of university land, including several historical monuments and
3354-767: The Supreme Court of Texas . Forbes identified Brownsville as one of 12 metropolitan areas in the United States with the cleanest air. In 2018, the Brownsville–Harlingen area was among the "Cleanest U.S. Cities for Ozone Air Pollution" in the American Lung Association 's "State of the Air" in 2018. Broadleaf evergreen plants, including palms , dominate Brownsville neighborhoods to a greater degree than other locations in Texas, including nearby cities such as Harlingen and McAllen . Brownsville
3440-532: The United States Geological Survey , Brownsville's soils are primarily alluvium and windblown deposits. The majority of the city's soil is made of floodplain deposits from the Rio Grande; it consists of clay, sand, silt, gravel, and organic matter. Windblown deposits are made up of "active dunes and dune complexes" that contain mostly clay and silt near the coastal region and combination of clay, sand, and silt inland. Brownsville has
3526-571: The World Birding Center . It is also the largest nature preserve of the park system, with approximately 1,200 acres (490 ha) of native semitropical brushland. The area was part of the Battle of Resaca de la Palma. The National Park Service lists the site of the Battle of Palo Alto as a National Historic Park . The agency purchased 300 acres (120 ha) of the site's land, with two-thirds belonging to private landowners. It
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3612-434: The census of 2010, 175,023 people, 49,871 households, and 41,047 families were residing in the city. The population density was 1,207.1 people/sq mi (466.0/km ). The 53,936 housing units averaged 372.0/sq mi (143.6/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 88% White, 0.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 9.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 93.2% of
3698-621: The siege of Fort Texas . Charles Stillman arrived in Matamoros in 1828 from Connecticut to help his father in the mercantile business. Brownsville became part of Texas after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. During that year, Stillman formed a partnership with Samuel Belden and Simon Mussina to form the Brownsville Town Company. They reportedly sold lots valued at $ 1,500. The city of Brownsville
3784-517: The 1970s revealed that the soldiers were not responsible for the attacks, and the Nixon Administration reversed all dishonorable discharges. Fort Brown was decommissioned after the end of World War II in 1945. In 1948, the city and college acquired the land. In the spring of 1991 a cluster of anencephaly cases made national headlines and prompted a public health investigation. A high anencephaly rate of 19.7 per 10,000 live births
3870-482: The Governor or enacted through a veto override approved by two-thirds of the membership of each legislative house. Its statutes, called "chapter laws" or generically as " slip laws " when printed separately, are compiled into the Laws of Florida and are called " session laws ". The Florida Statutes are the codified statutory laws of the state. In 2009, legislators filed 2,138 bills for consideration. On average,
3956-598: The House of Representatives are elected for terms of two years in each even-numbered year. In 1992 voters passed Amendment 9 to amend the State Constitution to limit federal and state officials to eight-year terms. In 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could not enact congressional term limits. Florida legislators must be at least twenty-one years old, an elector and resident of their district, and must have resided in Florida for at least two years before an election. The Florida Legislature meets in
4042-477: The Legislature has passed about 300 bills into law annually. In 2013, the legislature filed about 2000 bills. About 1000 of these are "member bills." The remainder are bills by committees responsible for certain functions, such as budget. In 2016, about 15% of the bills were passed. In 2017, 1,885 lobbyists registered to represent 3,724 entities. The Legislature also has the power to propose amendments to
4128-676: The SpaceX launch site and renamed it as the Stargate subdivision. The beach location will include a 12,000 sq ft (1,100 m ) tracking center. Stargate received several startup grants including US$ 1.2 million from the United States Economic Development Administration . According to the BEDC, the top employers in the city as of May 2015 were: Brownsville has 37 parks connected by
4214-487: The United States Census Bureau of 2017. The city is situated at the intersection of different climates (subtropical, Chihuahuan Desert , Gulf Coast plain, and Great Plains); this produces high bird migration rates. Its idiosyncratic network of resacas (English: oxbow lakes ), distributaries of the Rio Grande, provide habitat for numerous nesting/breeding birds of various types typically during
4300-478: The United States. Brownsville has been recognized as having one of the best pro-business climates in the United States, and the city has been ranked among the least expensive places to live in the country. President Barack Obama signed a bill in 2016 allowing for the deepening of the Brownsville Ship Channel from 42 ft (13 m) to 52 ft (16 m). The Sams Memorial Stadium
4386-577: The conferences' championship. Entrepreneur Elon Musk announced the construction of the SpaceX South Texas launch site (now Starbase), a spaceport for private spaceflight east of Brownsville on the Gulf Coast in 2014. The launch facility is estimated to produce US$ 85 million for the city of Brownsville and generate approximately US$ 51 million in annual salaries from the roughly 500 jobs to be created by 2024. The facility itself
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#17327811440694472-478: The early 1900s, when steel production flourished. Due to significant historical events, the city has multiple houses and battle sites listed under the National Register of Historic Places . The city played a primary role in the Mexican–American War with the siege of Fort Texas and the first engagements of the war: The Battle of Palo Alto and the Battle of Resaca de la Palma . Several key events of
4558-442: The facility as Fort Brown. An old cannon at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College marks the spot where Major Brown received his fatal wound. On July 13, 1859, Juan Cortina saw Brownsville city Marshal Robert Sheers arrest and beat an elderly man who had been a ranch hand at his mother's ranch. Cortina approached the marshal, questioning his motives, before shooting him twice after he refused to release
4644-562: The federal poverty line , including 48.4% of those under 18 and 31.5% of those 65 or over. Based on data collected from the United States Census Bureau 's American Community Survey, the Brownsville metropolitan area ranked as the second-poorest urban area in the country, behind the McAllen metropolitan area . In 2017, the city's unemployment rate was 6.2% with 18.1% adults holding a bachelor's degree . It reported
4730-422: The fifth-hottest city in America in 2016. Brownsville is the 18th-most populous city in Texas. It ranks as one of the top U.S. cities in terms of the percentage of Hispanic residents. According to the Pew Research Center , its metropolitan area holds the 26th-largest Hispanic population with roughly 373,000 (88.7%) sharing this distinction. Of that percentage, 96.7% are Mexican and 0.8% are Puerto Rican. As of
4816-487: The first battle of the war. The following day, Mexican troops had retreated. Taylor's troops charged up to them, resulting in the Battle of Resaca de la Palma , which took place within the present limits. When Taylor arrived at the besieged Fort Texas, he found that two soldiers, including the fort's commander, Major Jacob Brown, had died. Brown, who suffered an injury when a cannonball hit his leg, died three days after his injury on May 9. In his honor, General Taylor renamed
4902-399: The first decade of the 1900s, the city's population increased after a boom in the agriculture industry . Brownsville's subtropical climate has made it a commercial hub for the citrus industry. The Port of Brownsville produces significant revenue for the city of Brownsville. The port, located 2 mi (3.2 km) from the city, provides a link between the road networks of nearby Mexico and
4988-436: The fort, blowing it up with 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) of explosives. In 1864, Confederate forces commanded by Colonel John Salmon Ford reoccupied the town, and he became mayor of Brownsville. Robert E. Lee and his Confederate army surrendered to Union commander Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, signing a hand-written document at the Appomattox Court House , officially ending the American Civil War. Theodore Barrett
5074-419: The incident were sent to President James K. Polk, who announced, "American blood has been spilled upon the American territory." On May 13, the United States Congress declared war against Mexico. American General Zachary Taylor retreated from Fort Texas on May 1, 1846; Mexican General Mariano Arista began preparing artillery and troops from across the Rio Grande. On May 3, Arista and the Mexican Army began
5160-401: The land to the State of Florida for commercial development, NASA has agreed to let the Federal Aviation Administration lead an environmental impact study at the proposed site. SpaceX ended up selecting Brownsville, Texas to build its private spaceport . On May 2, 2013, the Volusia County Council voted 6-1 in favor of a commercial launch site at Shiloh. Though largely symbolic in nature,
5246-412: The largest juvenile immigration detention center in America, which is located within Brownsville's city limits. Downtown Brownsville has received several revitalization projects from the city government to increase tourism and safety. The Texas Historical Commission named Brownsville as part of its Main Street Program in 2016. Several historic buildings were restored, including the Stegman Building,
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#17327811440695332-421: The legislative elections in the Fall. Special Legislative Sessions may be called by the governor, by a joint proclamation of the Senate president and House speaker, or by a three-fifths vote of all Legislators. During any Special Session, the Legislature may only address legislative business that is within the purview of the purpose or purposes stated in the Special Session Proclamation. The Florida Legislature
5418-429: The man. The first shot reportedly missed Sheers, but the second struck his shoulder, causing him to fall to the ground. Cortina and the elderly man rode off on a horse. The following year, Cortina returned with troops, executing four Anglo men and simultaneously releasing several Mexican prisoners. He then issued a proclamation explaining his reasons for the attack. During the American Civil War , Brownsville served as
5504-412: The nation. 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 is $ 9,762. It is frequently cited as having the highest percentage of residents in the nation below the federal poverty level . About 31.6% of families and 35.7% of the population were below
5590-417: The night of August 13, one white bartender was killed, and a white police officer was wounded by rifle shots in the street. Townsfolk, including the mayor, accused the infantrymen of the murders. Without affording them a chance to defend themselves in a hearing, President Theodore Roosevelt dishonorably discharged the entire 167-member regiment due to their alleged " conspiracy of silence ". Investigations in
5676-437: The population were foreign born, with 35.7% of those being US citizens, and 64.3% of those were not US citizens. The median household income was $ 47,435, with families having $ 50,127, married couples having $ 59,604, and non-families had $ 18,322. A total of 22.0% of the population were in poverty, with 36.4% of people under 18, 21.2% of people between the ages of 18 and 64, and 28.2% of people 65 or older were in poverty. As of
5762-410: The population. Of the 38,174 households, 50.1% had children under 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 20.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 15.7% were not families. About 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size
5848-413: The rocket from Launch Complex 36 . Space Florida has partnered with NASA on the following facilities: Florida Legislature Minority Minority The Florida Legislature is the legislature of the U.S. state of Florida . It is organized as a bicameral body composed of an upper chamber , the Senate , and a lower chamber , the House of Representatives . Article III, Section 1 of
5934-460: The siege of Fort Texas, during the first active campaign in the Mexican–American War. This was counteracted by the United States 7th Infantry Regiment . Despite heavy strikes, Mexican General Pedro de Ampudia outlined a traditional siege to move forward. Taylor was notified of the incident and began moving towards Fort Texas. Mexican troops intercepted them near Palo Alto , about 5 mi (8.0 km) north of present-day Brownsville, resulting in
6020-419: The southern border, including Brownsville. On January 25, 2017, days after assuming office, Trump issued Executive Order 13767 , directing construction for a border wall. Brownsville was also the center of controversy surrounding the new administration's continuation of the Obama policy of housing children separate from adults (except mothers) who entered the country unlawfully. The issue surrounded Casa Padre ,
6106-452: The spaceport facility, SpaceX was reported to be considering Shiloh as one of several potential locations for building a commercial launch facility. Opponents of the proposed Shiloh launch location cite the potential for a negative impact on the natural environment because this area is home to several species listed as endangered or threatened. Even though the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA ) has yet to agree to turn over
6192-420: The spring and fall migrations. Brownsville's vegetation is classified as grassland . Brownsville is in one metropolitan statistical area as defined by the United States Census Bureau. The Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville combined statistical area consists of Cameron County and Willacy County . It includes the Brownsville metropolitan area and the micropolitan area of Raymondville. The city of Raymondville
6278-422: The starting date of Regular Legislative Session from April to February. Subsequently, Senate Joint Resolution 2606 (1994) proposed to the voters a Constitutional Amendment (approved November 1994) shifting the start date to March, where it remains. In recent years, the Legislature has opted to start in January to allow lawmakers to be home with their families during school spring breaks, and to give more time ahead of
6364-476: The state legislature. As of 2024, Republicans hold the majority in the Senate with 28 seats; Democrats are in the minority with 12 seats. The House of Representatives is the lower house of the state legislature. As of 2024, Republicans hold the majority in the House of Representatives with 85 seats, and Democrats hold 35 seats. All terms were truncated again in 2016, with all 40 Senate seats up for election, due to court-ordered redistricting. Members of
6450-518: The state's space transportation industry. It was empowered to own, operate, construct, finance, acquire, extend, equip and improve spaceport infrastructure . The Florida Space Authority served the state's Governor through the governor's Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development . Development of the space industry. Chapter 331 of the Florida Statutes specifically states that the FSA
6536-446: The summer have caused 141 days of high temperatures over 90 °F (32.2 °C) and fewer than five days of temperatures above 100 °F (37.8 °C). The city is located along the boundary of USDA hardiness zones 9b and 10a. The hottest temperature on record in Brownsville occurred on March 27, 1984, and August 28, 2023, when the city reached 106 °F (41 °C). On the other extreme, freezing temperatures occur once or twice
6622-514: The turn of the 20th century, generally by raising barriers to voter registration. While Hispanic residents were considered white under the terms of the United States annexation of Texas, legislatures found ways to suppress their participation in politics. On August 13 and 14, 1906, Brownsville was the site of the Brownsville affair . Racial tensions were increasing between white townsfolk and black infantrymen who were stationed at Fort Brown. On
6708-487: The university's golf course, to Mexico. The proposal was altered after Andrew Hanen , a federal district judge, rejected the department's idea. In 2016, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump proposed building a border wall along the United States-Mexico border. Trump's proposed wall, if passed, would consist of 2,000 mi (3,200 km) "of hardened concrete, and ... rebar, and steel" across
6794-458: The very large amount of unused military launch pads at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (south of Shiloh) to state land that might be used as a commercial spaceport. The efforts in late 2014 to find an alternative ultimately came to fruition in 2015 to open a Space Florida spaceport at a different location, with the September 2015 announcement that Blue Origin would manufacture their new orbital launch vehicle at Exploration Park , and launch
6880-561: The vote was considered by many to be a critical step toward any future development of the proposed Shiloh location. In July 2014, after difficulties gaining support from environmental groups and others, Space Florida began looking for alternatives to the Shiloh location that would facilitate commercial space launch pads on the Florida Space Coast . These include working with the U.S. Air Force to see about converting some of
6966-422: Was 3.62, and the average family size was 3.99. In the city, the age distribution was 34.6% under 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 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. Despite a fast-growing economy, Brownsville has one of the highest poverty rates in
7052-558: Was found and that neural tube defects in general, including spina bifida , and encephalocele had been occurring in Mexican American women undetected for years in the area. Subsequently, multiple risk factors were found foremost folic acid deficiency , and increasing dietary folate intake had a protective effect. Brownsville has received significant media attention surrounding immigration policies and border-wall funding costs. In 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law
7138-428: Was inhabited by a few settlers around 1836 when Texas declared its independence from Mexico. On February 4, 1846, President James K. Polk instructed American General Zachary Taylor and his troops, including 2nd LT. Ulysses S. Grant, to begin moving south towards Brownsville. Once Taylor arrived, he built Fort Texas . It was later renamed Fort Brown in honor of Major Jacob Brown, one of two soldiers who died during
7224-779: Was not decided until 1879, when the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Stillman. On April 25, 1846, Captain Seth B. Thornton received reports of Mexican troops crossing the Rio Grande. Thornton and 63 U.S. dragoons moved to Rancho de Carricitos and discovered several houses in the area. Mexican General Anastasio Torrejón crossed the Rio Grande the previous day. He commanded 1,600 cavalry and infantry troops to surround Thornton's troops in fractions. Due to heavy force from Torrejón's troops, Thornton's troops surrendered. Eleven American casualties were reported; 45 troops and Thornton were held as prisoners. Reports of
7310-441: Was ordered to move 500 62nd Regiment troops of colors towards Brazos Island. On May 11, Barrett's troops moved inland towards Brownsville and spotted Confederate soldiers. John Salmon Ford received news of this and prepared to attack. On May 15, 1865, 34 days after the signing of the surrender , the Battle of Palmito Ranch took place. Confederates killed or wounded around 30 opponents and captured more than 100 other troops. This
7396-444: Was originally established in late 1848 by Stillman, and was made the county seat of Cameron County on January 13, 1849. The state originally incorporated the city on January 24, 1850. This was repealed on April 1, 1852, because of a land-ownership dispute between Stillman and its former owners (including Juan Cortina , a Mexican rancher). The state reincorporated the city on February 7, 1853; this remains in effect. The issue of ownership
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