Reynosa

Reynosa is a major border city located in northern Mexico. It sits within the state of Tamaulipas. The city is positioned on the southern bank of the Rio Grande. It lies directly across the international border from Hidalgo, Texas.

This city is a central part of the Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan area. This metro area has a total population of 1,500,000 inhabitants. It is the third largest metropolitan area on the Mexico–U.S. border. It follows only the San Diego–Tijuana and El Paso–Juárez regions. Reynosa is also the largest and most populous city in Tamaulipas.

The climate in Reynosa is classified as semi-arid. This is known by the Köppen climate classification BSh. The environment features hot summers and short, mild winters. Summers are particularly hot from May until August. July typically has a high mean temperature. Winters are generally dry. While January is mild, temperatures can occasionally fall below freezing. Most of the annual precipitation occurs during the summer. The months of May and June are the wettest periods for the region.

The history of the area began with an exploratory expedition. In July 1686, Agustín Echeverz y Zuvízar camped in the area. Later, in December 1748, a large caravan left Querétaro. This group included 1,500 colonists and 755 soldiers. Captain Carlos Cantú founded the village on March 14, 1749. He acted on behalf of José de Escandón y Helguera. The original settlement was called Villa de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Reynosa. It was named after Reinosa, the birthplace of Viceroy Juan Francisco de Güemes y Horcasitas.

Natural disasters shaped the location of the city. The village experienced its first documented flood in August 1750. In September 1800, an immense flood occurred. The village was completely inundated by water. Villagers had to use canoes and rafts to reach the hills of El Morrillo. Because of these events, the village moved to its current location in 1802. A census at that time showed 1,631 inhabitants. Earlier, in 1757, inspectors had considered moving the village to Santa María de las Lajas. However, Escandón decided the river was no longer a flooding risk.

Conflict has also played a role in the city's history. In 1846, the American army invaded Reynosa during the Mexican-American War. Later, during the Mexican Revolution, General Lucio Blanco took the city. He led the constitutional army into Reynosa on May 10, 1910. The settlement eventually grew in status over time. It officially became a city on November 24, 1926.

Today, Reynosa is a significant economic and population center. As of 2025, the city has 691,557 residents. If you include the floating population, the total reaches approximately 1,000,000. The municipality covers 3,156.34 square kilometers. This area represents 3.7 per cent of the total Tamaulipas territory. The city is the 30th largest city in Mexico. Many satellite U.S. companies operate here. They take advantage of industry incentives and low labor rates. In 2011, it was the fastest growing city in Tamaulipas. It was also among the top five fastest growing cities in Mexico.

Transportation connects Reynosa to many other places. The General Lucio Blanco International Airport serves the city. Six different airlines operate flights from this airport. These flights travel to many important Mexican cities. Some airlines use large aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. The McAllen Miller International Airport in Texas is also nearby. This airport is served by airlines such as United, American, and Allegiant Air.

The city also features local landmarks like the Zaragoza public market.