Biggest Cities in Texas Where Chicano Culture Thrives

Texas is a diverse place. Of the over 28.6 million residents of Texas, 11.2 million — or 39.4 percent — are Latino or Hispanic. To be more specific, the vast majority of them are Chicano. This unique subculture prospers in the Southwest, including in some of Texas’ largest cities.

Chicanos adopted the term during the 1960s and ’70s when social movements sought to celebrate Mexican heritage. Today, the pride is stronger than ever, while creating a Latino tradition that is neither fully Mexican nor American.

These are the biggest cities in Texas where you can experience Chicano culture, ranked by Latino/Hispanic population size.

Population: 29,307

Latino/Hispanic population: 28,455

Percent of Latino/Hispanic population: 97.1 percent

Bottom line: It may not have a Spanish name, but Eagle Pass still has a strong Chicano culture.

The border town has a majority Mexican-American population. It is directly connected to Mexico by not one, but two international bridges that have historically facilitated cultural and economic trade. 

It’s a bit hard to pinpoint exactly where you can find Chicano culture in Eagle Pass because the entire city is a center for this amazing heritage.

Note: All Texas city population figures are from the 2020 United States Census. Rankings are based on the percentage of Latino/Hispanic population for cities that have more than 25,000 people.

Population: 122,630

Latino/Hispanic population: 72,383

Percent of Latino/Hispanic population: 59.0 percent

Bottom line: While it’s closer to New Mexico than to Mexico, Odessa can’t deny the stronghold that Chicano culture has on it.

The city was one of the places where the 1972 protests known as the Chicano Students Walkouts occurred. Asking for the same resources as their white counterparts, these protests remain an important part of Odessa’s history.

The city also constantly has Mexican-American celebrations and a great Mexican food scene.

Population: 142,557

Latino/Hispanic population: 121,940

Percent of Latino/Hispanic population: 85.5 percent

Bottom line: More than 85 percent of people in McAllen are Hispanic or Latino. And over 115,000 of them are of Mexican descent. That’s because McAllen is also a border town with very close ties to our southern neighbor. 

You’ll hear Spanish as often (if not more often) as English here. Chinaco Spanglish is the city’s unofficial language.

Trade with Mexico is a daily part of life in McAllen. You can buy Mexican goods at the border, or you can cross the border for a day trip to Mexico.

Population: 326,332

Latino/Hispanic population: 208,167

Percent of Latino/Hispanic population: 63.8 percent

Bottom line: Tejano legend Selena spent a lot of her life in Corpus Christi, where more than half of the population is made up of U.S.-born Latinos. As in other places in Texas, most Latinos here are of Mexican descent — just over 192,000 out of 208,167, to be exact.

Check out events at the Instituto de Cultura Hispánica de Corpus Christi (Corpus Christi Institute for Hispanic Culture), whose official name is, yes, in Spanish. Or simply head out to a live music show. Chances are, you’ll get to hear Chicano music and experience the energy of the culture’s distinctive concerts.