Community Description
The location, the city and the people of La Joya, Texas.
Location
Nestled on gentle rolling hills between two lakes along western Hidalgo County sits the City of La Joya, Texas. La Joya is a land of transitions, where urban meets rural, the plains meet hills and the past meets the future. La Joya is bounded on the east by the historic community of Penitas (established in 1520); on the south by Texas Wildlife Management Areas, U.S. Fish & Wildlife property and the Rio Grande River; on the west by Sullivan City and the historic Los Ebanos Ferry; and on the north by thousands of acres of verdant farmlands. The recently completed $206 million U.S. Expressway 83 Relief Route connects the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro with Rio Grande City and Laredo along the United States-Mexico border.
Municipality
In 1926 residents of western Hidalgo County established the City of La Joya as a general-law municipal corporation and body politic. It became inactive during the Great Depression, then re-elected a City Commission in 1965.
In 2013 La Joya became a Home-Rule municipal corporation governed by a City Council composed of a Mayor and four Councilmembers, all elected at-large. The City has adopted a Council-Manager form of government and has earned a Council-Manager Recognition by the International City Management Association (ICMA).
People
With approximately 5,000 residents according to the U.S. Census, La Joya enjoys small town comforts with the convenience of nearby metro areas. But La Joya really is embodied in the heart of its youth, the spirit of its ancestors and the pride of a community.
Rugged individuals like Jose Matias Tijerina established a frontier community in Havana. Descendants of Nathaniel Jackson and Matilda Hicks were among founders of La Joya. Their family helped enslave people along the Valley’s underground railroad. Havana resident Patricio Perez joined the just cause of fighting for freedom and equality with the Union during the Civil War.
We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community.
– Cesar Chavez
Education has been central to La Joya, having one of the first schools in the region. Coyote pride on the gridiron is manifested through community activism for social justice. Leo J. Leo became a prominent civil rights activist during the 1960s before becoming Mayor. His son, Billy Leo also was active in state and national elections.
​
This is the legacy of a rural community in the life of its state and nation.
More Info...
-
La Joya City Limits and Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) Map