Hidalgo is on the Rio Grande south of McAllen in southern Hidalgo County at the junction of Texas 336 and U.S. 281. Members of José de Escandón's colony settled in the area as early as 1749. Over the years, the course of the Rio Grande forced residents to move the town's buildings inland. For half a century, 1852–1902, the city served as the county seat, before the county government was moved to Edinburg. The first international toll suspension bridge was constructed in 1926 to Mexico's border city Reynosa. Today, the Hidalgo-McAllen-Reynosa International Bridge is one of the major ports of entry in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, serving 11 million people within a 250-miles radius. Access to Reynosa, Mexico, is available via Texas 336.

The Valley's subtropical climate attracts outdoor enthusiasts year-round. Golfers can choose from the area's numerous courses. Nearby wildlife refuges host birders from throughout the world.