Alton, Texas
Alton is a city in Hidalgo County in the Rio Grande Valley of far South Texas, lying just a few miles northwest of McAllen. The land is flat, low, and heavily farmed, part of the fertile delta country where citrus and vegetable agriculture has long anchored the local economy. Alton sits within the densely populated string of border communities that stretch along the lower Rio Grande.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 24,138
- Change from 2020 base
- +32.5%
- Land area
- 7.6 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- Hidalgo County
Place type, county footprint, and land area use the Census Bureau's January 1, 2025 geography. Population uses Vintage 2025 estimates through July 1, 2025; change compares that estimate with the April 1, 2020 estimates base. Geography file | Population file
Property here runs through the appraisal district and tax office for Hidalgo County. The homestead exemption, appraisal cap, protests, and any MUD, PID, or special districts all sit at the parcel level.
Official routes
Use the office for the parcel address; a mailing city is not always the governing city.
County context
What to know around Alton
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Alton.
County History
Hidalgo County Was Formed in 1852 and Named for a Mexican Hero
The county was established in 1852 and named for Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, who began Mexico's fight for independence from Spain.
Property Tax Basics
Two Separate Offices Handle Your Property Taxes
Hidalgo County has one office that values your property and a different office that collects the taxes, so you need to know which to contact.
Settlement History
Spanish Ranchers Settled This Area More Than 275 Years Ago
The lower Rio Grande Valley was settled by Spanish ranching families in 1749 under José de Escandón, making it one of the older continuously settled regions in Texas.
Nearby
Places near Alton
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Alton
Compare nearby places
Put Census population, land area, county footprints, and official office routes side by side.
Open comparison ->Estimate property tax
Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
Open estimator ->Look up another place
Every Texas town and all 254 counties.
Find a place ->