User:Lukethelibrarian/Rio Grande Valley

The Lower Rio Grande Valley is a geographical and cultural region of southern Texas. "The Valley," as the area is commonly called by Texans, is generally comprised of the counties of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy. Thus the region extends from the mouth of the Rio Grande some 140 miles upriver to the Falcon Dam, and includes some 50 miles of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico.

History
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the areas on both sides of the Rio Grande were inhabited by hundreds of independent, nomadic hunter/gatherer groups. Although scholars on both sides of the river used the term Coahuiltecan to describe a common language and culture of these groups, others have called into question the notion that these many autonomous groups shared such universal characteristics.