Primera opens $10M municipal complex as population and development accelerate

When the city of Primera was founded, there were only 265 people living in the agricultural community along the Union Pacific railroad tracks — one of the first rail stops into the Rio Grande Valley.

Now, 71 years later, the city has grown to at least 5,400 residents in a community that sits in Cameron County, just west of Harlingen. 

The small city is growing through annexation. 

It now has an economic development corporation, an industrial park, new residential subdivisions, restaurants, and plans for a city-owned water treatment plant. It’s also developing its first 20-year master plan. 

Primera is leveraging grants from the Texas Water Development Board, the General Land Office, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to repair roadways and improve its water lift stations and sewer connections. 

“These grants represent millions of dollars in investment coming back to the people of Primera to improve infrastructure, strengthen public safety, and support the future growth of our city,” Primera Mayor Luis Casas said. 

On Friday, local leaders opened the doors to a new municipal complex, a $10 million investment that encompasses the city hall, police department, and municipal public works facilities. The building was constructed by Noble Texas Builders, of La Feria, and designed by GMS Architects, of Brownsville. 

“Just 12 months ago, we were sitting outside with over 100-degree weather, just thinking about the possibilities of what this building could be,” Rene Capistran, CEO of Noble Texas Builders, said. 

The 26,000-square-foot municipal complex is named after the late Sgt. Major Pat Patterson, the former mayor of Primera who died in 2023 at 74 years old.

The city’s first city hall, a small one-room home, is now a barber shop near the railroad tracks. 

By the next U.S. Census, Casas expects the new population estimates to better reflect the population. He believed it’s more than 6,000 residents. 

“We expect a lot of growth here in the next couple of years; we’re hoping the next Census shows an accurate portrayal of our growth,” he said. 

To meet demand for water, the city expects to build its own water treatment plant, which could provide at least 1.8 million gallons per month. Right now, the city has a contract with Harlingen Water Works and an interconnection with North Alamo Water Supply Corporation. 

Primera recently refused to pay Harlingen Water Works’ increased rates outside its regularly contracted rate. The city is looking forward to taking control of its own water treatment facility and is currently scouting the region for land. 

“We want to have those services ready in the next three to four years for our constituents,” Casas said.