The vast majority of flea markets in rural areas sell goods that are second-hand. Larger selections of newer but usually inexpensive items can be found at some of the larger or more urban flea markets. They have also sometimes been used as an outlet for bootleg movies or music, or counterfeit goods. The semi-spontaneous nature and vendor-oriented open-market layouts of flea markets usually differentiate them from thrift stores. Some flea markets will offer concerts and carnival-type events in order to attract shoppers.

Flea markets have analogous specialty counterparts in gun shows and hamfests, both of which offer both plenty of new merchandise as well as used goods for those into guns or ham radio. Like the general flea markets, both gun shows and hamfests do offer plenty of surplus goods.

Many television shows (starting in the late 1990s) focus on the appraisal of second-hand goods, often found at flea markets, that turn out to be worth far more than the buyer paid for them. In the United States, the most popular of these television shows is Antiques Roadshow.

The original flea market is likely to be the Marché aux puces of Saint-Ouen, Seine-Saint-Denis, in the northern suburbs of Paris, a large, long-established outdoor bazaar, one of four in Paris, that earned their name from the flea-infested clothing and rags sold there. From the late 17th century, the makeshift open-air market in the town of Saint-Ouen began as temporary stalls and benches among the fields and market gardens where ragpickers exchanged their findings for a small sum.

The other Paris Flea market is Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves; it keeps its original charm and originality. A veritable Ali-Baba cave, a large selection of goods awaits on the sidewalks of the avenues of Marc Sangnier and Georges Lafenestre in the fourteenth arrondissement.

In modern days, the largest "flea market" for antiques is still that at Saint-Ouen. In the United States, a popular monthly flea market is First Monday Trade Days held in Canton, Texas, east of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Donna, Texas

Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: McAllen, TX (13.3 miles , pop. 106,414).

Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Corpus Christi, TX (117.5 miles , pop. 277,454).

Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: San Antonio, TX (229.2 miles , pop. 1,144,646).

Nearest cities: Midway South, TX (2.2 miles ), Scissors, TX (2.3 miles ), Midway North, TX (2.5 miles ), Weslaco, TX (4.3 miles ), Villa Verde, TX (4.4 miles ), South Alamo, TX (4.5 miles ), Alamo, TX (4.8 miles ), Olivarez, TX (5.9 miles ).

Single-family new house construction building permits:

* 1996: 72 buildings, average cost: $20,900
* 1997: 71 buildings, average cost: $20,900
* 1998: 72 buildings, average cost: $20,900
* 1999: 47 buildings, average cost: $50,000
* 2000: 30 buildings, average cost: $53,000
* 2001: 38 buildings, average cost: $47,800
* 2002: 32 buildings, average cost: $62,200
* 2003: 35 buildings, average cost: $62,200
* 2004: 132 buildings, average cost: $48,000
* 2005: 226 buildings, average cost: $52,200

Donna-area historical tornado activity is significantly below Texas state average. It is 68% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 3/15/1983, a category 3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 20.4 miles away from the Donna city center injured 10 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.

On 5/12/1969, a category 3 tornado 25.6 miles away from the city center caused between $5000 and $50,000 in damages.

Donna topographic map
Hospitals/medical centers near Donna:

* KNAPP MEDICAL CENTER (about 5 miles; WESLACO, TX)
* MC ALLEN HEART HOSP (about 14 miles; MC ALLEN, TX)
* RIO GRANDE REGIONAL HOSPITAL (about 14 miles; MC ALLEN, TX)


Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Donna:

* MC ALLEN MILLER INTL (about 13 miles; MC ALLEN, TX; ID: MFE)
* VALLEY INTL (about 28 miles; HARLINGEN, TX; ID: HRL)
* BROWNSVILLE/SOUTH PADRE ISLAND INT'L (about 48 miles; BROWNSVILLE, TX; ID: BRO)

Other public-use airports nearest to Donna:

* MID VALLEY (about 6 miles; WESLACO, TX; ID: T65)
* EDINBURG INTL (about 19 miles; EDINBURG, TX; ID: 25R)
* PORT ISABEL-CAMERON COUNTY (about 50 miles; PORT ISABEL, TX; ID: PIL)
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Donna:

* SOUTH TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 14 miles; MCALLEN, TX; Full-time enrollment: 7,142)
* THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN (about 15 miles; EDINBURG, TX; FT enrollment: 9,651)
* TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE-HARLINGEN (about 26 miles; HARLINGEN, TX; FT enrollment: 2,167)
* THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT BROWNSVILLE (about 41 miles; BROWNSVILLE, TX; FT enrollment: 6,044)
* TEXAS SOUTHMOST COLLEGE (about 41 miles; BROWNSVILLE, TX; FT enrollment: 4,556)
* TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY-KINGSVILLE (about 92 miles; KINGSVILLE, TX; FT enrollment: 4,860)
* TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY-CORPUS CHRISTI (about 117 miles; Corpus Christi, TX; FT enrollment: 5,282)

Public high school in Donna:

* DONNA HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,710; Location: 116 N 10TH ST; Grades: 09 - 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Donna:

* VETERANS MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 1,339; Location: 116 N 10TH ST; Grades: 06 - 08)
* A P SOLIS MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 1,166; Location: 116 N 10TH ST; Grades: 06 - 08)
* W A TODD 9TH GRADE CAMPUS (Students: 801; Location: 116 N 10TH ST; Grades: 09 - 09)
* MARIA ALICIA P MUNOZ ELEMENTARY (Students: 778; Location: 116 N 10TH ST; Grades: PK - 05)
* PATRICIA S GARZA ELEMENTARY (Students: 729; Location: 116 N 10TH ST; Grades: PK - 05)
* CAPT D SALINAS II EL (Students: 696; Location: 116 N 10TH ST; Grades: PK - 05)
* DANIEL SINGLETERRY SR (Students: 660; Location: 116 N 10TH ST; Grades: PK - 05)
* LE NOIR ELEMENTARY (Students: 570; Location: 116 N 10TH ST; Grades: PK - 05)
* A M OCHOA EL (Students: 542; Location: 116 N 10TH ST; Grades: PK - 05)
* M RIVAS ELEMENTARY (Students: 507; Location: 116 N 10TH ST; Grades: PK - 05)

Library in Donna:

* DONNA PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $195,151; Location: 301 S MAIN ST; 40,101 books; 216 audio materials; 1,162 video materials; 30 serial subscriptions)

Donna map

Click to draw/clear city borders


Notable location: Donna Public Library (A). Display/hide its location on the map

Churches in Donna include: Principe de Paz Methodist Church (A), First Baptist Church (B), First Presbyterian Church (C), Second Donna Apostolic Church (D), Templo La Hermosa Congregational Holiness Church (E). Display/hide their locations on the map


Donna compared to Texas state average:

Donna, Texas environmental map by EPA

Map Legend
* Median house value below state average.
* Unemployed percentage above state average.
* Black race population percentage significantly below state average.
* Hispanic race population percentage significantly above state average.
* Median age significantly below state average.
* Foreign-born population percentage significantly above state average.
* Number of rooms per house below state average.
* House age significantly below state average.
* Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher below state average.


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Strongest AM radio stations in Donna:

* KUBR (1210 AM; 10 kW; SAN JUAN, TX; Owner: PAULINO BERNAL)
* KGBT (1530 AM; 50 kW; HARLINGEN, TX; Owner: TICHENOR LICENSE CORPORATION)
* KURV (710 AM; 10 kW; EDINBURG, TX; Owner: VOICE OF VALLEY AGRICULTURE, INC.)
* KVJY (840 AM; 5 kW; PHARR, TX; Owner: RADIO UNICA OF MCALLEN LICENSE CORP.)
* KRGE (1290 AM; 5 kW; WESLACO, TX; Owner: CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES OF THE VALLEY)
* KRIO (910 AM; 5 kW; MCALLEN, TX; Owner: RIO GRANDE BIBLE INSTITUTE, INC.)
* KQXX (1700 AM; 10 kW; BROWNSVILLE, TX; Owner: LA NUEVA KBOR, INC.)
* KBOR (1600 AM; 10 kW; BROWNSVILLE, TX; Owner: LA NUEVA KBOR, INC.)
* KCTA (1030 AM; 50 kW; CORPUS CHRISTI, TX; Owner: BROADCASTING CORPORATION OF THE SOUTHWEST)
* KIRT (1580 AM; 1 kW; MISSION, TX; Owner: BRAVO BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.)
* KKYX (680 AM; 50 kW; SAN ANTONIO, TX; Owner: CXR HOLDINGS, INC.)
* KTKR (760 AM; 50 kW; SAN ANTONIO, TX; Owner: CCB TEXAS LICENSES, L.P.)
* KSOX (1240 AM; 1 kW; RAYMONDVILLE, TX; Owner: VOICE OF VALLEY AGRICULTURE, INC.)


Strongest FM radio stations in Donna:

* KJAV (104.9 FM; ALAMO, TX; Owner: PAULINO BERNAL)
* KVLY (107.9 FM; EDINBURG, TX; Owner: ENTRAVISION HOLDINGS, L.L.C.)
* KTEX (100.3 FM; BROWNSVILLE, TX; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)
* KBFM (104.1 FM; EDINBURG, TX; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)
* KVMV (96.9 FM; MCALLEN, TX; Owner: WORLD RADIO NETWORK, INC.)
* KFRQ (94.5 FM; HARLINGEN, TX; Owner: ENTRAVISION HOLDINGS, L.L.C.)
* KGBT-FM (98.5 FM; MCALLEN, TX; Owner: TICHENOR LICENSE CORPORATION ("TLC"))
* KBTQ (96.1 FM; HARLINGEN, TX; Owner: TICHENOR LICENSE CORPORATION ("TLC"))
* KKPS (99.5 FM; BROWNSVILLE, TX; Owner: ENTRAVISION HOLDINGS, L.L.C.)
* KMAZ (106.3 FM; MERCEDES, TX; Owner: LA NUEVA KBOR, INC.)
* KOIR (88.5 FM; EDINBURG, TX; Owner: RIO GRANDE BIBLE INSTITUTE, INC.)
* KILM (102.1 FM; RAYMONDVILLE, TX; Owner: BMP 102.1 FM, LP)
* KQXX-FM (105.5 FM; MISSION, TX; Owner: LA NUEVA KBOR, INC.)


TV broadcast stations around Donna:

* KTLM (Channel 40; RIO GRANDE CITY, TX; Owner: SUNBELT MULTIMEDIA CO.)
* KNVO (Channel 48; Mc ALLEN, TX; Owner: ENTRAVISION HOLDINGS, LLC)
* KRGV-TV (Channel 5; WESLACO, TX; Owner: MOBILE VIDEO TAPES, INC.)
* KVEO (Channel 23; BROWNSVILLE, TX; Owner: COMCORP OF TEXAS LICENSE CORP.)
* KGBT-TV (Channel 4; HARLINGEN, TX; Owner: LIBCO, INC.)
* KMBH (Channel 60; HARLINGEN, TX; Owner: RGV EDUCATIONAL BROADCASTING, INC.)
* KLUJ (Channel 44; HARLINGEN, TX; Owner: COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION)
* KSFE-LP (Channel 67; McALLEN, TX; Owner: ORTIZ BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
* KLIA-LP (Channel 32; McALLEN, TX; Owner: ORTIZ BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
* KFTN-LP (Channel 30; La FERIA, TX; Owner: ORTIZ BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
* K57FE (Channel 57; MCALLEN, TX; Owner: CHANNEL 57, INC.)
* KZMC-LP (Channel 35; McALLEN, TX; Owner: ZAVALETTA BROADCASTING OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, LLC)
* KSTI-LP (Channel 69; McALLEN, TX; Owner: FAITH PLEASES GOD CHURCH CORPORATION)
* KJST-LP (Channel 28; McALLEN, TX; Owner: FAITH PLEASES GOD CHURCH CORPORATION)
* KTIZ-LP (Channel 52; HARLINGEN, TX; Owner: ORTIZ BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

The City Manager is appointed by the City Council  and is the Chief Administrative Officer of the City. The City Manager coordinates the implementation of City Council policy decisions and the initiation of all intergovernmental operations of the City. The City Manager is responsible for directing the various departments and providing guidance in directing, supervising coordinating and planning government services and operations.

The City Manager represents the City with other governmental agencies, presents an annual budget to the City Council, and coordinates a variety of public information resources for internal and public distribution. The City Manager is responsible for long-range planning and the development of recommendations to the City Council on a variety of public policy issues.

OUR ROOTS

LOCATION

DONNA, TEXAS. Donna is off U.S. Highway 83 and State Spur 374, fourteen miles northeast of McAllen in southeastern Hidalgo County. It is in territory that was granted to Lino Cabazos as part of the La Blanca land grant on May 19, 1834, by the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The Cabazos family inhabited the area for at least twenty years after taking possession of the land, and their descendants continued to live in the area into the twentieth century. The first known Anglo-American settler was John F. Webber,qv who, accompanied by his wife Sylvia (Hector), a former slave, settled in the area in 1839. The Webbers moved to the area in order to escape persecution for their interracial marriage.

FOUNDERS

Several families from northern states, including the Ruthven, Champion, and Hooks families, settled the area. Thomas Jefferson Hooks arrived in the Lower Rio Grande valley in 1900 and the following year moved his family to Run in southeastern Hidalgo County. In May 1902 he helped to form the La Blanca Agricultural Company, which purchased 23,000 acres fronting the river two miles east and two miles west of the site of present Donna and extending north eighteen miles. He gave part of his purchase to his twenty-one-year-old daughter, Donna Hooks Fletcher, a divorcée. She settled in the area and established the Alameda (Grove) Ranch. Fletcher stocked the ranch with Jersey cattle purchased from the Lassater Ranch in Falfurrias and ran a successful butter business. The Hidalgo and San Miguel Extension (later called the Sam Fordyce Branch) of the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway reached the site in July 1904, when the town was founded. In 1907 the town received a depot and was named Donna in honor of Donna Fletcher, who was postmistress when the Donna post office opened in 1908. That year the first store in west Donna was established by Ed Ruthven, and the community was recognized as the Texas station that shipped the most produce in a year. A 500-ton-capacity sugar mill was built in Donna that year. The Donna Developer was first printed on December 1, 1910, in Chapin. That year the Community Church was constructed and shared by the town's Protestant groups. The First Presbyterian Church was founded on July 10, and the First Baptist Church was organized on July 24, 1910. The telephone exchange was installed in 1911. Donna incorporated on April 13, 1911. By 1912 the town was divided into Donna and East Donna. East Donna, the Mexican side of town, had a post office named Beatriz, after Beatriz Hooks, from 1912 to 1916. Saint Joseph Catholic Church and a school for Mexican children were located there.

EDUCATION

The first teacher in Donna was Paciana Guerra of Mier, Tamaulipas, hired in 1911 by Severiano Avila, Apolonio Ballí, and Bentura Bentiz to instruct their children. In 1913 the first graduating class of four graduated from Donna High School. At that time the Donna school district encompassed all of Weslaco and reached to the Mercedes corporate boundary.

BUSINESS

A store was moved from Run to Donna in 1914 by Andrew Champion. In 1915 Donna had a population of 1,500, a bank, a hotel, four churches, two cotton gins, the sugar mill, and a weekly newspaper named the Donna Dispatch, published by B. L. Brooks. In 1916 the Donna Light and Power Company was incorporated by A. F. Hester, Sr., T. J. Hooks, Dr. J. B. Roberts, and twenty stockholders. The American Legionqv Hall, Donna Border Post No. 107, was dedicated in 1920. Donna had an estimated population of 1,579 in 1925. By 1936 it had a population of 4,103, a railroad stop, multiple dwellings, and 110 businesses.

MOTTO

The citizens of Donna first started using the motto "The City with a Heart in the Heart of the Rio Grande Valley" to promote the city in the 1940s. By 1945 the town had a population of 4,712 and seventy-eight businesses and continued to be a citrus and vegetable growing center. In 1953 Donna had three gins, three wholesale groceries, hardware and farm implements dealers, a wholesale distributor for feed mills, and the Donna News. The election of 1954 drew attention to Donna when Bob Jefferys, a newspaperman, requested that a special contingent of Texas Rangersqv be sent to the city by Governor Allan Shivers.qv He alleged that the election campaign was becoming violent because political bosses were physically threatening voters. The American Legion Hall was designated a historical landmark in 1964. In 1967 Donna reported 110 businesses (including eight manufacturers), ten churches, a bank, a library, and a newspaper.

SOCIAL CHANGE

From 1920 through the mid-1970s Donna had segregated schools. A third school for migrant students was in operation through the 1970s. The justification for its operation was that migrant children needed more attention because of their parents' work. It was opened to children in the third to eighth grade and had a separate campus. Donna had a population of 8,982 and 122 businesses in 1978. After the 1970s the economy in Donna continued to be based on fruits, vegetables, and the tourist trade. In 1990 Donna had an estimated population of 13,331 and eighty-nine businesses.

COLONIAS

There are five coloniasqv immediately south of the Donna city limits off Farm Road 493. Colonia Nueva is on Farm Road 493 two miles south of Donna; Colonia Algeria is on River Road and Eleventh Street next to the city dump; Colonia Tierra Prieta is on the east side of Farm Road 493; Colonia Salinas is south of Donna; and South Donna is a subdivision. Water is provided to the colonias by Colonia Nueva Water Distribution System, a privately owned enterprise that purchases water from the city of Donna and resells it to 400 colonia domiciles. Tierra Prieta also receives water from North Alamo Water Supply Corporation; it had an estimated population of 180 in 1986.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: T. R. Fehrenbach et al., A Shared Experience: The History, Architecture, and Historical Designations of the Lower Rio Grande Heritage Corridor (Austin: Los Caminos del Rio Heritage Project and the Texas Historical Commission, 1991). Winnie Maddox, History of the Donna Community (M.A. thesis, Texas College of Arts and Industries, 1955).

Alicia A. Garza

On Highway 83 between Weslaco and McAllen



Donna is named for Donna Hooks, daughter of T. J. Hooks who, beginning in 1900, did quite a bit of land development work in the then frontier world of the Rio Grande Valley.

Donna Hooks Fletcher was an extremely attractive woman and a rather unusual character. She had a love of the metaphysical side of life and wrote several booklets about the soul and its destiny. In addition, various tales have arisen claiming she was said to have been the first female postmistress or postmaster of the area, no doubt true, and that she wrestled an alligator which may lack a bit of credibility.

The modern town of Donna is about 15,000 residents and the main push, economically, is agribusiness.

Sites to See

The American Legion Hall -- said to be the site of the former infamous Blue Goose Saloon -- maintains a small museum dedicated to this history of Donna in general and to Donna Hooks Fletcher in particular.


Donna Public Library
301 S. Main
Donna, Tx. 78538


Oddities

Not so much odd as interesting is the side trip from Donna to the Balli Cemetary. The Balli family has figured in south Texas history since Juan Jose Hinojosa in the mid 1700's. The Great-grandson of Juan Jose Hinojosa started a cemetary on 7,000 acres of a ranch that has dwindled to nothing. Directions: FM 493, .7mi South, then 2.7 miles east on US 281.

OUR PEOPLE

T. J. Hooks

Spurred by the arrival of the railroad a small town had sprung up on a site between McAllen and Weslaco. One of the town sites charter members, Mr. T. J. Hooks, had put all of his resources and energies in making the town self-sufficient. His efforts were not lost on the town folks and at a secret meeting it was decided to show their appreciation with a special gesture. A party was arranged in honor of T. J. Hooks. His daughter Donna, living in Beaumont, was invited to attend. When Mr. Hooks arrived at the little railroad station to pick up his daughter he was amazed to see a sign hung at the side of the rails, reading "Welcome to the town of Donna". The few surviving attendees of this time still swear that they saw tears in the eyes of T. J. Hooks..
Donna Hooks Fletcher was equally surprised and in the coming years she played a prominent part in the towns development.

Today Donna is a major player in the toursim industry and home to thousands of retirees from all over the United States and Canada

KATHRYN HOOKS RILEY

MISSION — Kathryn Hooks Riley, 85, passed away Thursday, December 26, 2002, at the Mission Nursing Home.

She was a lifetime Valley resident.

Mrs. Riley is survived by her children, Karolyn Riley (James) Caldwell of Mission, Dr. Pat (Barbara) Riley II of McAllen; grandchildren, Lt. Ryan Caldwell USN, who is stationed in California, Reagan Caldwell of Colorado, Kathryn Leighann Riley and Brenton Riley of McAllen; and two great-grandchildren. Kathryn Riley was the widow of Dr. Pat Riley.

She was the daughter of Roy and Ida Hooks and the granddaughter of T.J. Hooks, a founder of the city of Donna.

An avid traveler and homemaker, Mrs. Riley devoted her time to family and friends.

Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, December 30, 2002, at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2002 at Valley Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association. Ric Brown Family Funeral Home of Mission is in charge of arrangements.

City of Donna City Government Services

City government services with agencies and phone numbers may be obtained by calling (956)464-3314.

Km

Miles

Road Item

Road Summary

• Milebymile.com U.S. Highway # 83 - Texas Road Map Travel Guide City of Laredo to Rio Grande City

• Milebymile.com Texas State #100 South Padre Island to San Benito

• Milebymile.com - Texas State #48 Texas Road Map Travel Guide - Brownsville to South Padre Island