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Sullivan City is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,998 at the 2000 census.GeographySULLIVAN CITY, TEXAS. Sullivan City is off U.S. Highway 83 and Farm Road 886 a mile east of the Starr county line in extreme southwestern Hidalgo County. The site, part of Ed W. Sullivan's ranch, became a loading station on the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1927. The community had a population of 250, a post office, and fifteen businesses by 1930. By 1947 Sullivan City had nine businesses and a population of 250. During the 1950s the population remained constant at 250, but the number of businesses increased to twenty. In 1974 the population was 350. In 1990 Sullivan City had an estimated population of 2,371 and no businesses. A coloniaqv called Rodriguez developed outside Sullivan City, and by 1986 it had grown to a population of 1,013 and 225 dwellings.DemographicsAs of the census of 2000, there were 3,998 people, 981 households, and 909 families residing in the city. The population density was 431.2/km² (1,117.1/mi²). There were 1,136 housing units at an average density of 122.5/km² (317.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.96% White, 0.10% African American, 0.03% Native American, 34.09% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 98.65% of the population.There were 981 households out of which 60.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.0% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 7.3% were non-families. 6.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.08 and the average family size was 4.29.In the city the population was spread out with 38.5% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.The median income for a household in the city was $17,743, and the median income for a family was $18,056. Males had a median income of $16,628 versus $12,670 for females. The per capita income for the city was $5,131. About 49.0% of families and 47.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 52.2% of those under age 18 and 60.5% of those age 65 or over.Sullivan City BiographyThe small community of Sullivan City has grown over the past 10 to 15 years. From a small population of less than 1,000 residents, to over 4,000 residents. More residents live in La Joya, Penitas, and in the city of Palmview. But now in 2007, the city now has a police department, a volunteer fire department, city services, new paved streets, more businesses in the area, but still the growing of this community has been slow if you ask residents of Sullivan. Back in the mid 1990s, Sullivan Residents had to go to the polls 3 times in order to get enough votes to make Sullivan City, a incorperated city. By 1997, under the leadership of Mayor Gumaro Flores and City Manager Robert Montes, the city was now an official city with the posibility of getting their very own police department and fire department. But it was a long way to achieve that goal. With no income going into the city because the residents do not pay any taxes, the city was broke. In Mayor Flores' auto mechanic garage is where city business was conducted. But for $50, finally, the city bought their own city hall...a two room portable building from the La Joya ISD. Wasn't much but it was a step foward. Still 3 years went by and no major improvements in the city, trying to find funds anywhere, both city officials tried to get help to get the city running with city services. According to the state, any city has to provide police and fire services to the residents before the city began to charge city taxes, in other words, a city needs help from neighboring cities for donations. Then came the city of Mission, whose mayor is Sullivan Mayor's Cousin, Beto Salinas, donated a used police vehicle and a fire truck. Around the same time, a Sullivan Gravel company had 10 acres south of Highway 83 which they decided to donated to the city which led to the top story on The Monitor. But still that wasn't enough. Sure they had vehicles, but to fund them, to repair them and of course who will drive them was another problem. On the 10 acres donated to the city, Sullivan Officials looked to the county for funds and they found it. Sullivan Memorial Park would have: playground, baseball field, soccer field, pavilian, restrooms, jogg track, parking lot and a city cemetary. In 2001, under the leadership of Robert Montes, the city finally was in search for a police chief and this came from an 11 year old police veteran, Alfredo Hernandez. Proud of driving a police vehicle later nicknamed 'Old Smokey', which would brake down often, the city was known to run by lawlessness in the streets, especially on Thursday nights. Thursday nights was a crucial night for Sullivan City when racers from all over the Rio Grande would flock to Sullivan to race their vehicles on highway 83. That is when Police Cheif Hernandez went to work; at midnight, with no partner, and backup 5 miles away in La Joya and the Border Patrol. Residents of Sullivan, surprised, amazed, mad, and some even proud of having a police vehicle with the name of their own town for the first time. No more "Hidalgo County Sheriff", or 'Hidalgo County Constable', or "DPS". But still the city had only enough funds for one police officer but under City Manager Robert Montes, he desperately tried to find more grants from the state to hire more police officers on the streets. By early 2002, the city had Police Chief Hernandez, Assistant Cheif Guerra, and two other police officers and a dispatch, which not to forget the Sullivan Volunteer Fire Department which would respond to calls in the area. Now in 2007, the city has a 24/7 police department, city services as trash cans, more fixed roads than before, city crews, and of course a volunteer fire deparment, but they don't respont to calls. Sullivan has seen its tragic scences of vehicle accidents, domestic disturbances, drug smuggling, transporting illegals thru the city much like any other town. But there are its good scenes of a quiet community, that has come so far to what it is today. Today, the highway land market in Sullivan is booming with small businesses. Which means, more jobs, great for the economy but still Sullivan City has a long way to go to compete with cities like La Joya and Palmview. But to over 4,000 people, they proudly call Sullivan City, their home.Sullivan City's First Police Vehicle Nicknamed "Old Smokey"