Brownsville, city in southern Texas, on the Río Grande, near the Gulf of Mexico. It is the seat of Cameron County. Brownsville is a port of entry across the river from Matamoros, Mexico, to which it is linked by two bridges. It is also a commercial, processing, and distribution center for the irrigated lower Río Grande Valley. Major industries include electronics, apparel, metal fabrication, and food processing; shrimp fishing also contributes to the economy. The city serves as a tourist gateway to Mexico and South Padre Island. Brownsville's deepwater port is at the head of a channel that is the southern terminus of the Intracoastal Waterway, and the city is served by the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport.
Brownsville is home to a campus (established in 1973) of the University of Texas and a community college. Near the city are the Sabal Palm Grove Wildlife Sanctuary of the National Audubon Society and three national wildlife refuges: the Laguna Atascosa, Santa Ana, and Río Grande Valley. Every February Brownsville and Matamoros celebrate international goodwill with Charros Days.
