Area Code 956

Where Is Area Code 956?

Area code 956 is the area code for a portion of South Texas, which includes Laredo and Brownsville. Area code 956 is located in the Central Time Zone and covers seven counties of Texas. Area code 956 was put into effect in 1997 and was created from a split of area code 210.

Situated on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, Laredo is the tenth most populous city in the state, the third most populous city on the Mexico–United States border, and the county seat of Webb County. Going back in history, Laredo was first established in 1755 as Villa de San Agustin de Laredo. Laredo was part of New Spain, then it was the capital of the Republic of the Rio Grande, and finally it was brought back into Mexico by military force. When the Mexican–American War ended in 1848, the United States and Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, which ceded Laredo to the United States. Forced to leave Laredo, the Tejano relocated across the Rio Grande into Mexican territory, where they established Nuevo Laredo.

The majority of Laredo’s economy is centered on international trade with Mexico. Laredo is the largest inland port in the United States; almost 50% of United States international trade headed for Mexico crosses through the Laredo port of entry. Retail is also a big part of the economy, as Laredo is a shopping destination for shoppers from Northern Mexico and South Texas. Shoppers come to Laredo to shop at Mall del Norte because it has over 150 stores, making it the second largest mall in South Texas. The majority of architecture in Laredo is of Spanish Colonial, Mexican, and American style. The Spanish Colonial style buildings are located downtown while the more modern American buildings can be seen along Interstate Highway 35.

The biggest event in the city is Washington's Birthday Celebration, a month long event that commemorates the birthday of George Washington. The celebration attracts over 400,000 people annually and includes a carnival, an airshow, live entertainment, two parades, and fireworks. Jamboozie is a vibrant, fun-filled party that is held in downtown Laredo every year; it is similar to New Orleans' Mardi Gras. Lake Casa Blanca International State Park is the most popular park in the city, as it contains a 1,680-acre artificial lake that is stocked with carp, catfish, hybrid striped bass, and largemouth bass. Laredo has an active nightlife since the city contains numerous theaters, restaurants, sports fields, bars, and nightclubs.

Situated at the southernmost tip of Texas, Brownsville is the sixteenth most populous city in the state and the county seat of Cameron County. Brownsville is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande on the Mexico–United States border. Brownsville has a population of 175,023 and the racial makeup of the city is 93.2% Hispanic, 88.0% White, 0.7% Asian, and 0.4% African American (2010 Census). Unfortunately Brownsville is a dangerous city to reside in and has one of the highest poverty rates in Texas. The Port of Brownsville is crucial to the economy since the majority of the economy is based on international trade with Mexico. In 2011, Brownsville became the first city in Texas to implement a plastic bag ban, which required stores to charge a fee for single-use plastic shopping bags; in its first five years, almost $4 million was collected. The biggest annual event in Brownsville is Charro Days, a fiesta that celebrates the friendship between the city and Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Points of interest in the city include the Gladys Porter Zoo, the Sabal Palm Sanctuary, the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, the Resaca de la Palma State Park, the Boca Chica State Park, the Children’s Museum of Brownsville, and the Sunrise Mall.

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