Port Isabel is a city in Cameron County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville and the Matamoros–Brownsville metropolitan areas. The population was 5,006 at the 2010 census.
Established as a town after the Mexican revolution, Port Isabel became an important cotton export port before the Civil War. The harbor, town and lighthouse all were fought over and exchanged hands during the Civil War.
Port Isabel is located at 26°4'25" North, 97°12'48" West (26.073675, -97.213234).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km2), of which, 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of it is water.
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,965 people, 1,649 households, and 1,225 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,215.5 people per square mile (853.8/km²). There were 2,055 housing units at an average density of 935.8 per square mile (360.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.67% White, 1.03% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 15.54% from other races, and 3.08% from two or more races. 74.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,649 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.46.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.4% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,323, and the median income for a family was $26,077. Males had a median income of $17,105 versus $16,316 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,239. 27.3% of the population and 21.7% of families were below the poverty line. 34.7% of those under the age of 18 and 14.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Government and infrastructure
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operates the Port Isabel Service Processing Center, which is located in an unincorporated area adjacent to Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport, near Port Isabel.
Children living in Port Isabel are zoned to schools in Point Isabel Independent School District. Children go to Garriga Elementary School (Grades K-2), Derry Elementary School, (3-5), Port Isabel Junior High School (6-8), and Port Isabel High School (9-12). All of the schools are located in Port Isabel. The mascot of both the junior high and high school is the Tarpon. 
- Dunn, Roy Sylvan (2009-11-11). "Hurricanes". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2009-12-29.