Edinburg is home to the main campus of University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

In 1908, John Closner, William Briggs, Argyle McAllen, Plutarco de la Viña, and Dennis B. Chapin began to develop a new community at this site.

[8] When Dennis Chapin was involved in the shooting death of Oscar J. Rountree at the Dan Breen Saloon in San Antonio,[9] the community changed its name to "Edinburg" to honor John Young, a prominent businessman who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.

[10] It is bordered to the south by Pharr and to the southwest by McAllen, the largest city in the county.

Edinburg has a borderline hot semi-arid (Köppen BSh)/humid subtropical climate (Cfa), typical for South Texas, and characterised by hot to sweltering summers and warm winters.

[17][18] The City of Edinburg operates the Dustin Michael Sekula Memorial Library.

In 2013, the city of Edinburg and the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation announced plans for the construction of an events arena in which the NBA Development League champions, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, would be the anchor tenants.

[22] The city also opened a six-city-block stretch of green pedestrian walkway space known as the McIntyre Street Project in April 2014; it is expected to be the beginning of a proposed arts and restaurant district extending through the heart of Edinburg.

[23] Since 2016, the city has been home to the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros soccer club in the USL Championship, who play at H-E-B Park.

[24] The city is also home to the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros Academy, the best youth soccer club in the area and a pioneer in youth development for the Rio Grande Valley.

Bert Ogden Arena was originally opened in August 2018, is the home for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League.

The land was owned by the City of Edinburg in years prior to 2014, was donated to the University of Texas System.

[25] The United States Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley Sector Headquarters is at 4400 South Expressway 281, Edinburg, Texas.

[27][28] UTRGV's creation garnered much media attention because of its expected economic, social, and health-care impact on the region.

UTRGV is unique in that it is the first time the UT System has merged existing campuses in such a way.

UTRGV was to also bring the first medical school to the Rio Grande Valley region.

[30] Edinburg is also the home of the Rio Grande Bible Institute and is located in the South Texas College District.

McIntyre Street Project plans also include a bus transportation hub for Valley Metro,[64] the regional transit service.