Laredo, TX, United States

Capital City

With a population of 384,033, Laredo is a bustling border town where the relentless grind of international trade dominates daily life. The city's strategic location as the busiest trade crossing between the US and Mexico has fueled rapid growth, but also created a persistent bureaucratic headache - the local customs office is so vital that it has attracted hordes of officials from across Mexico. And while the hot, semi-arid climate is tolerable, the ever-present threat of drug cartel violence casts a dark shadow over the city. Laredo may appeal to those seeking economic opportunity at the US-Mexico frontier, but its gritty realities are not for the faint of heart.