Laredo is known as the Gateway to Mexico. It is located on the US-Mexico, just 150 miles southwest of San Antonio, 135 miles west of Corpus Christi, and 150 miles north of Monterrey, Mexico.
According to the United States Census Bureau, at a 2000 census, Laredo was the second fastest growing city in the United States behind Las Vegas, Nevada. A notable geographic feature is Lake Casa Blanca in Lake Casa Blanca International State Park. The city's lake consists of 371 land acres and 1650 lake surface acres. It is located on the east part of the city in Webb County. The park was operated jointly by the City of Laredo and Webb County before it was acquired by the state in 1990 and opened in March 1991.
