South Pare Island is a resort community in Cameron County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the town had an official population of 2,422 people, although this significantly underestimates its size since many people split their time between vacation properties on South Padre and permanent residences elsewhere in the Rio Grande Valley or in Nuevo Leon. The town is located on South Padre Island, a barrier island along the Texas Gulf coast. South Padre Island is named after José Nicolás Ballí (Padre Ballí), a Catholic priest and settler.