Call it perfect timing, but when the City of Pharr opened its international bridge in 1994, NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) also came into force that same year, which changed both the city and the region in terms of economic development and growth.At the time, Pharr had a population of approximately 39,000, compared to the approximate 84,000 it counts today. (Source: U.S. Census.)The explosive growth is apparent no matter which direction one looks.Whereas Jackson Rd. was once anchored to the north by the old El Centro Mall along the expressway pre-NAFTA, and not a lot headed south past Sam ...