In 1908 a small town, known as Chapin, was selected as the new county seat. By oxcart, official records made the journey from Hidalgo to Chapin. The settlement of Chapin was named after County Judge Dennis B. Chapin, but in 1911 was renamed Edinburg. During the making of present day Edinburg, the County Jail was built in 1909 shortly after being named County Seat.
Edinburg experienced a building boom in the late 1920's. During the expansion of the city, a country club, a hospital and several schools were erected. The Ebony Hills Country Club was built in 1926 to accommodate the needs of the affluent citizens of Edinburg. The Edinburg Municipal Golf Course now stands where the Country Club once did. In 1927, Grandview Hospital was built in Edinburg. During this time Edinburg set itself apart as a leader in education. Edinburg Junior College was built, as well as several other public schools. A compact campus was situated on 8th Avenue that housed grades kinder through sophomore year of college. The facilities built between 1927 and 1929 include the auditorium, administration building, science building, engineering building, library and the faculty club that provided housing for teachers and high school/junior high students. The Edinburg College graduated its first class in 1929. In 1933 Edinburg College became Edinburg Junior College and Edinburg Regional College in 1948. Nineteen-fifty one marked a pinnacle moment for the university when it became a state supported school. The support of the state prompted yet another name change, Pan American University.