Once part of the La Lomita Spanish mission, John Shary purchased the area now known as Sharyland in 1914. Shary planted thousands of acres of citrus trees and the plump, golden skinned grapefruits and navel oranges drew people to the area like gold to California. By the 1950s, citrus groves dotted every corner of the land and everyone benefited from the success. Sharyland farmers developed the Ruby Red Grapefruit, varieties of which remain recognized as the highest-quality grapefruit produced in the United States. However, strong competition with Florida and California and an unusual freeze in the 1980s slowed the market and the landscape began to change.

Today, Sharyland's growth is largely a result of the economic changes spawned by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The region is also popular among professionals working in McAllen and Mission, the third fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States.

In 1998, ground was broken and the Sharyland Plantation master-planned multi-use community was begun. The residential, industrial and commercial venues continue to shape Sharyland Plantation's recent development. It includes more than 1,600 newly-constructed homes ranging from $160,000 to over a $2 million.