HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
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'Harris County' is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of 2000 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 3.4 million (though a 2005 estimate placed the population at almost 3.7 million), making it the most populous county in Texas and the third most populous county in the United States. Its county seat is Houston6.
Harris County is named for John Richardson Harris, an early settler of the area.
History
The county was founded on December 22, 1836 as 'Harrisburg County' and 'Harrisburgh County'. The name was changed to Harris County in December 1839.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,604 km² (1,778 mi²). 4,478 km² (1,729 mi²) of it is land and 127 km² (49 mi²) of it (2.75%) is water.
Major Highways
See List of Highways in Harris County for more roadways in Harris County.
Adjacent counties
★ Montgomery County (north)
★ Liberty County (northeast)
★ Chambers County (east)
★ Galveston County (southeast)
★ Brazoria County (south)
★ Fort Bend County (southwest)
★ Waller County (northwest)
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 3,400,578 people, 1,205,516 households, and 834,217 families residing in the county, making it the largest county by population in Texas. The population density was 759/km² (1,967/mi²). There were 1,298,130 housing units at an average density of 290/km² (751/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 58.73% White, 18.49% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 5.14% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 14.18% from other races, and 2.96% from two or more races. 32.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
In 2006 Harris County had 3,886,207 residents. This represented 14.3% growth since 2000.
By 2005 74.4% of the county population was white. However this was a change brought about by the arbitrary decision on the part of census administrators to place all Hispanics who had marked "some other race" under the white category. Thus probably a more realistic figure to look at was the 38.2% of the population that was non-Hispanic whites. This is also not comparable to the 2000 white figure, since it included several Hispanics.
2005 saw Harris county with 37.5% of its population Latino. This represented an increase of over 120,000 in the number of Latinos in the county. 5.5% of the population was Asian. African Americans constituted 18.4% of the county's population, representing a slight decline in percentage. It however meant the total number of African-Americans in the county had risen.[1].
In 2000 There were 1,205,516 households out of which 37.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the county, the population was spread out with 29.00% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 33.40% from 25 to 44, 19.80% from 45 to 64, and 7.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,598, and the median income for a family was $49,004. Males had a median income of $37,361 versus $28,941 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,435. About 12.10% of families and 14.97% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.60% of those under age 18 and 12.20% of those age 65 or over.
Elected officials
United States Congress
| 'Senators' | 'Name' | 'Party' | 'First Elected' | 'Level' | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate Class 1 | Kay Bailey Hutchison | Republican | 1993 | Senior Senator | |
| Senate Class 2 | John Cornyn | Republican | 2002 | Junior Senator | |
| 'Representatives' | 'Name' | 'Party' | 'First Elected' | 'Area(s) of Harris County Represented' | |
| District 2 | Ted Poe | Republican | 2004 | Kingwood portion of Houston, Spring, northeastern communities (including Baytown, Humble and La Porte) | |
| District 7 | John Culberson | Republican | 2000 | West Houston, Memorial Villages, Bellaire, West University Place, west and northwest areas of county | |
| District 9 | Al Green | Democrat | 2004 | Alief, Southwest Houston, Houston’s Southside | |
| District 10 | Michael McCaul | Republican | 2004 | Northwest | |
| District 18 | Sheila Jackson Lee | Democrat | 1994 | Downtown Houston, Bush IAH, northwest and northeast Houston, inner portions of Houston’s Southside | |
| District 22 | Nick Lampson | Democrat | 2006 (also served 1997-2005) | Clear Lake City, NASA Johnson Space Center, Ellington Field, southern and central Pasadena, Deer Park | |
| District 29 | Gene Green | Democrat | 1992 | East Houston, northern Pasadena, Galena Park, Channelview | |
List above took effect January 4, 2007.
Texas Legislature
Texas Senate
| 'District' | 'Name' | 'Party' | 'First Elected' | 'Area(s) of Harris County Represented' | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Tommy Williams | Republican | 2003 | Kingwood, far eastern portions of Baytown | |
| 6 | Mario Gallegos | Democrat | 1995 | Houston Ship Channel, eastern portions of Houston, Jacinto City, Galena Park, northern Pasadena, western portion of Baytown | |
| 7 | Dan Patrick | Republican | 2007 | Memorial Villages, Memorial/Spring Branch area, Addicks Reservoir, northwest portions of county | |
| 11 | Mike Jackson | Republican | 1999 | Southeast | |
| 13 | Rodney Ellis | Democrat | 1990 | Downtown Houston, Texas Medical Center, southwest and northeast Houston, Houston’s Southside | |
| 15 | John Whitmire | Democrat | 1983 | Northwest Houston, Bush IAH, southern portion of Humble, eastern Harris County | |
| 17 | Kyle Janek | Republican | 2002 | Meyerland, Bellaire, West University Place, much of Katy area, far west Houston, Barker Reservoir | |
Texas House of Representatives
| 'District' | 'Name' | 'Party' | 'First Elected' | 'Area(s) of Harris County Represented' | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 126 | Patricia Harless | Republican | 2006 | Champions/FM 1960 | |
| 127 | Joe Crabb | Republican | 1992 | Kingwood, Lake Houston, Crosby, Wallisville | |
| 128 | Wayne Smith | Republican | 2002 | Baytown, Deer Park, La Porte | |
| 129 | John Davis | Republican | 1998 | Clear Lake City, NASA Johnson Space Center | |
| 130 | Corbin Van Arsdale | Republican | 2002 | Northwest | |
| 131 | Alma Allen | Democrat | 2004 | Outer portions of Houston’s Southside | |
| 132 | Bill Callegari | Republican | 2000 | West | |
| 133 | Jim Murphy | Republican | 2006 | West Houston, western portion of Memorial/Spring Branch, part of the Energy Corridor | |
| 134 | Ellen Cohen | Democrat | 2006 | Inner western portions of Houston (including Meyerland, River Oaks and Memorial Park), Texas Medical Center, West University Place, Bellaire, Southside Place | |
| 135 | Gary Elkins | Republican | 1994 | Jersey Village and southeastern segments of the Champions/FM 1960 area | |
| 136 | Beverly Woolley | Republican | 1994 | Memorial Villages | |
| 137 | Scott Hochberg | Democrat | 1992 | Southwest Houston | |
| 138 | Dwayne Bohac | Republican | 2002 | Northwest Houston and parts of the Memorial/Spring Branch area north of I-10, Addicks Reservoir | |
| 139 | Sylvester Turner | Democrat | 1988 | North Houston and Aldine west of I-45 | |
| 140 | Kevin Bailey | Democrat | 1990 | North Houston and Aldine east of I-45 | |
| 141 | Senfronia Thompson | Democrat | 1972 | Northeast Houston, Bush IAH, Greenspoint, southern portion of Humble | |
| 142 | Harold Dutton, Jr. | Democrat | 1984 | East Houston, Northshore | |
| 143 | Ana Hernandez | Democrat | 2006 | East Houston within Loop 610, Houston Ship Channel, Galena Park, Jacinto City, northern Pasadena | |
| 144 | Robert Talton | Republican | 1992 | Southern Pasadena, far southeast Houston | |
| 145 | Rick Noriega | Democrat | 1998 | Inner southeastern portions of Houston (mainly east of I-45), South Houston (not part of the city of Houston) | |
| 146 | Borris Miles | Democrat | 2006 | Inner portions of Houston’s Southside | |
| 147 | Garnet Coleman | Democrat | 1990 | Downtown Houston, inner southeastern portions of Houston (mainly west of I-45) | |
| 148 | Jessica Farrar | Democrat | 1994 | Northwest Houston mainly within Loop 610 (including Houston Heights) | |
| 149 | Hubert Vo | Democrat | 2004 | Far west Houston, Alief, unincorporated portions of Katy area east of Fry Rd, Barker Reservoir | |
| 150 | Debbie Riddle | Republican | 2002 | North | |
Harris County Elected Officials
| Position | Official | Party |
|---|---|---|
| County Judge | Ed Emmett | Republican |
| County Commissioner Precinct 1 | El Franco Lee | Democrat |
| County Commissioner Precinct 2 | Sylvia Garcia | Democrat |
| County Commissioner Precinct 3 | Steve Radack | Republican |
| County Commissioner Precinct 4 | Jerry Eversole | Republican |
| County Attorney | Mike Stafford | Republican |
| County Clerk | Beverly Kaufman | Republican |
| District Attorney | Chuck Rosenthal | Republican |
| District Clerk | Charles Bacarisse | Republican |
| Sheriff | Tommy Thomas | Republican |
| Assessor-Collector | Paul Bettencourt | Republican |
| County Treasurer | Orlando Sanchez | Republican |
| Constable Precinct 1 | Jack F. Abercia | Democrat |
| Constable Precinct 2 | Gary L. Freeman | Democrat |
| Constable Precinct 3 | Ken Jones | Democrat |
| Constable Precinct 4 | Ron Hickman | Republican |
| Constable Precinct 5 | Phil Camus | Republican |
| Constable Precinct 6 | Victor Trevino | Democrat |
| Constable Precinct 7 | May Walker | Democrat |
| Constable Precinct 8 | Bill Bailey | Republican |
Communities
Cities
★ Baytown (Portions in Chambers County) ★ Bellaire ★ Bunker Hill Village ★ Deer Park ★ El Lago ★ Friendswood (Portions are in adjacent counties) ★ Galena Park ★ Hedwig Village ★ Hilshire Village | ★ Houston (Portions are in adjacent counties) ★ Humble ★ Hunters Creek Village ★ Jacinto City ★ Jersey Village ★ Katy (Portions are in adjacent counties) ★ La Porte ★ League City (Portions are in adjacent counties) ★ Missouri City (Portions are in adjacent counties) | ★ Morgan's Point ★ Nassau Bay ★ Pasadena ★ Pearland (Portions are in adjacent counties) ★ Piney Point Village ★ Seabrook ★ Shoreacres ★ South Houston ★ Southside Place | ★ Spring Valley ★ Stafford ★ Taylor Lake Village ★ Tomball ★ Waller ★ Webster ★ West University Place |
Unincorporated areas
★ Atascocita ★ Bammel ★ Barrett ★ Bridgeland ★ Champions ★ Channelview ★ Cloverleaf ★ Crosby | ★ Cypress ★ Fairbanks ★ Fairfield ★ Greenwood Forest ★ Heritage Park neighborhoods (Friendswood/Webster area) ★ Highlands ★ Hockley ★ Hot Wells ★ Hufsmith | ★ Klein ★ Kohrville ★ New Kentucky ★ Northgate Forest ★ Ponderosa Forest ★ Rayford ★ Remington Ranch ★ Rosehill ★ Satsuma | ★ Sheldon ★ Spring ★ Sydney Harbour ★ Westador ★ Westfield ★ The Woodlands (partially in Montgomery County) |
Education
Several school districts serve Harris County communities.
Harris County operates its own public library system, the Harris County Public Library.
In addition, Houston has the Houston Public Library, a city-controlled public library system.
The cities of Baytown, Bellaire, and Pasadena have their own city-controlled libraries.
Emergency services
Police services
Incorporated areas operate their own police departments.
Harris County operates the Harris County Sheriff's Office, which serves unincorporated areas and supplements police forces of incorporated areas.
Harris County also has a constable for each of its eight precincts and hundreds of deputies assigned to each. They mainly serve in a patrol function, established to maintain peace in the county as well as providing security to county buildings such as court houses and district attorney's offices.
Fire services
Harris County maintains the Harris County Fire Marshall office [1] to assist with fire investigations.
Incorporated cities operate their own fire departments; some cities share fire departments.
Fire departments serving unincorporated areas:
★ Aldine
★ Atascocita VFD
★ Champions VFD
★ Channelview VFD
★ Cloverleaf VFD
★ Community VFD (covers unincorporated southwest Harris County and unincorporated northeast Fort Bend County)
★ Crosby VFD
★ Cypress-Fairbanks VFD
★ Cypress Creek VFD and EMS
★ Easttex FD
★ Forest Bend VFD (Southeast unincorporated Harris County)
★ Huffman VFD
★ Little York VFD
★ Northwest VFD
★ Ponderosa VFD
★ Rosehill FD
★ Spring FD
★ Tri-County FD
★ West I-10 FD
★ Westfield
Political organization
The head of a Texas County, as set up in the Texas Constitution, is the County Judge, who sits as the chair of the county's Commissioner's Court. As of 2007, this position in Harris County is held by Judge Ed Emmett. The county is split into 4 geographical divisions called Precincts. Each precinct elects a Commissioner to sit as a representative of their precinct on the commissioner's court and also for the oversight of county functions in their area.
Other elected positions in Harris County include a County Attorney, a County Clerk, a District Attorney, a District Clerk, a Sheriff, 8 Constables, a Tax Assessor-Collector, a County Treasurer, and every judge in the county except municipal judges, who are appointed by the officials of their respective cities.
Hospital services
Within Harris County, hospital services for the indigent and needy are provided by the Harris County Hospital District, a separate governmental entity. Harris County Hospital District operates three hospitals: LBJ General Hospital, Quentin Mease Community Hospital, and Ben Taub General Hospital, as well as many clinics.
Additionally, numerous private and public hospitals operate in Harris County, including institutions in Texas Medical Center and throughout the county.
Trivia
★ Harris County receives more tornado warnings than any other county.[2]
★ Harris County has sent more people to the death chamber than any other county.[3]
References
1. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/48201.html
2. Thousands could die if a giant tornado ever hits Houston, Eric Berger, Houston Chronicle, Feb. 20, 2007.
3. Death Penalty Uneven, Dallas News, Jul. 28, 2007.
See also
★ Harris County, Georgia
★ USNS ''Harris County'' (T-LST-822)
External links
★ Harris County government’s website
★ ''The Handbook of Texas Online:'' Harris County
★ Account of the early days of Harris County, 1824 - 1838 from Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas by John Henry Brown, hosted by The Portal to Texas History
Harris County local event listings
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