Harris County, Texas
County in Texas, United States
Top 10 Harris County, Texas related articles
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Contents
Harris County | |
|---|---|
| Harris County | |
Downtown Houston, Harris County Courthouse | |
Seal | |
Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
Texas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 29°52′N 95°23′W / 29.86°N 95.39°W | |
| Country |
|
| State |
|
| Founded | 1837 |
| Named for | John Richardson Harris |
| Seat | Houston |
| Largest city | Houston |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,777 sq mi (4,600 km2) |
| • Land | 1,703 sq mi (4,410 km2) |
| • Water | 74 sq mi (190 km2) 4.2% |
| Population | |
| • Estimate (2018) | 4,698,619[1] |
| • Density | 2,732/sq mi (1,055/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 18th, 22nd, 29th, 36th |
| Website | www |
Harris County is in Southeast Texas next to Galveston Bay. As of the 2010 census, the population was 4,092,459,[2] making it the most populous county in Texas and the third most populous county in the United States. Its county seat is Houston, the largest city in Texas and fourth largest city in the United States. The county was founded in 1836 and organized in 1837.[3][4] It is named for John Richardson Harris, who founded the town of Harrisburg on Buffalo Bayou in 1826.[3] According to a July 2018 census estimate, Harris County's population had grown to 4,698,619, comprising over 16% of Texas's population.[1][5] Harris County is included in the nine-county Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan statistical area, which is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the United States.
Harris County, Texas Intro articles: 3
History
Human remains date habitation to about 4,000 BC. Other evidence of humans in the area dates from about 1,400 BC, 1 AD, and later in the first millennium. The region became uninhabited from 1 AD until European contact. On the other hand, little European activity predates 1821. Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca may have visited the area in 1529. French traders recorded passing through in the 18th century. Spaniards attempted to establish a fort in the area around the same time, but did not persist for long.[3]
The first recorded European settlers in Harris County arrived in 1822. Their schooner sailed into Galveston Bay and ran aground on the Red Fish Bar. Some of those passengers traveled further up the bay system, but it is not known whether they settled up Buffalo Bayou or the San Jacinto River. One of these passengers, a Mr. Ryder, settled at what is now known as Morgan's Point, Texas. Also in 1822, John Iiams settled his family at Cedar Point after sailing from Berwick's Bay, Louisiana. Dr. Johnson Hunter arrived just after Iiams. He also wrecked his boat near Galveston. He settled at Morgan's Point and was a grantee of land there. Nathaniel Lynch settled in the area and operated a ferry.[6]
In 1824, the land empresario, Stephen F. Austin convened at the house of William Scott for the purpose of conveying titles for Mexican headrights. He was joined by the land commissioner, Baron von Bastrop, and Austin's secretary, Samuel May Williams. About thirty families gained legal titles to land in what would later be known as Harris County. A few immigrants settled on Buffalo Bayou in these early years, including Moses Callahan, Ezekial Thomas, and the Vince brothers.[6]
Nicolas Clopper arrived in the Galveston Bay area from Ohio in the 1820s. He attempted to develop Buffalo Bayou as a trading conduit for the Brazos River valley. He acquired land at Morgan's Point in 1826.[7] John Richardson Harris (1790–1829), for whom the county was later named, arrived in 1824. Harris had moved his family to Sainte Genevieve, Missouri Territory, where they had been residing until the early 1820s.[8]
Harris was granted a league of land (about 4,428 acres) at Buffalo Bayou. He platted the town of Harrisburg in 1826, while he established a trading post and a grist mill there. He ran boats transporting goods between New Orleans and Harrisburg until his death in the fall of 1829.[9]
The First Congress of the Republic of Texas established Harrisburg County on December 22, 1836. The original county boundaries included Galveston Island, but were redrawn to its current configuration in May 1838.[3]
The area has had a number of severe weather events, such as:
Hurricanes
Tropical storms
Harris County, Texas History articles: 20
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,777 square miles (4,600 km2), of which 1,703 square miles (4,410 km2) is land and 74 square miles (190 km2) (4.2%) is covered by water.[10] Both its total area and land area are larger than the U.S. state of Rhode Island.
Adjacent counties
- Montgomery (north)
- Liberty (northeast)
- Chambers (east)
- Galveston (southeast)
- Brazoria (south)
- Fort Bend (southwest)
- Waller (northwest)
Harris County, Texas Geography articles: 9
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 4,668 | — | |
| 1860 | 9,070 | 94.3% | |
| 1870 | 17,375 | 91.6% | |
| 1880 | 27,985 | 61.1% | |
| 1890 | 37,249 | 33.1% | |
| 1900 | 63,786 | 71.2% | |
| 1910 | 115,693 | 81.4% | |
| 1920 | 186,667 | 61.3% | |
| 1930 | 359,328 | 92.5% | |
| 1940 | 528,961 | 47.2% | |
| 1950 | 806,701 | 52.5% | |
| 1960 | 1,243,158 | 54.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,741,912 | 40.1% | |
| 1980 | 2,409,547 | 38.3% | |
| 1990 | 2,818,199 | 17.0% | |
| 2000 | 3,400,578 | 20.7% | |
| 2010 | 4,092,459 | 20.3% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 4,698,619 | [11] | 14.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1850–2010[13] 2010–2014[2] | |||
Per 2018 U.S. Census Bureau projections, the population of the county was 4,698,619; demographically 62.84% White, 19.02% Black, 8.41% other races, and 42.55% Hispanic.[14]
2010 Census
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 25.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population. Asian Americans made up 6.2% of the population (2.0% Vietnamese, 1.2% Indian, 1.1% Chinese, 0.6% Filipino, 0.3% Korean, 0.1% Japanese, 1.0% Other). Pacific Islander Americans made up just 0.1% of the population. Individuals from other races made up 14.3% of the population; people from two or more races made up 3.2% of the county's population. Hispanics and Latinos (of any race) made up 40.8% of Harris County's population. As of the 2010 census, there were about 6.2 same-sex couples per 1,000 households in the county.[15]
2000 Census
As of the census[16] of 2000, 3,400,578 people, 1,205,516 households, and 834,217 families resided in the county, making it the largest county by population in Texas. The population density was 1,967 inhabitants per square mile (759/km2). The 1,298,130 housing units averaged 751 per square mile (290/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 58.7% White, 18.5% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 5.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 14.2% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. About 32.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race; 7.2% were of German, 6.2% American, and 5.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000. About 63.8% spoke only English at home, while 28.8% spoke Spanish and 1.6% Vietnamese.
In 2000, of the 1,205,516 households, 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were not families. About 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% 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 distributed as 29.00% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,598, and 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 12.1% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.
Poverty
According to Children At Risk, a local nonprofit research organization, 21% of the Harris County children live in poverty, 6.5 per 1,000 die before age one, and 38% drop out of high school.[17]
Taxation
Harris County along with other Texas counties has one of the nation's highest property tax rates. In 2007, the county was ranked in the top 25 at 22nd in the nation for property taxes as percentage of the homes value on owner-occupied housing. The list only includes counties with a population over 65,000 for comparability.[18]
Racial and ethnic demographics
As of 2014 Census estimates, Harris County had a population of 4,441,370 people.
The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 40.8% Hispanic or Latino. The population was 31.4% non-Hispanic white, 19.5% non-Hispanic black, 1.1% Native American, 7.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander.
As of 2013, 37% of non-Hispanic Whites in Harris County had college or postgraduate degrees and 36% of them had annual incomes over $75,000. As of 2013, 19% of Blacks in Harris County had college or postgraduate degrees.[19] as did 13% of U.S.-born Latinos and 7% of Latino immigrants.[19]
Altogether, the non-Hispanic white population in Harris County is declining.[19] Steve H. Murdock, a demographer with the Rice University Hobby Center for the Study of Texas and a former director of the U.S. Census Bureau, predicted that by 2040, Hispanic residents of the county will increase by 2.5 million, while the number of non-Hispanic Whites will decrease by 516,000. This assumes that the net migration rate is equal to one half of that of 1990–2000.[20]
The Houston Area Asian Survey of the Kinder Institute of Urban Research Houston Area Survey stated that between 1990 and 2000, the Asian population in Harris County increased by 76%. Between 2000 and 2010, it increased by 45%. The Asian ethnic groups in Harris County have differing levels of educational attainment, religion, political views, and income. During that year, in Harris County, 50% of the county's Asian immigrants have postgraduate degrees. As of 2013 28% of Harris County Asians have household incomes of over $75,000. The report stated that many Asians were in earlier stages of careers and were younger, leading to lower incomes.[19] Of Indian and Pakistani residents, the second most educated Asian group in the county, behind Taiwanese, 71% have university or post-graduate degrees and 2% did not finish high school. Of Vietnamese, the least educated Asian group in the county, 30% have university or post-graduate degrees and 20% did not finish high school.[19]
Religion
In 2010 statistics, the largest religious group in Harris County was the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston, with 1,947,223 Catholics worshiping at 109 parishes, followed by 579,759 SBC Baptists with 811 congregations, 348,461 non-denominational adherents with 577 congregations, 182,624 UMC Methodists with 124 congregations, an estimated 117,148 Muslims with 47 congregations, 44,472 LDS Mormons with 77 congregations, 39,041 TEC Episcopalians with 43 congregations, 34,957 PC-USA Presbyterians with 49 congregations, 33,525 Churches of Christ Christians with 124 congregations, and 30,521 LCMS Lutherans with 46 congregations. Altogether, 58.4% of the population was claimed as members by religious congregations, although members of historically African-American denominations were underrepresented due to incomplete information.[21] In 2014, the county had 1,607 religious organizations, the third most out of all U.S. counties.[22]
Language
In 2000, 1,961,993 residents of Harris County spoke English only. The five largest foreign languages in the county were Spanish or Spanish Creole (1,106,883 speakers), Vietnamese (53,311 speakers), Chinese (33,003 speakers), French including Cajun and Patois (33,003 speakers), and Urdu (14,595 speakers). Among those who spoke other languages, 46% of Spanish speakers, 37% of Vietnamese speakers, 50% of Chinese speakers, 85% of French speakers, and 72% of Urdu speakers said that they spoke English at least "very well".[23]
Political views
In 2013, Allen Turner of the Houston Chronicle said that residents of Harris County were "consistently conservative in elections" and that they were, according to a Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research opinion poll, "surprisingly liberal on topics such as immigration, gun control and equal matrimonial rights for same-sex couples".[24] Harris is regarded as a moderate or swing county in Texas, and has been a bellwether in Presidential elections, voting for winners of every Presidential election from 2000 through 2012 (both Barack Obama and Texas resident George W. Bush have won the county).[24]
As a result of the Obama sweep in 2008, many Democratic candidates in contests for lower-level offices also benefited, and many Republican incumbents were replaced by Democrats in the Harris County courthouse. Some of the defeated Republican district court judges were later re-appointed to vacant District Court benches by Governor Rick Perry. In 2018, Democrats swept the court capturing all 59 seats on the civil, criminal, family, juvenile and probate courts.[25]
The Kinder Institute's Houston Survey in 2018 found that from 2014 through 2018 the number of Houston residents who supported adoption of children by same-sex couples climbed above 50% and remained there, while in 2017 over 56% of residents reported gay or lesbian persons among their circle of close personal friends. A 2013 opinion poll had found that 46% of Harris County residents supported same-sex marriage, up from 37% in 2001. Just above 82% favored offering illegal immigrants a path to citizenship provided they speak English and have no criminal record, holding from 83% in 2013, which was up from 19% in 2009. In 2013, 87% supported background checks for all firearms, the latest year that question was included in the Kinder Houston Survey. This measure has moved up steadily from 60% in 1985 to 69% in 2000.[26][24]
Automobile ownership
As of U.S. Census figures current as of 1997, 9% of residents in Harris County did not own automobiles. This figure does not include people who own cars, but do not have enough money to repair the automobiles. As of that year, while the average income of all residents of the county was $41,000 (equivalent to $65,300 in 2019), the average income of households without cars was $13,000 (equivalent to $20,700 in 2019).[27]
Educational attainment
In 2011, according to the nonprofit Children at Risk, one-third of students at public high schools in Harris County do not graduate.[28]
Harris County, Texas Demographics articles: 34
Government and politics
County governments serve as agents of the state, with responsibilities defined in the Texas Constitution. Counties are governed by the commissioners' court. Each Texas county has four precinct commissioners and a county judge. Although this body is called a court, it conducts the general business of the county and oversees financial matters.[29] The commissioners court may hire personnel to run major departments, such as health and human services.
Besides the county judge and commissioners, the other elective offices found in most counties include the county attorney, county and district clerks, county treasurer, sheriff, tax assessor-collector, justices of the peace, and constables. As a part of the checks and balances system, counties have an auditor appointed by the district courts.[29]
Historically, Harris County voted Republican at the presidential level from the mid-20th century until 2008; Barack Obama was the first Democrat to win the county since Texas native Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Democratic strength is found in the city of Houston. Suburban areas such as Cypress, Spring, and Katy in the county's western and northern areas, tend to be strongly Republican. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the county by the largest margin for a Democrat since 1964.[30] The Democratic Party performed very strongly in the county during the 2018 elections, as it did nationwide.[31] In 2020, Joe Biden improved Clinton´s performance by two points while Donald Trump only increased his vote share by one point.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 700,630 | 42.70% | 918,193 | 55.96% | 21,995 | 1.34% |
| 2016 | 545,955 | 41.61% | 707,914 | 53.95% | 58,243 | 4.44% |
| 2012 | 586,073 | 49.31% | 587,044 | 49.39% | 15,468 | 1.30% |
| 2008 | 571,883 | 48.82% | 590,982 | 50.45% | 8,607 | 0.73% |
| 2004 | 584,723 | 54.75% | 475,865 | 44.56% | 7,380 | 0.69% |
| 2000 | 529,159 | 54.28% | 418,267 | 42.91% | 27,396 | 2.81% |
| 1996 | 421,462 | 49.24% | 386,726 | 45.18% | 47,705 | 5.57% |
| 1992 | 406,778 | 43.14% | 360,171 | 38.20% | 175,998 | 18.66% |
| 1988 | 464,217 | 57.02% | 342,919 | 42.12% | 7,024 | 0.86% |
| 1984 | 536,029 | 61.46% | 334,135 | 38.31% | 2,003 | 0.23% |
| 1980 | 416,655 | 57.87% | 274,061 | 38.06% | 29,298 | 4.07% |
| 1976 | 357,536 | 52.17% | 321,897 | 46.97% | 5,831 | 0.85% |
| 1972 | 365,672 | 62.56% | 215,916 | 36.94% | 2,943 | 0.50% |
| 1968 | 202,079 | 42.90% | 182,546 | 38.75% | 86,412 | 18.35% |
| 1964 | 154,401 | 40.32% | 227,819 | 59.49% | 765 | 0.20% |
| 1960 | 168,170 | 51.68% | 148,275 | 45.57% | 8,954 | 2.75% |
| 1956 | 155,555 | 61.11% | 93,961 | 36.91% | 5,033 | 1.98% |
| 1952 | 146,665 | 57.63% | 107,604 | 42.28% | 228 | 0.09% |
| 1948 | 43,117 | 35.16% | 58,488 | 47.70% | 21,012 | 17.14% |
| 1944 | 11,843 | 11.37% | 71,077 | 68.27% | 21,199 | 20.36% |
| 1940 | 20,797 | 22.02% | 73,520 | 77.84% | 136 | 0.14% |
| 1936 | 8,083 | 11.97% | 59,205 | 87.67% | 245 | 0.36% |
| 1932 | 8,604 | 15.37% | 46,886 | 83.77% | 480 | 0.86% |
| 1928 | 27,188 | 55.70% | 21,536 | 44.12% | 86 | 0.18% |
| 1924 | 8,953 | 27.57% | 20,648 | 63.57% | 2,878 | 8.86% |
| 1920 | 7,735 | 26.82% | 14,808 | 51.35% | 6,294 | 21.83% |
| 1916 | 3,009 | 22.05% | 10,131 | 74.24% | 507 | 3.72% |
| 1912 | 726 | 8.01% | 6,409 | 70.69% | 1,931 | 21.30% |
County facilities
The 1910 county courthouse was renovated in the 1950s to update its systems. Some residents, such as Martin Dreyer, a Houston Chronicle reporter, were disturbed by modernization of the building, saying its character had been ruined. In the 21st century, the facility received another major renovation. Completed in 2011, the $50 million, eight-year project was designed to restore notable historic aspects of the courthouse while providing for contemporary communication and building needs.[33]
The Texas First Court of Appeals and the Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals, since September 3, 2010, are located in the 1910 Harris County courthouse.[34][35] Previously they were located on the campus of the South Texas College of Law.[36]
The Harris County Jail Complex of the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) is the largest in Texas, and one of the largest in the nation. In July, 2012, the facility held 9,113 prisoners. To handle overcrowding in the facility, the county had to ship inmates to other counties and some are housed out of the state.[37]
United States Congress
| Representatives | Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Harris County Represented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District 2 | Dan Crenshaw | Republican | 2018 | Atascosita, Huffman, Humble, Kingwood, Spring | |
| District 7 | Lizzie Pannill Fletcher | Democratic | 2018 | West Houston, Memorial Villages, Bellaire, West University Place, west and northwest areas of county | |
| District 9 | Al Green | Democratic | 2004 | Alief, Southwest Houston, Houston's Southside | |
| District 10 | Michael McCaul | Republican | 2004 | Northwest | |
| District 18 | Sheila Jackson Lee | Democratic | 1994 | Downtown Houston, Bush IAH, northwest and northeast Houston, inner portions of Houston's Southside | |
| District 22 | Troy Nehls | Republican | 2020 | Ellington Field, | |
| District 29 | Sylvia Garcia | Democratic | 2018 | Aldine, Channelview, East Houston, Fall Creek portion of Humble, Galena Park, Jacinto City, northern Pasadena, North Shore, western Sheldon, South Houston | |
| District 36 | Brian Babin | Republican | 2014 | Clear Lake City, NASA Johnson Space Center, southern and central Pasadena, Deer Park, Baytown, Crosby, La Porte, eastern Sheldon, Dayton, Seabrook, Morgan's Point, Shore Acres, El Lago, Nassau Bay, Taylor Lake Village | |
Texas Legislature
Texas Senate
| District | Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Harris County Represented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Brandon Creighton | Republican | 2014 | Kingwood, far eastern portions of Baytown | |
| 6 | Carol Alvarado | Democratic | 2013 | Houston Ship Channel, eastern portions of Houston, Jacinto City, Galena Park, northern Pasadena, western portion of Baytown | |
| 7 | Paul Bettencourt | Republican | 2014 | Memorial Villages, Memorial/Spring Branch area, Addicks Reservoir, northwest portions of county | |
| 11 | Larry Taylor | Republican | 2013 | Southeast | |
| 13 | Borris Miles | Democratic | 2016 | Downtown Houston, Texas Medical Center, southwest and northeast Houston, Houston's Southside | |
| 15 | John Whitmire | Democratic | 1983 | Northwest Houston, Bush IAH, southern portion of Humble, eastern Harris County | |
| 17 | Joan Huffman | Republican | 2008 | Meyerland, Bellaire, West University Place, much of Greater Katy area, far west Houston, Barker Reservoir | |
Texas House of Representatives
| District | Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Harris County Represented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 126 | Kevin Roberts | Republican | 2016 | Champions/FM 1960 area | |
| 127 | Dan Huberty | Republican | 2010 | Humble, Kingwood, Lake Houston, Atascocita, Crosby, Wallisville | |
| 128 | Briscoe Cain | Republican | 2016 | Baytown, Deer Park, La Porte | |
| 129 | Dennis Paul | Republican | 2014 | Clear Lake City, NASA Johnson Space Center, Southeast Harris County (including Seabrook and Webster) | |
| 130 | Tom Oliverson | Republican | 2016 | Northwest Harris County (including Cypress, Tomball, Waller) | |
| 131 | Alma Allen | Democratic | 2004 | far Southwest Houston and far South Side | |
| 132 | Gina Calanni | Democratic | 2018 | West Harris County (including Greater Katy area) | |
| 133 | Jim Murphy | Republican | 2010 (Also served 2006–2008) | West Houston along West Sam Houston Tollway, including western portion of Memorial/Spring Branch and part of the Energy Corridor | |
| 134 | Ann Johnson | Democratic | 2020 | Inner western portions of Houston (including Meyerland, River Oaks and Memorial Park), Texas Medical Center, West University Place, Bellaire, Southside Place, Western Montrose | |
| 135 | Jon Rosenthal | Democratic | 2018 | Jersey Village and southeastern segments of the Champions/FM 1960 area | |
| 137 | Gene Wu | Democratic | 2013 | Southwest Houston (including Sharpstown and Gulfton) | |
| 138 | Dwayne Bohac | Republican | 2002 | Northwest Houston and parts of the Memorial/Spring Branch area north of I-10, Addicks Reservoir | |
| 139 | Jarvis Johnson | Democratic | 2016 | North Houston and Aldine west of I-45 | |
| 140 | Armando Walle | Democratic | 2008 | North Houston and Aldine east of I-45 | |
| 141 | Senfronia Thompson | Democratic | 1972 | Northeast Houston, Bush IAH, Greenspoint, southern portion of Humble | |
| 142 | Harold Dutton, Jr. | Democratic | 1984 | East Houston and Northshore area | |
| 143 | Ana Hernandez Luna | Democratic | 2006 | East Houston within Loop 610, Houston Ship Channel, Galena Park, Jacinto City, northern Pasadena | |
| 144 | Mary Ann Perez | Democratic | 2016 | Southern Pasadena, far southeast Houston | |
| 145 | Carol Alvarado | Democratic | 2008 | Inner southeastern portions of Houston (mainly east of I-45), South Houston (not part of the city of Houston) | |
| 146 | Shawn Thierry | Democratic | 2016 | Inner portions of Houston's South Side | |
| 147 | Garnet Coleman | Democratic | 1990 | Downtown Houston, inner southeastern portions of Houston (mainly west of I-45), Eastern Montrose, Midtown, Third Ward | |
| 148 | Jessica Farrar | Democratic | 1994 | North and Northwest Houston mainly within Loop 610 (including Houston Heights) | |
| 149 | Hubert Vo | Democratic | 2004 | Far west Houston, Alief, unincorporated portions of Katy area east of Fry Rd, Barker Reservoir | |
| 150 | Valoree Swanson | Republican | 2016 | North Harris County (including Spring and Klein) | |
County government
Harris County elected officials
| Position | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| County Judge | Lina Hidalgo | Democratic | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 1 | Rodney Ellis | Democratic | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 2 | Adrian Garcia | Democratic | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 3 | Tom Ramsey | Republican | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 4 | R. Jack Cagle[38] | Republican | |
| County Attorney | Christian D. Menefee | Democratic | |
| District Attorney | Kim Ogg | Democratic | |
| District Clerk | Marilyn Burgess | Democratic | |
| County Clerk | Teneshia Hudspeth | Democratic | |
| Sheriff | Ed Gonzalez | Democratic | |
| Tax Assessor-Collector | Ann Harris Bennett | Democratic | |
| Treasurer | Dylan Osborne | Democratic | |
| School Trustee, At-Large, Pos. 3 | Richard Cantu | Democratic | |
| School Trustee, At-Large, Pos. 5 | Erica Davis | Democratic | |
| School Trustee, At-Large, Pos. 7 | David W. Brown | Democratic | |
| School Trustee, Pct. 1, Pos. 6 | Danyahel (Danny) Norris | Democratic | |
| School Trustee, Pct. 2, Pos. 1 | Amy Hinojosa | Democratic | |
| School Trustee, Pct. 3, Pos. 4 | Andrea Duhon | Democratic | |
| School Trustee, Pct. 4, Pos. 2 | Eric Dick | Republican | |
| Constable, Precinct 1 | Alan Rosen | Democratic | |
| Constable, Precinct 2 | Jerry Garcia | Democratic | |
| Constable, Precinct 3 | Sherman Eagleton | Democratic | |
| Constable, Precinct 4 | Mark Herman | Republican | |
| Constable, Precinct 5 | Ted Heap | Republican | |
| Constable, Precinct 6 | Silvia Trevino | Democratic | |
| Constable, Precinct 7 | May Walker | Democratic | |
| Constable, Precinct 8 | Phil Sandlin | Republican | |
County services
The Harris County Flood Control District manages the effects of flooding in the county.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office operates jail facilities and is the primary provider of law enforcement services to the unincorporated areas of the county. The sheriff is the conservator of the peace in the county. The Harris County jail facilities are in northern downtown on the north side of the Buffalo Bayou. The 1200 Jail,[39] the 1307 Jail, (originally a TDCJ facility, leased by the county),[40] and the 701 Jail (formed from existing warehouse storage space) are on the same site.[41]
The Community Services Department provides community services. The department maintains the 20 acres (8.1 ha) Oates Road Cemetery (also known as the Harris County Cemetery) for indigents in eastern Houston, near the former Southern Bible College. In March 2010, the county adopted a cremation first policy, meaning that the default preference for most indigents is to have them cremated instead of buried. As of 2010, the county authorized the Community Services Department to purchase about 50 acres (20 ha) of land in the Huffman area so the county will have additional spaces for indigent burials.[42]
The Harris County Housing Authority (HCHA) is a governmental nonprofit corporation which addresses the need for quality affordable housing.[43] The HCHA has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as the highest performing housing authority in the region and was recently named one of America's 10 best Public Housing Authorities.[44] Guy R. Rankin, IV is Chief Executive Officer of Harris County Housing Authority (HCHA).
State government
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates some correctional facilities in Harris County, including:
- Kegans Unit, located in Downtown Houston, is a state jail for men. It is in the north of downtown along the north side of the Buffalo Bayou, next to the county facilities.[45]
- Pam Lychner Unit, named after Pam Lychner and located in unincorporated northeast Harris County, east of the city of Humble, is a state jail for men.[46][47]
As of 2001, Kegans and Lychner serves male state jail offenders from Harris County, with Kegans getting lower-risk offenders and Lychner getting higher-risk and special-needs offenders. If both of the male state jails in Harris County are full, excess offenders go to the Gist Unit in Jefferson County. Female state jail offenders from Harris County go to the Plane Unit in Liberty County.[48]
The South Texas Intermediate Sanction Facility Unit, a parole confinement facility for males operated by Global Expertise in Outsourcing, is in downtown Houston, west of Minute Maid Park.[49]
Law enforcement
As of 2018[update] there are over 60 law enforcement agencies operating in the county.[50] They include: the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the Harris County Constable Office, the Houston Police Department, METRO Police Department, other municipal police departments, and school district police departments.[51]
The combined yearly sum spent by these agencies circa 2018 was $1.6 billion. That year the Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research released a report advocating for consolidating several of these agencies as a way of saving taxpayer money.[50]
2020 election
Harris County was the subject of significant coverage in the 2020 U.S. presidential election because the county, which is larger than the size of Rhode Island and has 2.4 million registered voters, has only one voting drop-box location.[52]
Harris County, Texas Government and politics articles: 99
Economy
In 2000, the largest employers in Harris County were Administaff, Compaq, Continental Airlines, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, and Southwestern Bell.[53]
The University of Houston System's annual impact on the Houston-area's economy equates to that of a major corporation: $1.1 billion in new funds attracted annually to the Houston area, $3.13 billion in total economic benefit, and 24,000 local jobs generated.[54][55] This is in addition to the 12,500 new graduates the UH System produces every year who enter the workforce in Houston and throughout Texas. These degree-holders tend to stay in Houston. After five years, 80.5% of graduates are still living and working in the region.[55]
In 2009, 20% of the office space in northwest Harris County was vacant. As of that year, more office space is being built; in 2010, northwest Harris will have twice the amount of office space that it had in 2009. The vacancy rate in the area near Farm to Market Road 1960 and Texas State Highway 249 in north Harris County was 53% in 2009.[56]
Various companies are headquartered in incorporated and unincorporated areas throughout Harris County.
Academy Sports and Outdoors, a sporting goods retailer, has its corporate offices and product distribution center in unincorporated western Harris County.[57] Hewlett-Packard operates its United States region office in a complex northwest unincorporated Harris County; the complex formerly belonged to Compaq prior to Compaq's merger with HP.[58][59] Smith International has its headquarters in the Greenspoint district and in an unincorporated area in Harris County.[60][61] BJ Services Company has its headquarters in the Spring Branch district and in unincorporated Harris County.[62][63] Cybersoft Technologies has its headquarters in an unincorporated area.[64] In 2012 Noble Energy announced that it was consolidating its headquarters and two other Greater Houston offices into a 10-story building on the former Compaq headquarters property in unincorporated Harris County.[65] Goya Foods previously had its Texas offices in an unincorporated area in the county.[66]
General Electric operates an aeroderivative division facility on Jacintoport in unincorporated Harris County.[67][68] Randall's Food Markets, a subsidiary of Safeway Inc., has its distribution center in unincorporated Harris County.[69]
In 2008, KBR announced that it will open a new office facility in an unincorporated area in western Harris County.[70] In December KBR said that it would not continue with the plans due to a weakened economy.[71] In January 2009 KBR announced that it will not open the new office facility.[72]
Harris County, Texas Economy articles: 21
Diplomatic missions
Various consulates are located in the county, mostly within the city of Houston.
Education
Primary and secondary schools
The Harris County Department of Education, a county division overseeing education by local school districts, with a 2011 budget around $100 million, is headquartered in the Ronald W. Reagan Building in the Northside district in Houston. It has an Adult Education Center in the Northside and an office in the North Post Oak Building in Spring Branch.[63][73][74]
Several school districts serve Harris County communities. Among the 26 districts are:
On July 1, 2013 the North Forest Independent School District closed and its territory became a part of Houston ISD.[75]
In addition, state-operated charter schools are in the county. Charter schools in unincorporated areas include:
- Jamie's House Charter School (6–12)
- Richard Milburn Academy Houston (high school) – Of Milburn Schools[76]
- YES Prep North Central of YES Prep Public Schools
The department of education of the county operates the Highpoint Schools.[77]
Colleges and universities
Four separate and distinct state universities are located in Harris County. The University of Houston is a nationally recognized Tier One research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System.[78][79][80] The third-largest university in Texas,[81] the University of Houston counted 43,774 (fall 2016)[82] students on its 667-acre campus in southeast Houston. The University of Houston–Clear Lake and the University of Houston–Downtown are stand-alone universities; they are not branch campuses of the University of Houston. Located in the historic community of Third Ward is Texas Southern University, one of the largest historically black colleges and universities in the United States.
Several private institutions of higher learning—ranging from liberal arts colleges to a nationally recognized research university—are located within Harris County. Rice University is one of the leading teaching and research universities of the United States and ranked the nation's 17th best overall university by U.S. News & World Report.[83]
Three community college districts exist with campuses in and around Harris County. The Houston Community College System serves most of Houston. The northwestern through northeastern parts of the county are served by various campuses of the Lone Star College System, while the southeastern portion of the county is served by San Jacinto College. The Houston Community College and Lone Star College systems are within the 10 largest institutions of higher learning in the United States.
Public libraries
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, Deer Park, and Pasadena have their own city-controlled libraries.