| Harris County, Texas | |
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Harris County Civil Courthouse
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Location in the state of Texas |
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Texas's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | December 22, 1836 |
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| Seat | Houston |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,778 sq mi (4,605 km²) 1,729 sq mi (4,478 km²) 49 sq mi (127 km²), 2.75% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
4,092,459 2,367/sq mi (914/km²) |
| Website | www.co.harris.tx.us |
Harris County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the county had a population of 4.1 million.[1] Making it the most populous county in Texas and the third most populous county in the United States. Its county seat is Houston[2], the largest city in Texas. It was founded in 1836.
Harris County is named for John Richardson Harris, an early settler of the area.
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The county was founded on December 22, 1836 as Harrisburg County . The name was changed to Harris County in December 1839.[3]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,778 square miles (4,605.0 km2), of which 1,729 square miles (4,478.1 km2) is land and 49 square miles (126.9 km2) (2.75%) is water. Its land area is larger than the state of Rhode Island.
See List of Highways in Harris County for more roadways in Harris County.
| Historical populations | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 4,668 |
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| 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% | |
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Texas Almanac: 1850-2010[5] |
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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 18.9% 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 census[6] 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 1,967 people per square mile (759/km²). There were 1,298,130 housing units at an average density of 751 per square mile (290/km²). 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. 7.2% were of German, 6.2% American and 5.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 63.8% spoke only English at home, while 28.8% spoke Spanish and 1.6% Vietnamese.
In 2000 there were 1,205,516 households out of which 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 non-families. 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 spread out with 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 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 19.6% of those under age 18 and 12.20% of those age 65 or over.
According to Children At Risk, a local non-profit research organization, 20.8% of the Harris County children live in poverty, 6.5 per 1,000 die before age 1, and 38% drop out of high school.[7]
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 accuracy.[8]
As of the 2010 Census Harris County had a population of 4,092,459 people. The racial and ethnic make-up of the county was 40.84% Hispanic or Latino with 0.52% of the overall population being Hispanic blacks who reported black or African American as their only race. The population was 32.98% Non-Hispanic white, 18.43% Non-Hispanic blacks, 0.68% Native Americas, 6.18% Asians, 0.07% Pacific Islanders and 0.19% Non-Hispanics reporting some other race. 3.21% of the population reported more than one race, with 1.19% of the population being non-Hispanics reporting more than one race.
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 of Pakistan (14,595 speakers). Percentages of language groups who said that they spoke English at least "very well" include 46% of Spanish speakers, 37% of Vietnamese speakers, 50% of Chinese speakers, 85% of French speakers, and 72% of Urdu speakers.[9]
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, the average income of households without cars was $13,000.[10]
Steve 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.[11]
In 2011, according to the nonprofit Children at Risk, 1/3rd of students at public high schools in Harris County do not get a diploma.[12]
In 2000 the largest employers in Harris County were Administaff, Compaq, Continental Airlines, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, and Southwestern Bell.[13]
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.[14][15] 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 percent of graduates are still living and working in the region.[15]
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.[16]
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.[17] 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.[18][19] Internet America, an internet service provider, is headquartered in northwest unincorporated Harris County.[20] Smith International has its headquarters in the Greenspoint district and in an unincorporated area in Harris County.[21][22] BJ Services Company has its headquarters in the Spring Branch district and in unincorporated Harris County.[23][24] FMC Technologies has its headquarters in an unincorporated area.[25] Cybersoft Technologies has its headquarters in an unincorporated area.[26]
General Electric operates an aeroderivative division facility on Jacintoport in unincorporated Harris County.[27][28] Randall's Food Markets, a subsidiary of Safeway Inc., has its distribution center in unincorporated Harris County.[29]
In 2008 KBR announced that it will open a new office facility in an unincorporated area in western Harris County.[30] In December KBR said that it would not continue with the plans due to a weakened economy.[31] In January 2009 KBR announced that it will not open the new office facility.[32]
As Houston mostly resides in Harris County, much of the county's economy is related to Houston. See Economy of Houston.
Various consulates are located in the county; one, the Consulate-General of Pakistan in Houston, which opened in June 2004, is at 11850 Jones Road in an unincorporated section of the county.[33] The other consulates are in areas of Houston.
Harris County has tended to vote Republican at the presidential level since the mid-20th century; Barack Obama was the first Democrat to win the county since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Democratic strength is found in the city of Houston and the suburbs that surround the city limits. Suburban areas such as Cypress, Spring, and Katy in the county's western and northern areas, tend to be strongly Republican.
| Year | Democratic | Republican |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 50.5% 590,982 | 48.8% 571,883 |
| 2004 | 44.6% 475,865 | 54.6% 584,723 |
| 2000 | 42.9% 418,267 | 54.3% 529,159 |
| 1996 | 45.2% 386,726 | 49.2% 421,462 |
| 1992 | 38.2% 360,171 | 43.1% 406,778 |
| 1988 | 42.1% 342,919 | 57.0% 464,217 |
| 1984 | 38.3% 334,135 | 61.5% 536,029 |
| 1980 | 38.1% 274,061 | 57.9% 416,655 |
| 1976 | 47.0% 321,897 | 52.2% 357,536 |
| 1972 | 36.9% 215,916 | 62.6% 365,672 |
| 1968 | 38.8% 182,546 | 42.9% 202,079 |
| 1964 | 59.5% 227,819 | 40.3% 154,401 |
| 1960 | 45.6% 148,275 | 51.7% 168,170 |
The 1911 county courthouse received renovations in the 1950s. In 1956 Martin Dreyer, a Houston Chronicle reporter, talked about how he was upset at how the courthouse had been modernized. In 2011 a $50 million, eight year project to restore the courthouse to its original condition had finished. The courthouse still has its air conditioning and elevator systems.[34] The Texas First Court of Appeals and the Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals, since September 3, 2011, are located in the 1911 Harris County courthouse.[35][36] Previously they were located on the campus of the South Texas College of Law.[37][38]
| Senators | Name | Party | First Elected | Level | |
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| 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 | Atascosita, Baytown, Crosby, Dayton, Huffman, Humble, Kingwood, La Porte, eastern Sheldon, Spring | |
| 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 | Pete Olson | Republican | 2008 | Clear Lake City, NASA Johnson Space Center, Ellington Field, southern and central Pasadena, Deer Park | |
| District 29 | Gene Green | Democrat | 1992 | Aldine, Channelview, East Houston, Fall Creek portion of Humble, Galena Park, Jacinto City, northern Pasadena, North Shore, western Sheldon, South Houston | |
List above took effect January 4, 2007.
| District | Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Harris County Represented | |
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| 4 | Tommy Williams | Republican | 2003 | Kingwood, far eastern portions of Baytown | |
| 6 | Mario Gallegos | Democratic | 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 | Democratic | 1990 | 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 | |
| District | Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Harris County Represented | |
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| 126 | Patricia Harless | Republican | 2006 | Champions/FM 1960 area | |
| 127 | Dan Huberty | Republican | 2010 | Humble, Kingwood, Lake Houston, Atascocita, Crosby, Wallisville | |
| 128 | Wayne Smith | Republican | 2002 | Baytown, Deer Park, La Porte | |
| 129 | John Davis | Republican | 1998 | Clear Lake City, NASA Johnson Space Center, Southeast Harris County (including Seabrook and Webster) | |
| 130 | Allen Fletcher | Republican | 2008 | Northwest Harris County (including Cypress, Tomball, Waller) | |
| 131 | Alma Allen | Democratic | 2004 | far Southwest Houston and far South Side | |
| 132 | Bill Callegari | Republican | 2000 | 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 | Sarah Davis | Republican | 2010 | Inner western portions of Houston (including Meyerland, River Oaks and Memorial Park), Texas Medical Center, West University Place, Bellaire, Southside Place, Western Montrose | |
| 135 | Gary Elkins | Republican | 1994 | Jersey Village and southeastern segments of the Champions/FM 1960 area | |
| 136 | Beverly Woolley | Republican | 1994 | West Houston, including the Memorial Villages and Galleria/Post Oak area | |
| 137 | Scott Hochberg | Democratic | 1992 | 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 | Sylvester Turner | Democratic | 1988 | 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 | Democratic | 2006 | East Houston within Loop 610, Houston Ship Channel, Galena Park, Jacinto City, northern Pasadena | |
| 144 | Ken Legler | Republican | 2008 | 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 | Borris Miles | Democratic | 2010 (Also served 2006–2008) | 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 | 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 (including Spring and Klein) | |
| Position | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| County Judge | Ed Emmett | Republican | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 1 | El Franco Lee | Democratic | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 2 | Jack Mormon | Republican | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 3 | Steve Radack | Republican | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 4 | R. Jack Cagle[39] | Republican | |
| County Attorney | Vince Ryan | Democratic | |
| District Attorney | Pat Lykos | Republican | |
| District Clerk | Chris Daniel | Republican | |
| County Clerk | Stan Stanart | Republican | |
| Sheriff | Adrian Garcia | Democratic | |
| Tax Assessor-Collector | Don Sumners | Republican | |
| Treasurer | Orlando Sanchez | Republican | |
| School Trustee, At-Large, Pos. 3 | Mike Wolfe | Republican | |
| School Trustee, At-Large, Pos. 5 | Debra Kerner | Democratic | |
| School Trustee, At-Large, Pos. 7 | Jim Henley | Democratic | |
| School Trustee, Pct. 1, Pos. 6 | Roy Morales | Republican | |
| School Trustee, Pct. 2, Pos. 1 | Marvin Morris | Republican | |
| School Trustee, Pct. 3, Pos. 4 | Louis D. Evans III | Republican | |
| School Trustee, Pct. 4, Pos. 2 | Angie Chesnut | Republican | |
| Constable, Precinct 1 | Jack F. Abercia | Democratic | |
| Constable, Precinct 2 | Gary Freeman | Democratic | |
| Constable, Precinct 3 | Ken Jones | Democratic | |
| Constable, Precinct 4 | Ron Hickman | Republican | |
| Constable, Precinct 5 | Phil Camus | Republican | |
| Constable, Precinct 6 | Victor Trevino | Democratic | |
| Constable, Precinct 7 | May Walker | Democratic | |
| Constable, Precinct 8 | Phil Sandlin | Republican | |
The Harris County Flood Control District manages the effects of flooding in the county.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office operates jail facilities. The Harris County jail facilities are in northern Downtown on the north side of the Buffalo Bayou. The 1200 Jail,[40] the 1307 Jail, (originally a TDCJ facility, leased by the county),[41] and the 701 Jail (formed from existing warehouse storage space) are on the same site.[42]
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), a 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.[43]
The Harris County Housing Authority (HCHA) is a governmental non-profit corporation which addresses the need for quality affordable housing.[44] 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.[45] Guy R. Rankin, IV is Chief Executive Officer of Harris County Housing Authority (HCHA).
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates some correctional facilities in Harris County, including:
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.[49]
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.[50]
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The Harris County Department of Education, a county division overseeing education by local school districts, with a 2011 budget of approximately $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.[24][51][52]
Seven elected Harris County School Trustees oversee the operation of the Harris County Department of Education. Trustees are elected through a partisan election process via the Republican and Democrat primaries and in the November general elections, serving staggered six year terms of office, with 3 Trustees elected countywide and four Trustees elected to oversee the four Commissioner Precincts in Harris County, Texas.
Several school districts serve Harris County communities. Among the 26 Districts, are:
In addition state-operated charter schools are in the county. Charter schools in unincorporated areas include:
The department of education of the county operates the Highpoint Schools.[54]
Four distinct state universities are located in Harris County. The University of Houston is a nationally recognized top-tier research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System.[55][56][57][58] The institution ranks among the Top 50 American Research Universities.[59] The third-largest-university in Texas, UH has nearly 40,000 students on its 667-acre campus in southeast Houston.[60] 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.[61]
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.
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.
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) serves several areas within Harris County. An agency of the Harris County government, Harris County Transit, serves communities in Harris County that are not served by METRO.[63]
In Harris County, the average one way commute for a person using an automobile was 25 minutes, while the average commute for a person not using an automobile was 44 minutes, a 76% longer duration than the figure for commuters with cars.[10]
Many areas in Harris County are served by Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO), a public transportation agency headquartered in Downtown Houston.
Greyhound Bus Lines operates various stations throughout Harris County.
Two commercial airports, George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport, are located in Houston and in Harris County. The Houston Airport System defines Harris County as a part of Bush Intercontinental's service region.[64] The city of Houston operates Ellington Field, a general aviation and military airport in Harris County.
General aviation airports for fixed-wing aircraft outside of Houston include:
Outside of the city limits fire and ambulance services are provided by Emergency Services Districts (ESD).[65]
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.
The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office operates an Investigative Branch, an Emergency Response Branch (Hazardous Materials Response) and Prevention Branch (Inspections). The office is headquartered at 2318 Atascocita Road in an unincorporated area.[66] Incorporated cities operate their own fire departments.
Fire departments serving unincorporated areas:[67]
EMS services inside the City of Houston are provided by the Houston Fire Department.
Harris County ESD 1 is in northern Harris County, south of Beltway 8. Harris County ESD 1 provides both "911" ambulances to its district as well as providing ‘Critical Care Transports’ from the neighboring hospitals. Harris County ESD 1 has a Director of EMS, Jeremy Hyde that oversees the daily operations of the service and reports directly to the Harris County Board of Commissioners.
Atascocita EMS is part of Atascocita VFD (ESD 46) and provides services in the Northeast part of Harris county.
Cy Fair VFD provides EMS service to Northwest Harris County and is bordered by Houston Fire Department, Cypress Creek EMS, Rose Hill Fire Dept, Northwest EMS, West I 10 Ems.
Cypress Creek EMS (ESD 11) provides EMS services to the area roughly to Beltway 8 on the south, to 1 mile east of Hwy 290 on the west, to Hwy 59 (Humble City limits) on the east; to Montgomery County line on the north.
Harris County ESD 5 (ESD 5) covers the area of Crosby and Barrett Station.Response area extends from the Harris County/Liberty County Line east to the San Jacinto River. And from north of Indian Shores road on FM2100 south to Red Oak St. in Barrett Station
Northwest EMS (ESD 8) provides services in the Tomball area of Harris County. Coverage Map
The chief administrative officer of a Texas County, as set up in the Texas Constitution, is the County Judge, who sits as the chair of the county's Commissioners' Court (the equivalent of a Board of Supervisors in some other states). Since 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 commissioners 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.
Many of the organs of the Harris County government reside in the Harris County Campus in Downtown Houston.
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.
Harris County Campus
| Waller County | Montgomery County | Liberty County | ||
| Chambers County | ||||
| Harris County, Texas | ||||
| Fort Bend County | Brazoria County | Galveston County |
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