Demographics
Harris County is the nation’s third most-populous county, with a population of 3,984,349.
The Gulf Coast region consists of 13 counties, nine of them in the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) of Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown. The metropolitan counties include Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller. (San Jacinto County is also in the MSA, but is not included in the Comptroller’s Gulf Coast region.)
The non-metro counties are Colorado, Matagorda, Walker and Wharton. As defined by the federal government, an MSA is a core urban area of 50,000 or more residents accompanied by adjacent communities that have a high degree of economic and social interaction with that core (as measured by commuting to and from work).1 Exhibit 12 illustrates the region’s counties and their county seats.
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA is the nation’s sixth-largest metro area and the second-largest in Texas, with an estimated population of 5,728,143 people in 2008, or nearly a quarter of the state population. Harris County is the nation’s third most-populous county, with a population of 3,984,349. The county accounts for 70 percent of the MSA population and 68 percent of the Gulf Coast regional population.2
Exhibit 12
Gulf Coast Region Metro Counties
Sources: Office of Management and Budget and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Exhibit 13
Gulf Coast Region Population Growth, 2000-2008
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Population Growth
The region’s population rose by an estimated 20.8 percent between 2000 and 2008, led by strong growth in Fort Bend, Montgomery and Brazoria counties. Fort Bend County was the nation’s 20th-fastest growing county during this period, with 50.1 percent growth, while Montgomery County ranked 30th with a 46.4 percent increase. In all, the counties comprising the Houston MSA increased their populations by 21.5 percent while the populations of the region’s four non-metro counties rose by just 1.1 percent (Exhibit 13).3
From 2007 to 2008, the Houston metro area experienced the nation’s second-largest total population increase, adding 130,185 people; Harris County had the second-largest total increase among all U.S. counties, adding 72,153 people.4
The population of the Gulf Coast region increased by an annual average of 2.4 percent from 2000 to 2008, compared to 1.9 percent in Texas. In the year following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the population in the region increased by 182,031, or 3.3 percent, with Harris County adding 123,357 residents, representing 67.8 percent of the region’s total increase. Comparatively, the region’s previous year population increase was 110,374, or 2.1 percent. In that year Harris County added 62,384 residents, or 56.5 percent of the region’s overall increase.
By 2007, Gulf Coast population growth decreased to 2.0 percent; consistent with years prior to Hurricane Katrina (Exhibit 14).11
In the year following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the population in the region increased by 182,031, or 3.3 percent, with Harris County adding 123,357 residents.
Exhibit 14
Annual Population Percent Change
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
The components of population change – natural increase due to births and net domestic and international migration – differ across the region. For example, international migration accounted for 41 percent (or 241,196 persons) of Harris County’s population growth from 2000 to 2008, more than compensating for 95,176 domestic residents – residents moving within the U.S. – that moved out of the county in that period. This domestic out-migration was the second-largest in the state behind Dallas County, which had a net decline of 261,208 domestic residents.
Fort Bend County added 123,903 domestic residents from 2000 to 2008, the third-largest increase of domestic migrants in the state, while Montgomery County had the fifth-largest increase with 101,221 added residents (Exhibit 15).12
In the year following Hurricane Katrina, Harris County experienced a net gain of about 40,000 domestic residents, compared to net loss of more than 31,000 from 2003-04 and nearly 26,000 from 2004-05. The Gulf Coast region added 85,535 domestic residents in the year following Hurricane Katrina, compared to a net increase of 8,186 in the previous year.
From 2007 to 2008, net internal migration increased, mostly due to a smaller net loss of domestic residents in Harris County (Exhibit 16). In that period, Harris County experienced only a 1,835 net loss of domestic residents.13
Exhibit 15
Cumulative Population Change Estimates, Gulf Coast Counties, 2000-2008
| Geographic Area | Natural Increase (Births Minus Deaths) | Net Migration International | Net Migration Domestic | Total Net Migration | Total Population Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin County | 549 | 435 | 2,393 | 2,828 | 3,261 |
| Brazoria County | 21,959 | 5,162 | 33,156 | 38,318 | 59,277 |
| Chambers County | 1,337 | 386 | 1,750 | 2,136 | 3,325 |
| Colorado County | 176 | 533 | -251 | 282 | 365 |
| Fort Bend County | 37,610 | 13,608 | 123,903 | 137,511 | 177,689 |
| Galveston County | 13,893 | 5,904 | 19,752 | 25,656 | 38,081 |
| Harris County | 380,857 | 241,196 | -95,176 | 146,020 | 583,759 |
| Liberty County | 3,202 | 778 | 1,508 | 2,286 | 5,174 |
| Matagorda County | 1,594 | 1,134 | -3,272 | -2,138 | -692 |
| Montgomery County | 25,619 | 8,633 | 101,221 | 109,854 | 136,186 |
| Walker County | 1,686 | 741 | 269 | 1,010 | 2,455 |
| Waller County | 2,331 | 750 | 389 | 1,139 | 3,333 |
| Wharton County | 1,989 | 888 | -3,072 | -2,184 | -397 |
| Gulf Coast Region | 492,802 | 280,148 | 182,570 | 462,718 | 1,011,816 |
| Texas | 1,884,947 | 851,909 | 711,785 | 1,563,694 | 3,475,163 |
Note: Total population change may not equal the sum of natural increase and net migration. The difference includes a residual, which represents the change in population that cannot be attributed to any specific demographic component.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exhibit 16
Gulf Coast Region, Annual Net Migration
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exhibit 17
2008 Population by Ethnicity, U.S., Texas and Gulf Coast Region
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Ethnicity
The Gulf Coast region was 42.7 percent white in 2008, followed by Hispanics at 33.9 percent, blacks at 16.5 percent and Asians at 5.5 percent. The remaining 1.4 percent fell in the “other” category, including American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander and those claiming descent from two or more races. Exhibit 17 compares the Gulf Coast region’s ethnic distribution to that of the state and U.S.
From 2000 to 2008, the white population rose by 6 percent, well below the region’s overall growth of 20.8 percent. As a result, the share of white population fell from 48.7 percent in 2000 to 42.7 percent in 2008.
The Hispanic population rose by 42.9 percent from 2000 to 2008, increasing its Gulf Coast share from 28.6 percent to 33.9 percent. The black population increased by 18.7 percent overall (maintaining its 16.5 percent share), and Asians rose by 39.0 percent. The “other” ethnicities increased by 57.8 percent. Forty percent of Texas’ Asian population resides in the Gulf Coast region.
The black population increased significantly following Hurricane Katrina, adding 62,000 residents, compared to 14,300 in the previous year. The percent growth of the black population spiked 7.0 percent from 2005 to 2006, up from 1.6 in the previous year.
While the “other” population only represents 1.4 percent of the population, it is the fastest growing ethnic demographic in the region. From 2007 to 2008, this demographic increased by 5.5 percent. Hispanics increased 4.3 percent, followed by Asians with 4.1 percent growth. Blacks increased 1.5 percent, similar to growth in years prior to Hurricane Katrina. The white population increased 0.7 percent during this period (Exhibit 18).24
Age
The age distribution of the Gulf Coast population closely mirrors that of the state. Nearly 38 percent of both the region’s and the state’s residents are under the age of 25, above the U.S. distribution of 34.1 percent. On the other end of the spectrum, 8.4 percent of Gulf Coast residents are above the age of 65, compared to 10.2 percent in Texas and 12.8 percent in the U.S. (Exhibit 19). In the region’s non-metro counties, 37.2 percent of the population is under the age of 25, while 13.1 percent are 65 years and over.25
Texas is the second-youngest state in the U.S., with a median age of 33.2 years. The median age of Houston is slightly younger, at 32.8 years. The U.S. median age, by contrast, is 36.8 years.26
Exhibit 19
2008 Population by Age, U.S., Texas and Gulf Coast Region
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists Inc.
Exhibit 20
2008 Educational Attainment of Persons Above the Age of 25, U.S., Texas and Gulf Coast Region
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists Inc.
Educational Attainment
The Gulf Coast’s share of residents with a post-secondary degree is 32 percent which is lower than that of the U.S., at 33 percent. The Texas share is at 30.5 percent. The region’s share of residents without a high school diploma is the same as the state’s at 21 percent, compared to 16 percent in the U.S. (Exhibit 20).27
Unemployment
The Gulf Coast region’s unemployment rate was 8.3 percent in December 2009, slightly higher than the state rate of 8 percent but well below the U.S. rate of 9.7 percent. The region’s unemployment rate rose by almost half from December 2008 to December 2009 (Exhibit 21).
The total number of unemployed workers in the region increased by 52.1 percent over this 12-month period, from 159,453 to 242,559, topping the state increase of 44.2 percent.33
Exhibit 21
Gulf Coast Region December Unemployment Rates
| Area | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Austin County | 4.7% | 8.1% |
| Brazoria County | 6.0% | 9.0% |
| Chambers County | 6.7% | 10.3% |
| Colorado County | 4.6% | 6.4% |
| Fort Bend County | 5.1% | 8.1% |
| Galveston County | 7.6% | 8.9% |
| Harris County | 5.5% | 8.3% |
| Liberty County | 7.2% | 11.1% |
| Matagorda County | 8.2% | 11.8% |
| Montgomery County | 4.8% | 7.6% |
| Walker County | 5.4% | 7.1% |
| Waller County | 5.4% | 8.9% |
| Wharton County | 4.8% | 8.1% |
| Gulf Coast Region | 5.6% | 8.3% |
| Texas | 5.7% | 8.0% |
| U.S. | 7.1% | 9.7% |
Note: Unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Source: Texas Workforce Commission
Income
The median income for all Texas households was $50,049 in 2008 (most recent data available). The region’s median household incomes ranged from $38,244 in Walker County to $83,968 in Fort Bend County. The ten counties of the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA had the highest median household incomes in the region, ranging from $48,374 to $83,968 (Exhibit 22).39
In 2007, the Gulf Coast region’s average personal income eclipsed the state average by 24 percent, at $45,968 versus $37,083, respectively. Once again, the counties of the Houston metro area brought up the average, particularly Harris County, where the average personal income was $49,634 (at least 16 percent higher than in any other county).
Waller County led the region in per capita income growth, with a 34.7 percent rise from 1997 to 2007. Harris County followed with 31.0 percent growth. In all, the region’s per capita personal income rose by 28.1 percent between 1997 and 2007, compared to 21.5 percent for the state as a whole (Exhibit 23).40
Exhibit 22
2008 Gulf Coast Region Socioeconomic Indicators
| Area | Median Household Income 2008 |
Percent of Population in Poverty 2008 |
Percent of Population Under Age 18 in Poverty, 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $52,029 | 13.2% | 18.2% |
| Texas | $50,049 | 15.8% | 22.5% |
| Fort Bend County | $83,968 | 8.0% | 10.2% |
| Chambers County | $66,033 | 9.1% | 12.8% |
| Montgomery County | $65,801 | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Brazoria County | $63,959 | 9.6% | 12.5% |
| Galveston County | $57,950 | 11.9% | 16.1% |
| Harris County | $52,391 | 15.3% | 22.6% |
| Waller County | $50,653 | 15.5% | 21.1% |
| Austin County | $49,721 | 10.6% | 14.9% |
| Liberty County | $48,374 | 16.3% | 22.8% |
| Wharton County | $41,678 | 16.3% | 23.6% |
| Matagorda County | $40,578 | 18.0% | 27.0% |
| Colorado County | $39,441 | 17.9% | 25.2% |
| Walker County | $38,244 | 23.5% | 22.4% |
Note: Gulf Coast region counties are ranked by 2008 median household income.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Exhibit 23
Gulf Coast Region, Per Capita Personal Income (In 2007 Dollars)
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Such comparisons, however, do not account for differences in living costs. A cost-of-living adjustment facilitates a more accurate comparison of income. For example, a person from Huntsville (Walker County) making the county median income of $38,244 in 2008 had the same purchasing power as someone in Houston (Harris County) making an income of $44,467, a difference of 16 percent. In Richmond (Fort Bend County), where living costs were 17 percent higher than in Huntsville, an income of $44,562 in 2008 would have yielded an equivalent purchasing power.41
St. Vincent’s House Free Clinic, Galveston
PHOTO: University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Endnotes
All links were valid at the time of publication. Changes to web sites not maintained by the office of the Texas Comptroller may not be reflected in the links below.
- 1 U.S. Census Bureau, “ Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas,” http://www.census.gov/population/www/metroareas/metroarea.html. (Last visited January 14, 2010.)
- 2 U.S. Census Bureau, “ Estimates of Population Change for Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Rankings: July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2008,” available in Excel format from http://www.census.gov/popest/metro/CBSA-est2008-pop-chg.html; and U.S. Census Bureau, “ Resident Population Estimates for the 100 Largest U.S. Counties Based on July 1, 2008 Population Estimates: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008,” available in Excel format from http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2008-07.html; and U.S. Census Bureau, “ Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties of Texas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008,” available in Excel format from http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2008-01.html. (Last visited January 14, 2010.)
- 3 U.S. Census Bureau, “ Cumulative Estimates of Resident Population Change for Counties of Texas and County Rankings: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008,” available in Excel format from http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2008-02.html; and U.S. Census Bureau, “ Resident Population Estimates for the 100 Fastest Growing U.S. Counties with 10,000 or More Population in 2008: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008,” available in Excel format from http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2008-08.html. (Last visited January 14, 2010.)
- 4 U.S. Census Bureau, “ Estimates of Population Change for Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Rankings: July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2008” ; and U.S. Census Bureau, “ County Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008,” available in CSV format from http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/counties.html. (Last visited January 14, 2009.)
- 5 Texas Historical Commission, “ Spotlight on… Freeport,” Main Street Matters (October 2007), pp. 1-2, http://www.thc.state.tx.us/mainstreet/msPDF/org_msmatters_10_07.pdf. (Last visited January 19, 2010.)
- 6 Texas Gatorfest, “2009 Texas Gatorfest-Event Schedule,” http://www.texasgatorfest.com/schedule.htm; “2009 Texas Gatorfest-Activities,” http://www.texasgatorfest.com/activities.htm; “2009 Texas Gatorfest-Event Forms,” http://www.texasgatorfest.com/forms.htm; and Cedric Iglehart, “ Victorian Grabs Gargantuan Gator, Wins Tournament,” Victoria Advocate (October 12, 2009), http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2009/oct/12/ci_gator_harvest_101209_69591/?sports& local-sports. (Last visited January 17, 2010.)
- 7 Ashley Marchand, “ A Fall Favorite,” Katy Sun (October 7, 2009), http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2009/10/07/katy_sun/news/sws-rice_harvest_festival.txt. (Last visited January 17, 2010.)
- 8 Mardi Gras! Galveston, “99th Mardi Gras Galveston: February 5-16, 2010,” http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com/index.html; and “ Mardi Gras! Press Releases: Mardi Gras Galveston 2009, Saengerfest Park & The Strand District Entertainment Schedule,” http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com/media/releases.html. (Last visited February 16, 2010.)
- 9 Dayton Ole Tyme Days Festival, “ Dayton Ole Tyme Days Festival, April 16th – 18th,” http://www.oletymedays.com/; and Hull-Daisetta Mayhaw Festival, “ Hull-Daisetta Mayhaw Festival, April 26 – May 1,” http://www.mayhawfestival.org/. (Last visited January 18, 2010.)
- 10 Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival, “2010 Cajun Catfish Festival, October 8th, 9th and 10th,” http://www.conroecajuncatfishfestival.com/. (Last visited January 18, 2010.)
- 11 U.S. Census Bureau, “ Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties of Texas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008.”
- 12 U.S. Census Bureau, “ Cumulative Estimates of the Components of Resident Population Change for Counties of Texas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008,” available in Excel format from http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2008-04.html. (Last visited January 15, 2009.)
- 13 U.S. Census Bureau, “ Annual Estimates of the Components of Population Change for Counties of Texas: July 1, 2003 to July 1, 2004,” available in Excel format from http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2004-05.html; U.S. Census Bureau, “ Annual Estimates of the Components of Population Change for Counties of Texas: July 1, 2004 to July 1, 2005,” available in Excel format from http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2005-05.html; U.S. Census Bureau, “ Estimates of the Components of Population Change for Counties of Texas: July 1, 2005 to July 1, 2006,” available in Excel format from http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2006-05.html; and U.S. Census Bureau, “ Estimates of the Components of Resident Population Change for Counties of Texas: July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2008,” available in Excel format from http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2008-05.html. (Last visited January 15, 2009.)
- 14 Houston Astros, “ Astros Timeline: 1962-1969,” http://houston.astros.mlb.com/hou/history/timeline1.jsp; and “ Astros Timeline: 2000-Present,” http://houston.astros.mlb.com/hou/history/timeline5.jsp. (Last visited January 18, 2010.)
- 15 Major League Soccer, “ Houston Dynamo: History of Soccer in Houston,” http://web.mlsnet.com/t200/history/; “ Houston Dynamo to Host Championship Rally on Steps of City Hall,” Houston, Texas, November 18, 2007, http://www.mlsnet.com/t200/fans/2007/celebration_rally/ (press release); “ Houston Dynamo: Robertson Stadium,” http://houston.mlsnet.com/t200/stadium; and Sports Image, “ San Jose Earthquakes v Houston Dynamo,” http://sportsimage.blogspot.com/2008/10/san-jose-earthquakes-v-houston-dynamo.html. (Last visited February 8, 2010.)
- 16 Bob Schranz, Houston Rockets 2009-2010 Media Guide (Houston, Texas: Houston Rockets, 2009), pp 130-131, http://www.nba.com/media/rockets/2009-10MediaGuide_page129.170.pdf. (Last visited January 18, 2010.)
- 17 Sportsecyclopedia, “ Houston Oilers (1960-1996),” http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/tenhou/houoilers.html; “ Tennessee Titans (1997-Present),” http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/ten/tentitans.html. (Last visited January 18, 2010.)
- 18 Houston Texans, “ Texans Team History,” http://www.houstontexans.com/team/texansteamhistory.asp; “ Reliant Stadium,” http://www.houstontexans.com/mediaguide/html/Reliant-Stadium-1.html; “ Top Attendance,” http://assets.houstontexans.com/assets/team/279%20top%20attendance.pdf; and “ Texans Honors,” http://assets.houstontexans.com/assets/team/291%20honors.pdf. (Last visited January 18, 2010.)
- 19 Houston Aeros, “ History of the Houston Aeros,” http://www.aeros.com/team/history/. (Last visited January 18, 2010.)
- 20 Houston Takers, “ About Us,” http://www.houstontakers.com/about.php. (Last visited January 18, 2010 .)
- 21 Independent Women’ s Football League, “ Houston Energy Bring Texas Powerhouse to IWFL,” http://www.iwflsports.com/show_news.php?news_id=316. (Last visited January 18, 2010.)
- 22 Women’ s National Basketball Association, “ Thank You Comets Fans,” http://www.wnba.com/comets/news/comets_thankyou.html. (Last visited January 18, 2010.)
- 23 Huntsville Amateur Baseball Association, “2010 Stan Musial World Series,” http://www.smws.us/; and “2009 AABC Stan Musial World Series,” http://www.smws.us/stats2009/confstat.htm. (Last visited January 18, 2010.)
- 24 U.S. Census Bureau, “ Annual Estimates of the Resident Population by Sex, Race Alone, and Hispanic Origin for Texas Counties: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008,” available in CSV format from http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/asrh/CC-EST2008-RACE6.html; U.S. Census Bureau, “ Annual Estimates of the Resident Population by Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin for Texas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008,” available in Excel format from http://www.census.gov/popest/states/asrh/SC-EST2008-03.html; and U.S. Census Bureau, “ Annual Estimates of the Resident Population by Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin for the United States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008,” available in Excel format from http://www.census.gov/popest/national/asrh/NC-EST2008-srh.html. (Last visited January 15, 2010.)
- 25 Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc., “ Demographic Data Report 3rd Quarter 2009.” Custom queries created. (Last visited October 26, 2009.)
- 26 U.S. Census Bureau, “ Houston City, Texas: 2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates,”; and U.S. Census Bureau, “ United States– States: Median Age of the Total Population (Geographies Ranked by Estimate),” (Last visited February 16, 2010.)
- 27 Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc., “ Educational Attainment Overview Report 3rd Quarter 2009.”
- 28 Internet Movie Database, “ Biography for Dennis Quaid,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000598/bio; “ Jaclyn Smith,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000646/; “ Biography for Jennifer Garner,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004950/bio; “ Biography for Patrick Swayze,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000664/bio; “ Biography for Renee Zellweger,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000250/; “ Richard Linklater,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000500; “ Awards for Richard Linklater,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000500/awards; “ Wes Anderson,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0027572/; “ Awards for Wes Anderson,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0027572/awards; “ Biography for Hilary Duff,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0240381/bio; and “ Haylie Duff,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0240380/. (Last visited January 17, 2010.)
- 29 AOL Music, “ Billy Gibbons Biography,” http://music.aol.com/artist/billy-gibbons/biography/1063099; Internet Movie Database, “ Kenny Rogers,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0737006/; “ Biography for Beyonce Knowles,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0461498/bio; “ Biography for Lyle Lovett,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005164/bio; A.J. Foyt, Racing, “ Biography: Anthony Joseph Foyt, Jr.,” http://www.foytracing.com/aj/index.html; and National Football League, “ Eric Dickerson,” http://www.nfl.com/players/ericdickerson/profile?id=DIC276860; Pro Football Hall of Fame, “ Eric Dickerson, Class of 1999,” http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/release.aspx?release_id=1313. (Last visited January 17, 2010.)
- 30 Academy of Achievement, “ Denton A. Cooley, M.D.,” http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/coo0-1int; Internet Movie Database, “ Biography for Dan Rather,” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0711710/bio; Adair Enterprises, “ Red Adair: Oilfield Firefighter, American Hero,” http://www.redadair.com/hisstory.html; Biography.com, “ Michael Dell Biography (1965-,” http://www.biography.com/articles/Michael-Dell-9542199; Dell.com, “ Michael Dell, Dell Computer Corporation, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,” http://www.ita.doc.gov/TD/PEC/michaeldell.html. (Last visited January 19, 2010.)
- 31 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, “ History,” http://www.hlsr.com/about/history.aspx; “ Economic Impact,” http://www.hlsr.com/about/economic-impact.aspx, “ Scholarships,” http://www.hlsr.com/about/scholarship/index.aspx. (Last visited January 15, 2010.)
- 32 Texas Prison Museum, “ Texas Prison Rodeo History,” http://www.txprisonmuseum.org/articles/rodeo_history.html. (Last visited January 15, 2010.)
- 33 Texas Workforce Commission, “ Texas Labor Market Information: Unemployment (LAUS),” http://www.tracer2.com/cgi/dataAnalysis/AreaSelection.asp?tableName=Labforce. (Last visited January 7, 2010.) Custom queries created.
- 34 Texas Department of Criminal Justice, “ Unit Directory,” http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/all.htm, with custom queries for unit profiles within Gulf Region counties (last visited January 14, 2010); interview with Karen Hall, Manager 3, Executive Services, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Huntsville, Texas, October 5, 2009; and e-mail communication with Michaela Ginsel, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, January 31, 2010, with attached Excel spreadsheet, “ Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Capacities and Population Report, January 31, 2009.”
- 35 E-mail communication with Julie Artherholt, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, October 19, 2009, with attached Excel spreadsheet, “ Texas Department of Criminal Justice: Fiscal Year 2009 Wages for TDCJ Facilities Located in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, and Walker Counties” ; e-mail communication with Jimmy Marr, the Geo Group, October 22, 2009; Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce, “ Major Employers in Walker County,” http://www.chamber.huntsville.tx.us/Custom2.asp?pageid=4792; and Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce, “ Texas Prison System,” http://www.chamber.huntsville.tx.us/Custom2.asp?pageid=4805. (Last visited January 14, 2010.)
- 36 Texas Department of Criminal Justice, “ Unit Directory” ; Go-Texas.net, “ City and State Information for Texas: Amarillo, Texas,” http://www.go-texas.net/travel/stateInfo.cfm?cityDetail=Amarillo (last visited November 15, 2009); Texas Department of Criminal Justice, General Information Guide for Families of Offenders (Huntsville, Texas, July 2008), pp. 16-18, http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/publications/executive/gen_info_guide_families_offenders_2008.pdf. (Last visited January 14, 2010.)
- 37 Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Annual Review 2008 (Huntsville, Texas, September 2009), pp. 11-12, http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/mediasvc/annualreview2008.html (last visited January 14, 2010); and Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce, “ Texas Prison System.”
- 38 Jennifer Gonnerman, “ Slammed,” Mother Jones (July-August, 2008), p. 44 (Nexis document); Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Annual Review 2008, pp. 20-21, 32-33; and Texas Department of Criminal Justice, General Information Guide for Families of Offenders, pp. 14-19.
- 39 U.S. Census Bureau, “ Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates – State and County Interactive Tables.” http://www.census.gov/did/www/saipe/county.html. (Last visited January 13, 2010.) A custom query was created for the Gulf Coast Region counties.
- 40 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, “ Regional Economic Accounts: Table CA1-3 – Personal Income, Population, Per Capita Personal Income,” http://www.bea.gov/regional/reis/default.cfm?selTable=CA1-3§ion=2. (Last visited October 22, 2009.) Custom queries created for Texas population, personal income and per capita personal income.
- 41 Sperling’ s Best Places, “ Cost of Living Calculator,” http://www.bestplaces.net/col/. (Last visited October 22, 2009.) Custom queries were created comparing Huntsville to Houston and Richmond, Texas.
- 42 Texas Department of Public Safety, “ The Texas Crime Report for 2008,” http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/pages/crimestatistics.htm, pp. 100, 108-110, 117, 121, 138-139, 141-142, 148-152, 170, 176, 179-180, 206-209, with custom queries and calculations by Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; employment data provided by Texas Department of Public Safety with custom queries and calculations by Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; and Texas Workforce Commission, “ Quarterly Employment and Wages (QCEW),” http://www.tracer2.com/cgi/dataanalysis/AreaSelection.asp?tableName=Industry (last visited January 17, 2010) with custom queries and calculations by Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.