County population in 2012: 23,161 (27% urban, 73% rural); it was 23,185 in 2000 County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 2,483 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 3,831 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 6,283 Renter-occupied apartments: 2,342 (it was 1,976 in 2000)
% of renters here:
24%
State:
36%
Land area: 1231 sq. mi. Water area: 5.9 sq. mi.
Population density: 19 people per square mile
(low).
Mar. 2012 cost of living index in Houston County: 80.3 (low, U.S. average is 100)
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Industries providing employment: Educational,health and social services (20.3%), Retail trade (10.8%), Agriculture,forestry,fishing and hunting, and mining (10.6%), Public administration (10.3%), Construction (10.1%).
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2009: $1,022 (1.3%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2009: $493 (0.8%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 27.7%
(17.5% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 50.4% for Black residents, 37.2% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 9.7% for American Indian residents, 56.0% for other race residents, 0.8% for two or more races residents) Median age of residents in 2010: 43 years old
(Males: 42 years old, Females: 45 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 47 years old, Black residents: 39 years old, American Indian residents: 46 years old, Asian residents: 31 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 29 years old, Other race residents: 32 years old)
Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
21.0%
Whole state:
15.4%
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
9.5%
Whole state:
6.7%
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Houston County is $500 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $560 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $670 a month.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in Houston County: Pond Camp (A), Creek (B), Ratcliff Lake Recreation Site (C), Walnut Creek Camp (D), Hazel Chapel (E), Langum Quarter (F), Malibu Club (G), Neches Bluff Overlook (H), Pearsons Chapel (I), Rice Chapel (J), Eastham State Prison Farm (K), Spring Creek Country Club (L), Seven J Ramp Ranch (M), Rattlesnake Ranch (N), Alabama Ferry (O), Long Plantation (P), Mose Owens Farm (Q), Caroline Williams Farm (R), Wilmore Farm (S), Trinity River Loading and Landing (T). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Houston County include: Vistula Church (A), Tadmor Church (B), Thankful Missionary Baptist Church (C), White Rock United Methodist Church (D), Union Prairie Church (E), Union Grove Church (F), San Pedro Church (G), Union Chapel (H), Pennington Chapel (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: Ivy Cemetery (1), Tyer Cemetery (2), Post Oak Cemetery (3), Enon Cemetery (4), Gulceville Cemetery (5), Antioch Cemetery (6), Smith Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Lakes, reservoirs, and swamps: Krem Lake (A), Sawmill Lake (B), Bobbitt Lake (C), Hargrove Lake (D), Grove Lakes (E), Mission Lake (F), Calvert Lake (G), Blue Lake (H). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Boggy Creek (A), Blackhouse Creek (B), Black Lick Branch (C), Big Elkhart Creek (D), Big Creek (E), Boons Creek (F), Bennett Creek (G), Arnold Creek (H), Wallace Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Parks in Houston County include: Fodice Marker (1), Mission Tejas State Park (2), Thomas Jefferson Payne Home (3), Antioch Premitive Baptist Church Historical Marker (4), Colthorp Historical Marker (5), Rosenwald School Historical Marker (6). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 487 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 70.0% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 12.2%
Number of foreign born residents: 702 (17% naturalized citizens)
Houston County:
3.0%
Whole state:
13.9%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 258
1990 to 1994: 235
1985 to 1989: 75
1980 to 1984: 37
1975 to 1979: 42
1970 to 1974: 10
1970 to 1974: 8
1965 to 1969: 37
Mean travel time to work (commute): 23.9 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 79.1%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 7,591
One, attached: 166
Two: 469
3 or 4: 70
5 to 9: 60
10 to 19: 29
20 or more: 75
Mobile homes: 2,165
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 105
Housing units in Houston County with a mortgage: 1,567 (22 second mortgage, 45 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 2,110
Here:
42.6% with mortgage
State:
64.2% with mortgage
Religion statistics:
Percentage of population affiliated with a religious congregations: 52.48%
Here
52.5%
USA
50.2%
Total adherents: 12,167 Total congregations: 72
Adherents
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregations
Name
Southern Baptist Convention
United Methodist Church
Baptist Missionary Association of America
Churches of Christ
Catholic Church
Adherents
6,730 (55.3%)
1,269 (10.4%)
1,080 (8.9%)
801 (6.6%)
729 (6.0%)
Congregations
26 (36.1%)
12 (16.7%)
4 (5.6%)
9 (12.5%)
2 (2.8%)
Name
American Baptist Association
Assemblies of God
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Other
Adherents
438 (3.6%)
421 (3.5%)
164 (1.3%)
151 (1.2%)
384 (3.2%)
Congregations
6 (8.3%)
4 (5.6%)
1 (1.4%)
2 (2.8%)
6 (8.3%)
Source: Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Average size of farms: 307 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $22,776 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $107.08 The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 81.59% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $25,113 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 12.76% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 7.34% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $34,366 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 93.92% Average age of principal farm operators: 60 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 22.25 Corn for grain: 2777 harvested acres Upland cotton: 4406 harvested acres Vegetables: 788 harvested acres Land in orchards: 1,547 acres
Tornado activity:
Houston County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is slightly below Texas state average. It is 1.1 times above overall U.S. average. Tornadoes in this county have caused one fatality and 16 injuries recorded between 1950 and 2004. On 5/16/1953, a category 3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado killed one person and injured 8 people
Most recent natural disasters:
Texas Hurricane Ike, Incident Period: September 7, 2008 to October 2, 2008, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1791): September 13, 2008, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1791, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Texas Wildfires, Incident Period: March 14, 2008 to September 1, 2008, Emergency Declared (EM-3284): March 14, 2008, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3284, Natural disaster type: Fire
Texas Hurricane Rita, Incident Period: September 23, 2005 to October 14, 2005, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1606): September 24, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1606, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Texas Hurricane Rita, Incident Period: September 20, 2005 to October 14, 2005, Emergency Declared (EM-3261): September 21, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3261, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Texas Hurricane Katrina, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 1, 2005, Emergency Declared (EM-3216): September 2, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3216, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Texas Loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia, Incident Period: February 1, 2003, Emergency Declared (EM-3171): February 1, 2003, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3171, Natural disaster type: Other
Texas Severe Storms & Flooding, Incident Period: June 5, 2001 to June 20, 2001, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1379): June 9, 2001, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1379, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Texas Extreme Fire Hazards, Incident Period: August 1, 1999 to December 10, 1999, Emergency Declared (EM-3142): September 1, 1999, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3142, Natural disaster type: Fire
Texas Fire Emergency, Incident Period: February 23, 1996 to September 19, 1996, Emergency Declared (EM-3117): February 23, 1996, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3117, Natural disaster type: Fire
Texas Severe Storm,Thunderstorms, Flooding, Incident Period: October 14, 1994 to November 8, 1994, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1041): October 18, 1994, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1041, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
5 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in Houston County (15) is greater than the US average (12). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 8 Emergencies Declared: 7
Causes of natural disasters: Storms: 6, Floods: 5, Fires: 4, Hurricanes: 4, Tornadoes: 2, Other: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Law enforcement workers including supervisors (6%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (6%)
Metal workers and plastic workers (6%)
Farmers and farm managers (5%)
Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (5%)
Other production occupations including supervisors (5%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (4%)
Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (11%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (7%)
Secretaries and administrative assistants (7%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (6%)
Retail sales workers except cashiers (4%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (4%)
Law enforcement workers including supervisors (3%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Mexico (79%)
Germany (4%)
Philippines (3%)
Malaysia (2%)
United Kingdom (2%)
Asia, n.e.c. (2%)
Canada (1%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Houston County (%):
United States or American (20%)
English (8%)
Irish (7%)
German (7%)
Scotch-Irish (3%)
French (except Basque) (2%)
Scottish (1%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 6,024 (77%)
Carpooled: 1,237 (16%)
Bus or trolley bus: 16 (0%)
Taxi: 18 (0%)
Motorcycle: 2 (0%)
Bicycle: 24 (0%)
Walked: 191 (2%)
Other means: 67 (1%)
Worked at home: 264 (3%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders
People in group quarters in Houston County, Texas in 2000:
2,386 people in state prisons
318 people in nursing homes
243 people in training schools for juvenile delinquents
52 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
People in group quarters in Houston County, Texas in 2010:
2,436 people in state prisons
270 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
109 people in correctional facilities intended for juveniles
70 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
23 people in workers’ group living quarters and job corps centers
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $36,780.
6.88% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($35,659 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.88%
Texas average:
8.37%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
5.67% relocated from other counties in Texas ($24,496 average AGI)
1.21% relocated from other states ($11,163 average AGI)
Houston County:
1.21%
Texas average:
3.06%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:
7.29% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($31,973 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
7.29%
Texas average:
7.44%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
6.14% relocated to other counties in Texas ($26,961 average AGI)
1.15% relocated to other states ($5,012 average AGI)
Houston County:
1.15%
Texas average:
2.17%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 12.4 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 11.2
Births per 1000 population in Houston County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 13.8 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 13.4
Deaths per 1000 population in Houston County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 8.3 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 5.1
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Houston County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 4,569 (3,975 aged, 594 disabled) Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 20% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 19%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 4.29 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 10586.62 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 231.730 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 43947.13
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1089.670 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1279.180
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 27.4 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 55.99
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 8.61
Crimes per 100,000 population in 1996: 1
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 149.4. This is more than state average.
Household type by relationship:
Households: 20,824
In family households: 17,710 (3,841 male householders, 2,027 female householders)
4,244 spouses, 5,505 children (5,008 natural, 146 adopted, 351 stepchildren), 797 grandchildren, 240 brothers or sisters, 175 parents, 343 other relatives, 404 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 3,114 (1,237 male householders (1,069 living alone)), 1,551 female householders (1,436 living alone)), 326 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 2,908 (2,885 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 2,897 2-persons, 1,233 3-persons, 968 4-persons, 468 5-persons, 186 6-persons, 116 7-or-more-persons.
92.5% of residents of Houston County speak English at home.
7.0% of residents speak Spanish at home (57% speak English very well, 24% speak English well, 13% speak English not well, 6% don't speak English at all).
0.3% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (52% speak English very well, 35% speak English well, 13% speak English not well).
0.2% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (80% speak English very well, 20% speak English well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $171,225,000 ($7348 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $6,030,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $66,316,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $39,637,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $1,582,000 Federal grants: $55,928,000 Federal procurement contracts: $3,192,000 ($2,071,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $4,569,000 ($0,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $437,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $1,890,000 Federal Government insurance: $4,493,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,362
Here:
59 per 1000 residents
State:
85 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 1,617
Here:
70 per 1000 residents
State:
35 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +243
Here:
+10 per 1000 residents
State:
+29 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +75
Here:
+3 per 1000 residents
State:
+10 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Houston County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 3.61 millions of gallons per day (52% from ground, 48% from surface)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
5.5
State:
5.8
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.4
State:
3.8
Year house built
2005 or later: 170
2000 to 2004: 464
1990 to 1999: 1,362
1980 to 1989: 2,456
1970 to 1979: 2,108
1960 to 1969: 1,352
1950 to 1959: 1,055
1940 to 1949: 953
1939 or earlier: 1,228
Rooms in houses/apartments in Houston County, Texas
55% of Houston County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 44% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 84% lived in Texas.
Houston County:
54.9%
State average:
51.6%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 19140
Northeast: 139
Midwest: 1114
South: 1125
West: 915
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $32,500
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 3%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 3%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit:
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Houston County
43.0 years
33.0 years
(52.1%)
(47.9%)
, Angelina County 
, Cherokee County 
, Leon County 
, Madison County 
, Trinity County 
, Walker County 
.
