Harris County, Texas

Harris County is a large county in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the most populous county in Texas and the third-most populous county in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,731,145, and it was estimated to be 5,045,026 in 2025.

The county's main city, called its county seat, is Houston, which is the most populous city in Texas and the fourth-most populous city in the United States. Harris County was created on December 22, 1836, and it was organized for government on March 10, 1837. It is named after John Richardson Harris, who started a town called Harrisburg near the Buffalo Bayou in 1826.

Harris County is part of the busy Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land area, which is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the United States. The county holds over 16% of all the people living in Texas.

History

People have lived in the Harris County area since around 4000 BC. More evidence of people shows up from 1400 BC, 1 AD, and later. After 1 AD, the area was empty until Europeans arrived. Europeans didn’t do much there before 1821. One explorer, Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, might have passed through in 1529, and French traders went through in the 1700s. The Spanish tried to build a fort but didn’t stay long.

The first Europeans known to settle in Harris County arrived in 1822. Their ship got stuck near Galveston Bay. Some settled in places like Morgan's Point and Cedar Point. More families came soon after. In 1824, Stephen F. Austin helped families get land titles in the area. Over time, more people moved in, and small towns began to form.

Harris County was officially created on December 22, 1836, named after John Richardson Harris. The county’s borders changed a bit in 1838.

The area has seen many big storms over the years, including hurricanes like Carla, Alicia, Rita, Harvey, and others.

Geography

Harris County is a large area in the state of Texas. It covers 1,777 square miles, with most of it being land and a small part being water. This makes it the 14th largest county in Texas. The county’s total size is bigger than the whole state of Rhode Island.

The county touches several other counties around it, including Montgomery to the north, Liberty to the northeast, Chambers to the east, Galveston to the southeast, Brazoria to the south, Fort Bend to the southwest, and Waller to the northwest.

Communities

Cities

Multiple counties

• Baytown (partly in Chambers County)
• Friendswood (mostly in Galveston County)
• Houston (county seat and largest municipality) (small parts in Fort Bend and Montgomery counties)
• Katy (partly in Fort Bend, Harris, and Waller counties)
• League City (mostly in Galveston County)
• Missouri City (mostly in Fort Bend County)
• Pearland (mostly in Brazoria County and a small part in Fort Bend County)
• Seabrook (some water surface in Chambers County)
• Stafford (mostly in Fort Bend County)
• Waller (partly in Waller County)

Harris County only

• Bellaire
• Bunker Hill Village
• Deer Park
• El Lago
• Galena Park
• Hedwig Village
• Hilshire Village
• Humble
• Hunters Creek Village
• Jacinto City
• Jersey Village
• La Porte
• Morgan's Point
• Nassau Bay
• Pasadena
• Piney Point Village
• Shoreacres
• South Houston
• Southside Place
• Spring Valley Village
• Taylor Lake Village
• Tomball
• Webster
• West University Place

Unincorporated areas

Census-designated places

• Aldine
• Atascocita
• Barrett
• Channelview
• Cinco Ranch (mostly in Fort Bend County)
• Cloverleaf
• Crosby
• Highlands
• Mission Bend (mostly in Fort Bend County)
• Sheldon
• Spring
• The Woodlands (mostly in Montgomery County)

Other communities

• Alief (Partially annexed by Houston, partially unincorporated)
• Airline
• Bammel
• Barker
• Beaumont Place
• Bridgeland Community
• Cedar Bayou
• Champion Forest
• Cimarron
• Coady
• Cypress
• Dyersdale
• East Aldine
• Fall Creek
• Hockley
• Houmont Park
• Huffman
• Hufsmith
• Kinwood
• Klein
• Kleinbrook
• Kohrville
• Louetta
• Lynchburg
• McNair
• North Houston
• Northcliffe
• Northcliffe Manor
• Northgate Forest
• Remington Ranch
• Rose Hill
• Satsuma
• Traces
• Westfield

Demographics

Harris County, Texas, is a large place with lots of people. In 2020, about 4.7 million people lived there. By 2025, this number was expected to grow to around 5 million, making it the biggest county in Texas and one of the biggest in the United States.

In 2023, there were about 1.7 million homes in Harris County, with an average of 2.7 people living in each home. The median household income was $73,104, and about 16% of people lived in poverty. Many people in the county spoke languages other than English at home, with Spanish being the most common. The county also had a rich mix of different racial and ethnic groups.

Government and politics

County governments in Texas help carry out state laws. They are led by a group called the commissioners' court, which includes four precinct commissioners and a county judge. This group handles the county's general business and money matters. They can also hire people to manage important services like health and human services.

Harris County has changed its voting patterns over time. It used to vote mostly for one party but has shifted toward another in recent years. The county is seen as a balance point in Texas politics. It has voted for the winner in many presidential elections from 2000 to 2012. The opinions of people in Harris County have also changed on topics like marriage rights and immigration policies.

County facilities

The old county courthouse from 1910 was updated in the 1950s and again in the 2010s. Today, important courts meet there. The county also has a large jail complex, which is one of the biggest in the country. There is also a cemetery for people without other burial options, which has grown too full and led to the creation of a second one.

County government

Harris County has many elected leaders, including judges and officials who help run the county. There are also special courts for different types of cases, like family or criminal matters.

State government

The state of Texas runs some correction facilities in Harris County, including jails for men. These help manage people who are serving short sentences.

Law enforcement

Many different groups work to keep Harris County safe, including the county sheriff’s office, city police departments, and school police. Together, they spend a lot each year to protect the community. Some people think combining some of these groups could save money.

Administration by judiciary

In Texas, the main leader of a county is called the County Judge. This person chairs the Commissioners' Court, which helps run the county. In 2019, Judge Lina Hidalgo became the County Judge of Harris County.

The county is divided into four areas, called precincts. Each precinct elects a Commissioner to help make decisions for their area. There are also many other important jobs in Harris County, like the County Attorney, County Clerk, District Attorney, District Clerk, Sheriff, Constables, Tax Assessor-Collector, County Treasurer, and many judges. Many of these offices are located in the Harris County Campus in Downtown Houston.

Economy

See also: Economy of Houston

Harris County has many big companies and jobs. In 2000, some of the largest employers were Administaff, Compaq, Continental Airlines, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, and Southwestern Bell.

The University of Houston System helps the local economy a lot. It brings in over $1.1 billion each year and creates many jobs for people who graduate and stay in the area.

Many companies have their main offices in Harris County, such as Academy Sports and Outdoors and Hewlett-Packard. Some companies moved their offices to new buildings, while others changed plans depending on the economy.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

The Harris County Department of Education helps local schools in the area. It is based in Houston and has centers for adults learning new skills.

Many school districts work together to serve the communities in Harris County. Some of these districts include Aldine ISD, Alief ISD, Houston ISD, Katy ISD, and Spring Branch ISD. In 2013, the North Forest Independent School District closed, and its students joined Houston ISD. There are also special schools run by the state, such as Jamie's House Charter School and YES Prep North Central.

Colleges and universities

See also: List of colleges and universities in Houston

Harris County is home to four state universities. The University of Houston is a big research university and the main school in the University of Houston System. Other universities include the University of Houston–Clear Lake, the University of Houston–Downtown, and Texas Southern University.

There are also private colleges, such as Rice University, known for its teaching and research. Community colleges like the Houston Community College System and the Lone Star College System help students in many parts of the county.

Public libraries

Harris County has its own public library system, called the Harris County Public Library. The city of Houston also runs the Houston Public Library. Some cities, like Baytown and Bellaire, have their own libraries too.

Emergency services

Police services

Cities in Harris County have their own police departments, but the county also has the Harris County Sheriff's Office. This office helps keep peace in areas that are not part of any city and supports the police in the cities.

Harris County has constables for each of its eight areas, with many helpers who work to keep things safe. They watch over the county and protect important buildings like courts and offices.

Municipal fire/EMS services

The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office has different teams for investigating, responding to emergencies, and checking safety rules. It is based at 2318 Atascocita Road in an area not part of a city. Cities have their own fire departments. For example, the city of Houston has the Houston Fire Department, which takes care of fires and emergency medical help for the city.

Emergency services districts

Some places outside the cities, and a few small towns, get fire and emergency medical help from special groups called Emergency Service Districts. These groups can collect taxes to pay for their services. They can offer fire help, medical help, or both.

These districts can provide services themselves or work with other agencies. They sometimes overlap to make sure both fire and medical help are available.

Hospital services

In Harris County, there is a special health system called the Harris Health System that helps people who cannot afford to pay for medical care. This system runs two big hospitals, LBJ General Hospital and Ben Taub General Hospital, along with many clinics.

Many other hospitals, both private and public, operate in Harris County. These include hospitals in the Texas Medical Center and places like the Harris County Psychiatric Center.

Transportation

Harris County is an important center for transportation, with many ways to get around including buses, highways, and new technologies like self-driving cars. The county is close to big cities and is growing quickly, which helps shape how people travel in Texas.

The county has many bus and train services to help people move around easily. There are also many big roads and highways that connect different parts of the county and beyond. Harris County has two major airports, George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport, which help connect the area to places all over the world.