Demographic Characteristics

Caveats, Population

Race
These categories are sociopolitical constructs and should not be interpreted as being scientific or anthropological in nature.

Comparability of race over time
The data on race in Census 2000 are not directly comparable to those collected in previous censuses. The concept of race is separate from the concept of Hispanic origin. Percentages for the various race categories add to 100 percent, and should not be combined with the percent Hispanic. Tallies that show race categories for Hispanics and nonHispanics separately are also available.

Sources

Estimated population, ethnicity, gender, and age distributions:
Texas State Data Center, Department of Rural Sociology, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A & M University System.
Race:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census of Population, Public Law 94-171 Redistricting DataFile. Updated every 10 years.
County size in square miles:
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, A1990 Census of Population and Housing
Population Projections, 0.5 Scenario:
Texas State Data Center, Texas Population Estimates and Projections Programs, Texas A&M University.
Household Information:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census of Population, Public Law 94-171 Redistricting Data File. Updated every 10 years.

Socioeconomic Characteristics

Sources

Unemployment rates
Texas Workforce Commission. Economic Research and Analysis Department, "Civilian Labor Force Estimates, Texas Counties, Annual Average."
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients (average monthly), and food stamp participants (average monthly)
Texas Department of Human Services.
Unduplicated Count of Medicaid Eligibles
Texas Department of Human Services, Budget Management Services, Texas Medicaid Statistical Information System (MSIS).
Per Capita Personal Income
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
Persons Living Below Poverty
The U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) program.
Persons Without Health Insurance
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, "Estimated Number of Persons Without Health Insurance in Texas by County."
Violent Crime Rate
Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Child Abuse Rate
Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Sevices
Suicide Rate
TDH Bureau of Vital Statistics, TDH Office of Policy and Planning

Participation in Needs-Based Programs

Sources

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients (average monthly), and food stamp participants (average monthly)
Texas Department of Human Services.
Persons Without Health Insurance
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, "Estimated Number of Persons Without Health Insurance in Texas by County."

Child and Adult Health Conditions

Caveats, Child and Maternal Health

Maternal and infant health rates.
[ ] Bracketed rates indicate that 20 or fewer birth-related events occurred. Caution should be used when interpreting these rates, because a small change in the number of events can result in large changes in the rates.

Sources

Births
TDH, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Birth Certificate File.
Infant Deaths and Fetal Deaths
TDH, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Death Certificate File and Fetal Death Certificate File.
Fertility rate
TDH, Office of Policy and Planning, Rates calculated using total live births from the 1999 birth certificate file and the 1999 estimated population of females 15 to 44 years of age from the Texas State Data Center, Department of Rural Sociology, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A&M University System.
Prenatal care in first trimester
TDH, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Percent low birth weight infants
TDH, Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Communicable Diseases - Reported Cases

Child and Maternal Health

Caveats

[ ] Bracketed rates indicate that 20 or fewer cases occurred. Caution should be used when interpreting these rates, because a small change in the number of cases can result in large changes in the rates.

All rates have been calculated using 1999 estimated population data from the Texas State Data Center, Department of Rural Sociology, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A & M University System.

Sources

Tuberculosis Incidence
TDH, Associateship for Disease Control and Prevention, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Tuberculosis Elimination Division, Tuberculosis incidence data set.
Primary and Secondary Syphilis
TDH, Bureau of HIV and STD Prevention, HIV/STD Epidemiology Division, Sexually Transmitted Diseases incidence data set.
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia
TDH, Bureau of HIV and STD Prevention, HIV/STD Epidemiology Division, Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
AIDS
TDH, Bureau of HIV and STD Prevention, HIV/STD Epidemiology Division, HIV/AIDS.
Viral Hepatitis Incidence
TDH, Associateship for Disease Control and Prevention, Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance Division, Epidemiology in Texas Annual Report.

Mortality

Caveats

[ ] Bracketed rates indicate that 20 or fewer deaths occurred. Caution should be used when interpreting these rates, because a small change in the number of deaths can result in large changes in the rates. Communicable disease rates.

Sources

Causes of death
TDH, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Death Certificate File.
TDH, Office of Policy and Planning.
Work-related Injury Deaths
TDH, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Death Certificate File.
TDH, Office of Policy and Planning.

Environmental Health

Sources

Pollution
EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

The Health Care Sector

Caveats

Ratios have been calculated using estimated population data from the Texas State Data Center, Department of Rural Sociology, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A & M University System.

Sources

Physicians (Direct Patient Care, General Practice/Family Practice, Obstetrics/Gynecology)
Texas State Board of Medical Examiners.
Registered Nurses
Texas Board of Nurse Examiners.
Dentists
Texas State Board of Dental Examiners.
Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs)
TDH, Office of Policy and Planning, Health Professions Resource Center, "Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) by Texas County."
Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs)
TDH, Office of Policy and Planning, Health Professions Resource Center, "Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) and Medically Underserved Populations (MUPs) by Texas County."