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Waller County, Texas facts for kids

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Waller County
The Waller County Courthouse in Hempstead
The Waller County Courthouse in Hempstead
Map of Texas highlighting Waller County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Texas
Founded 1873
Named for Edwin Waller
Seat Hempstead
Largest city Prairie View
Area
 • Total 518 sq mi (1,340 km2)
 • Land 513 sq mi (1,330 km2)
 • Water 4.4 sq mi (11 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 56,794
 • Density 109.64/sq mi (42.33/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 10th

Waller County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 56,794. Its county seat is Hempstead. The county was named for Edwin Waller, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and first mayor of Austin.

Waller County is included in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metropolitan statistical area. It is home of the Prairie View A&M University.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 518 square miles (1,340 km2), of which 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (0.8%) are covered by water.

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities

Town

Unincorporated areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 9,024
1890 10,888 20.7%
1900 14,246 30.8%
1910 12,138 −14.8%
1920 10,292 −15.2%
1930 10,014 −2.7%
1940 10,280 2.7%
1950 11,961 16.4%
1960 12,071 0.9%
1970 14,285 18.3%
1980 19,798 38.6%
1990 23,390 18.1%
2000 32,663 39.6%
2010 43,205 32.3%
2020 56,794 31.5%
2023 (est.) 63,553 47.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–2010 2010–2020
Waller County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 19,260 23,494 44.58% 41.37%
Black or African American alone (NH) 10,537 12,104 24.39% 21.31%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 141 210 0.33% 0.37%
Asian alone (NH) 213 785 0.49% 1.38%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 9 10 0.02% 0.02%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 54 314 0.12% 0.55%
Mixed race/multiracial (NH) 455 1,391 1.05% 2.45%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12,536 18,486 29.02% 32.55%
Total 43,205 56,794 100.00% 100.00%

Note: the U.S. Census Bureau treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

As of the 2000 census, 32,663 people, 10,557 households, and 7,748 families resided in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile (25 people/km2). The 11,955 housing units averaged 23 units per square mile (8.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 57.83% White, 29.25% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 10.28% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. About 19.42% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 10,557 households, 35.1% had children under 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were not families. About 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.79, and the average family size was 3.25.

In the county, the population was distributed as 25.70% under 18, 18.10% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females 18, and over, there were 96.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,136, and for a family was $45,868. Males had a median income of $34,447 versus $25,583 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,338. About 11.50% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.00% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Igloo Corporation, a manufacturer of cooling and portable refrigeration products, is headquartered in unincorporated Waller County between Brookshire and Katy. In 2004, Igloo announced that it was consolidating its corporate, distribution, and manufacturing operations in Waller County.

Goya Foods has its Texas offices in an unincorporated area of the county near Brookshire.

Education

School districts serving Waller County include:

  • Hempstead Independent School District
  • Royal Independent School District
  • Katy Independent School District (portions of the district are in other counties)
  • Waller Independent School District (portions of the district are in other counties)

Brazos Valley Sudbury School was previously in operation in Waller County.

Blinn College is the designated community college for all of the county.

Prairie View A&M University is the only university located within the county.

Media

The Waller Times publishes local community news, school news, and sports news weekly on Mondays. It was founded in 1991 and is still family owned and operated.

Transportation

Houston Executive Airport (3)
Houston Executive Airport

Major highways

  • I-10 (TX).svg Interstate 10
  • US 90.svg U.S. Highway 90
  • US 290.svg U.S. Highway 290
  • Texas 6.svg State Highway 6
  • Texas 159.svg State Highway 159

The TTC-69 component (recommended preferred) of the once-planned Trans-Texas Corridor went through Waller County.

Airports

Houston Executive Airport is located between Brookshire and Katy in an unincorporated area. Skydive Houston Airport (Skylake Airport) is located south of Waller in an unincorporated area.

The Houston Airport System stated that Waller County is within the primary service area of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, an international airport in Houston in Harris County. In addition William P. Hobby Airport in Houston and in Harris County has commercial airline service.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Waller para niños

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