Просмотр кода страницы Английская Википедия:Harris County, Texas

{{Английская Википедия/Панель перехода}}
{{Short description|County in Texas, U.S.}}
{{for|the county in northeast Texas|Harrison County, Texas}}{{for|the county in west-central Georgia|Harris County, Georgia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Harris County
 | state                = Texas
 | type                 = [[County (United States)|County]]
 | seal                 = File:Seal of Harris County, Texas.svg
 | founded year         = 1836
 | seat wl              = Houston
 | seal size            = 120px
 | largest city wl      = Houston
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1778
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1703
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 74
 | area percentage      = 4.2
 | census yr            = 2020
 | population_total     = 4731145
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2022
 | population_est       = 4780913 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = www.co.harris.tx.us
 | ex image             = {{Photomontage
| photo1a                 = Buildings-city-houston-skyline-1870617.jpg
| photo3a                 = Harris County 1910 Courthouse Restored Houston Texas.jpg
| spacing                 = 1
| position                = center
| color_border            = white
| color                   = white
| size = 300
| foot_montage            =
}}
 | ex image size        = 
 | ex image cap         = [[Downtown Houston]], [[1910 Harris County Courthouse|Harris County Courthouse]]
 | district             = 2nd
 | district2            = 7th
 | district3            = 8th
 | district4            = 9th
 | district5            = 18th
 | district6            = 22nd
 | district7            = 29th
 | district8            = 36th
 | district9            = 38th
 | named for=[[John Richardson Harris]]
}}

'''Harris County''' is a county located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]; as of the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]], the population was 4,731,145,<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=2020 Population and Housing State Data|url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref> making it the most populous county in Texas and the [[List of the most populous counties in the United States|third most populous county]] in the [[United States]]. Its [[county seat]] is [[Houston]], the largest city in Texas and fourth largest city in the United States. The county was founded in 1836 and organized in 1837.<ref name="tsha">{{cite Handbook of Texas |id=hch07|title=Harris County|first=Margaret Swett |last=Henson|orig-year=June 15, 2010|date=January 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/topics/government/harris-county|title=Harris County|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|website=Texas Almanac|access-date=June 20, 2015|date=2015-05-22}}</ref> It is named for [[John Richardson Harris]], who founded the town of [[Harrisburg, Houston|Harrisburg]] on [[Buffalo Bayou]] in 1826.<ref name="tsha"/> According to the July 2022 census estimate, Harris County's population has shifted to 4,780,913 comprising over 16% of Texas's population.<ref name="2021USCensusEstHarris">[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/harriscountytexas July 1, 2021 U.S. Census Bureau Estimates for Harris County, Texas]</ref><ref name="CensusBureauPR03232017">{{cite press release |id=Press Release Number: CB17-44 |url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2017/cb17-44.html |title=Maricopa County Added Over 222 People Per Day in 2016, More Than Any Other County |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |date=March 23, 2017}}</ref> Harris County is included in the nine-county [[Greater Houston|Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land]] [[metropolitan statistical area]], which is the [[List of metropolitan statistical areas|fifth-most populous metropolitan area]] in the United States.

== History ==
[[File:Firefighters and Carriages.jpg|thumb|Firefighters on San Jacinto Street, circa 1914]]
[[File:OldHarrisCountyCourthouse.png|thumb|The [[1910 Harris County Courthouse|Harris County Courthouse]] in Houston, in 1913]]
Human remains date habitation to about 4000 BC. Other evidence of humans in the area dates from about 1400 BC, 1 AD, and later in the first millennium. The region became [[uninhabited]] from 1 AD to European contact. Little European activity predates 1821. [[Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca]] may have visited the area in 1529. French traders recorded passing through in the 18th century. Spaniards attempted to establish a fort in the area around the same time, but did not persist for long.<ref name="tsha"/>

The first recorded European settlers in Harris County arrived in 1822. Their [[schooner]] sailed into [[Galveston Bay]] and ran aground on the Red Fish Bar. Some of those passengers traveled further up the bay system, but it is not known whether they settled up [[Buffalo Bayou]] or the [[San Jacinto River (Texas)|San Jacinto River]]. One of these passengers, a Mr. Ryder, settled at what is now known as [[Morgan's Point, Texas]]. Also in 1822, John Iiams settled his family at [[Cedar Point, Texas|Cedar Point]] after sailing from [[Morgan City, Louisiana|Berwick's Bay, Louisiana]]. Dr. Johnson Hunter arrived just after Iiams. He also wrecked his boat near Galveston. He settled at Morgan's Point and was a grantee of land there. Nathaniel Lynch settled in the area and operated a ferry.<ref name="harriscounty1">{{cite journal|title=Harris County, 1822-1845|last=Looscan |first=Adele B.|journal=The Southwestern Historical Quarterly|volume=18|issue=2|date=October 1914|pages=195{{endash}}207|jstor=30234634}}</ref>

In 1824, the land empresario, [[Stephen F. Austin]] convened at the house of William Scott for the purpose of conveying titles for Mexican headrights. He was joined by the land commissioner, Baron von Bastrop, and Austin's secretary, [[Samuel May Williams]]. About thirty families gained legal titles to land in what would later be known as Harris County. A few immigrants settled on Buffalo Bayou in these early years, including Moses Callahan, Ezekial Thomas, and the Vince brothers.<ref name="harriscounty1" />

Nicolas Clopper arrived in the Galveston Bay area from Ohio in the 1820s. He attempted to develop Buffalo Bayou as a trading conduit for the Brazos River valley. He acquired land at Morgan's Point in 1826.<ref name="clopper">{{cite Handbook of Texas |id=fcl31 |title=Clopper, Nicholas|access-date=December 27, 2017 |date= June 12, 2010|last=Sibley |first=Marilyn McAdams}}</ref>
John Richardson Harris (1790–1829), for whom the county was later named, arrived in 1824. Harris had moved his family to Sainte Genevieve, Missouri Territory, where they had been residing until the early 1820s.<ref name="JRH">{{cite Handbook of Texas |last=Beazley|first=Julia|title=Harris, John Richardson|orig-year=June 15, 2010|id=fha85|date=February 28, 2017}}</ref>

Harris was granted a league of land (about 4,428 acres) at Buffalo Bayou. He platted the town of Harrisburg in 1826, while he established a trading post and a grist mill there. He ran boats transporting goods between New Orleans and Harrisburg until his death in the fall of 1829.<ref name="harrises">{{cite journal|title=The Pioneer Harrises of Harris County, Texas|last=Looscan |first=Adele B.|journal=The Southwestern Historical Quarterly|volume=31|issue=4|date=April 1928|pages=365{{endash}}373|jstor=30242532}}</ref>

The [[1st Congress of the Republic of Texas|First Congress of the Republic of Texas]] established Harrisburg County on December 22, 1836. The original county boundaries included Galveston Island, but were redrawn to its current configuration in May 1838.<ref name="tsha"/>

The area has had a number of severe weather events, such as the following hurricanes and tropical storms:
{{div col}}
* [[1900 Galveston Hurricane|1900 Galveston]]
* [[1943 Surprise Hurricane]] (1943)
* [[Hurricane Carla|Carla]] (1961)
* [[Hurricane Alicia|Alicia]] (1983)
* [[Hurricane Rita|Rita]] (2005)
* [[Hurricane Ike|Ike]] (2008)
* [[Hurricane Harvey|Harvey]] (2017)
* [[Hurricane Nicholas|Nicholas]] (2021)
* [[Tropical Storm Allison|Allison]] (2001)
* [[Tropical Storm Erin (2007)|Erin]] (2007)
* [[Tropical Storm Imelda|Imelda]] (2019)
* [[Tropical Storm Beta (2020)|Beta]] (2020)
{{div col end}}

== Geography ==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1777|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1703|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|74|sqmi}} (4.2%) is covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 28, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> Both its total area and land area are larger than the U.S. state of [[Rhode Island]].<!--https://www.ft.com/content/21dc3d5f-db23-4134-8a7d-4119edd28701 says it is about the size of RI-->

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Montgomery County, Texas|Montgomery]] (north)
* [[Liberty County, Texas|Liberty]] (northeast)
* [[Chambers County, Texas|Chambers]] (east)
* [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston]] (southeast)
* [[Brazoria County, Texas|Brazoria]] (south)
* [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend]] (southwest)
* [[Waller County, Texas|Waller]] (northwest)

== Communities ==
=== Cities ===
==== Multiple counties ====
* [[Baytown, Texas|Baytown]] (partly in [[Chambers County, Texas|Chambers County]])
* [[Friendswood, Texas|Friendswood]] (mostly in [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston County]])
* [[Houston]] (county seat and largest municipality) (small parts in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend]] and [[Montgomery County, Texas|Montgomery]] counties)
* [[Katy, Texas|Katy]] (partly in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend]], Harris, and [[Waller County, Texas|Waller]] counties)
* [[League City, Texas|League City]] (mostly in [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston County]])
* [[Missouri City, Texas|Missouri City]] (mostly in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]])
* [[Pearland, Texas|Pearland]] (mostly in [[Brazoria County, Texas|Brazoria County]] and a small part in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]])
* [[Seabrook, Texas|Seabrook]] (some water surface in [[Chambers County, Texas|Chambers County]])
* [[Stafford, Texas|Stafford]] (mostly in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]])
* [[Waller, Texas|Waller]] (partly in [[Waller County, Texas|Waller County]])

==== Harris County only ====
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Bellaire, Texas|Bellaire]]
* [[Bunker Hill Village, Texas|Bunker Hill Village]]
* [[Deer Park, Texas|Deer Park]]
* [[El Lago, Texas|El Lago]]
* [[Galena Park, Texas|Galena Park]]
* [[Hedwig Village, Texas|Hedwig Village]]
* [[Hilshire Village, Texas|Hilshire Village]]
* [[Humble, Texas|Humble]]
* [[Hunters Creek Village, Texas|Hunters Creek Village]]
* [[Jacinto City, Texas|Jacinto City]]
* [[Jersey Village, Texas|Jersey Village]]
* [[La Porte, Texas|La Porte]]
* [[Morgan's Point, Texas|Morgan's Point]]
* [[Nassau Bay, Texas|Nassau Bay]]
* [[Pasadena, Texas|Pasadena]]
* [[Piney Point Village, Texas|Piney Point Village]]
* [[Shoreacres, Texas|Shoreacres]]
* [[South Houston, Texas|South Houston]]
* [[Southside Place, Texas|Southside Place]]
* [[Spring Valley Village, Texas|Spring Valley Village]]
* [[Taylor Lake Village, Texas|Taylor Lake Village]]
* [[Tomball, Texas|Tomball]]
* [[Webster, Texas|Webster]]
* [[West University Place, Texas|West University Place]]
{{div col end}}

=== Unincorporated areas ===

==== Census-designated places ====
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Aldine, Texas|Aldine]]
* [[Atascocita, Texas|Atascocita]]
* [[Barrett, Texas|Barrett]]
* [[Channelview, Texas|Channelview]]
* [[Cinco Ranch, Texas|Cinco Ranch]] (mostly in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]])
* [[Cloverleaf, Texas|Cloverleaf]]
* [[Crosby, Texas|Crosby]]
* [[Highlands, Texas|Highlands]]
* [[Mission Bend, Texas|Mission Bend]] (mostly in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]])
* [[Sheldon, Texas|Sheldon]]
* [[Spring, Texas|Spring]]
* [[The Woodlands, Texas|The Woodlands]] (mostly in [[Montgomery County, Texas|Montgomery County]])
{{div col end}}

==== Unincorporated communities ====
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Alief, Texas|Alief]] (Partially annexed by [[Houston, TX|Houston]], partially unincorporated)
* [[Airline, Texas|Airline]]
* [[Bammel, Texas|Bammel]]
* [[Barker, Texas|Barker]]
* [[Beaumont Place, Texas|Beaumont Place]]
* [[Bridgeland Community, Texas|Bridgeland Community]]
* [[Cedar Bayou, Texas|Cedar Bayou]]
* [[Champion Forest, Texas|Champion Forest]]
* [[Cimarron, Texas|Cimarron]]
* [[Coady, Texas|Coady]]
* [[Cypress, Texas|Cypress]]
* [[Dyersdale, Texas|Dyersdale]]
* [[East Aldine, Texas|East Aldine]]
* [[Fall Creek, Texas|Fall Creek]]
* [[Hockley, Texas|Hockley]]
* [[Houmont Park, Texas|Houmont Park]]
* [[Huffman, Texas|Huffman]]
* [[Hufsmith, Texas|Hufsmith]]
* [[Kinwood, Texas|Kinwood]]
* [[Klein, Texas|Klein]]
* [[Kleinbrook, Texas|Kleinbrook]]
* [[Kohrville, Texas|Kohrville]]
* [[Louetta, Texas|Louetta]]
* [[Lynchburg, Texas|Lynchburg]]
* [[McNair, Texas|McNair]]
* [[North Houston, Texas|North Houston]]
* [[Northcliffe, Texas|Northcliffe]]
* [[Northcliffe Manor, Texas|Northcliffe Manor]]
* [[Northgate Forest]]
* [[Remington Ranch, Texas|Remington Ranch]]
* [[Rose Hill, Harris County, Texas|Rose Hill]]
* [[Satsuma, Texas|Satsuma]]
* [[Traces, Texas|Traces]]
* [[Westfield, Texas|Westfield]]<!--The Woodlands CDP is only in Montgomery County, while the community itself extends to both counties-->
{{div col end}}

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1850=4668
|1860=9070
|1870=17375
|1880=27985
|1890=37249
|1900=63786
|1910=115693
|1920=186667
|1930=359328
|1940=528961
|1950=806701
|1960=1243158
|1970=1741912
|1980=2409547
|1990=2818199
|2000=3400578
|2010=4092459
|2020=4731145
|estyear=2023
|estimate=4835125
|estref= <ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/counties/totals/co-est2023-pop.xlsx| title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher= United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 14, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing from 1790|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=April 2023|reason=No mention of Harris County at the given link}}<br />1850–2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=April 28, 2015}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Harris County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Harris County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48201&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Harris County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48201&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|1,349,646
|1,309,593
|32.98%
|27.68%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|754,258
|885,517
|18.43%
|18.72%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|8,150
|8,432
|0.20%
|0.18%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|249,853
|344,762
|6.11%
|7.29%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|2,260
|3,199
|0.06%
|0.07%
|-
|Some Other Race alone (NH)
|7,914
|23,262
|0.19%
|0.49%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|48,838
|121,671
|1.19%
|2.57%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,671,540
|2,034,709
|40.84%
|43.01%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''4,092,459'''
|'''4,731,145'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}

According to the [[2000 United States census|2000 U.S. census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> 3,400,578 people, 1,205,516 households, and 834,217 families resided in the county; in 2010, the population increased to 4,092,459; by the [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. census]], Harris County had a population of 4,731,145.<ref name="2020CensusP2" /> Overall, Harris County's population has recorded positive growth since the [[1850 United States census|1850 U.S. census]] tabulated-population of 4,668.
[[File:Ethnic Origins in Harris County, TX.png|thumb|330x330px|Ethnic origins in Harris County]]
Among the county population, once predominantly [[Non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic white]], the largest racial or ethnic group has become [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino Americans]] (43.01%) as of 2020.<ref name="2020CensusP2" /> Following, non-Hispanic whites declined to 27.68% of the population; [[African Americans|Black or African Americans]] were 18.72% of the area population, and [[Asian Americans]] made up 7.29% of the county; [[multiracial Americans]] increased to 2.57%, [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indians and Alaska Natives]] declined to 0.18%, and [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islanders]] grew to 0.07% of the population. Having a large and growing Asian American community alongside Hispanics and Latinos and Black and African American,<ref>William&nbsp;H. Frey (May 2004). "[https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-new-great-migration-black-americans-return-to-the-south-1965-2000/ The New Great Migration: Black Americans' Return to the South, 1965-to the present] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428042235/http://www.brookings.edu/urban/pubs/20040524_Frey.pdf |date=April 28, 2008 }}". [[Brookings Institution]]. brookings.edu. Retrieved July 10, 2017.</ref> the Houston Area Asian Survey of the Kinder Institute of Urban Research Houston Area Survey stated that between 1990 and 2000, the Asian population in Harris County increased by 76%; between 2000 and 2010, it increased by 45%.<ref name="LeeAsianGrow">{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Renée C. |date=February 8, 2013 |title=Report shows Asians a growing force in Houston |work=Houston Chronicle |url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Report-shows-Asians-a-growing-force-in-Houston-4259614.php}}</ref>

Economically, Harris County along with other Texas counties has one of the nation's highest property tax rates. In 2007, the county was ranked in the top 25 at 22nd in the nation for property taxes as percentage of the homes value on owner-occupied housing; the list only includes counties with a population over 65,000 for comparability.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/1888.html |title=Property Taxes on Owner-Occupied Housing by County, 2005–2008, Ranked by Taxes as Percentage of Home Value |publisher=Taxfoundation.org |date=September 28, 2010 |access-date=January 14, 2012}}</ref> Additionally, Harris County residents had a median household income of $63,022 with a mean income of $93,184. Families had a median income of $73,274 and mean of $105,534; married-couple families $93,961 with a mean of $128,211; and non-family households a median of $43,488 and mean of $62,435.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harris County, Texas 2020 Median Income Estimates |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Harris%20County,%20Texas%20median%20income |access-date=2022-07-03 |website=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>

With a poverty rate of 15.6% as of 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 ACS Poverty Status |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Harris%20County,%20Texas%20poverty |access-date=2022-07-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> [[Children At Risk]]—a local nonprofit research organization—estimated 21% of the Harris County children lived in poverty, 6.5 per 1,000 die before age one, and 38% drop out of high school as of 2007.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=February 22, 2007 |title=Raise the alarm; Two surveys point to the abysmal and deteriorating state of American children's well-being |page=B10|url=https://www.chron.com/opinion/editorials/article/Raise-the-alarm-Two-surveys-point-to-the-abysmal-1638233.php}}</ref>

As of 2023, Harris County has the second largest population of Black Americans in the nation, only behind [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]] in Illinois. Also Harris County has the second largest Hispanic population in the nation, only behind [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]] in California.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blankley |first=Bethany |date=June 28, 2023 |title=Census: Texas, Harris County have largest black population in U.S. |url=https://dentonrc.com/news/state/census-texas-harris-county-have-largest-black-population-in-u-s/article_6f16bbc4-b2a3-557b-9ea9-1ed4b317ccc9.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701184416/https://dentonrc.com/news/state/census-texas-harris-county-have-largest-black-population-in-u-s/article_6f16bbc4-b2a3-557b-9ea9-1ed4b317ccc9.html |archive-date=July 1, 2023 |website=dentonrc.com}}</ref>

===Language===
In 2000, 1,961,993 residents of Harris County spoke English only. The five largest foreign languages in the county were Spanish or [[Spanish Creole]] (1,106,883 speakers), [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] (53,311 speakers), [[Chinese language|Chinese]] (33,003 speakers), French including [[Cajun French|Louisiana French]] and [[Patois]] (33,003 speakers), and [[Urdu language|Urdu]] (14,595 speakers). Among those who spoke other languages, 46% of Spanish speakers, 37% of Vietnamese speakers, 50% of Chinese speakers, 85% of French speakers, and 72% of Urdu speakers said that they spoke English at least "very well".<ref name="RodriguezImm">{{cite news |last=Rodriguez |first=Lori |title=Immigrants confront barriers to English fluency |work=Houston Chronicle |date=September 18, 2006 |page=A1 |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Immigrants-confront-barriers-to-English-fluency-1888688.php |url-status=live |archive-date=May 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512104002/http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Immigrants-confront-barriers-to-English-fluency-1888688.php |access-date=February 26, 2018 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> By 2020, 55.6% of the county aged 5 and older spoke English only, and 44.4% spoke another language instead of English; Spanish remained the second-most spoken language (35%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Language Statistics |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Harris%20County,%20Texas%20language |access-date=2022-07-03 |website=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>

===Religion===
[[File:St Mary's Cathedral Basilica, Galveston.jpg|thumb|[[St. Mary Cathedral Basilica (Galveston, Texas)|Saint Mary Cathedral Basilica]], seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston]]
In 2010 statistics, the largest religious group in Harris County was the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston]], with 1,947,223 Catholics worshiping at 109 parishes, followed by 579,759 [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptists]] with 811 congregations, 348,461 [[Nondenominational Christianity|non-denominational Christian]] adherents with 577 congregations, 182,624 [[United Methodist Church|United Methodists]] with 124 congregations, an estimated 117,148 [[Islam in the United States|Muslims]] with 47 congregations, 44,472 [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|LDS]] Mormons with 77 congregations, 39,041 [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalians]] with 43 congregations, 34,957 [[Presbyterian Church in the United States of America|PC-USA]] Presbyterians with 49 congregations, 33,525 [[Churches of Christ]] Christians with 124 congregations, and 30,521 [[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod|LCMS]] Lutherans with 46 congregations. Altogether, 58.4% of the population was claimed as members by religious congregations, although members of historically African-American denominations were underrepresented due to incomplete information.<ref>{{cite web | title = County Membership Report Harris County (Texas) | url = http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/rcms2010A.asp?U=48201&T=county&Y=2010&S=Name | website = The [[Association of Religion Data Archives]] | date = 2010 | access-date = January 1, 2020 | archive-date = August 1, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200801161006/http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/rcms2010A.asp?U=48201&T=county&Y=2010&S=Name | url-status = dead }}</ref> In 2014, the county had 1,607 religious organizations, the third most out of all U.S. counties.<ref>{{cite web | title = Social Capital Variables Spreadsheet for 2014 | url = https://aese.psu.edu/nercrd/community/social-capital-resources/social-capital-variables-for-2014/social-capital-variables-spreadsheet-for-2014 | website = PennState College of Agricultural Sciences, Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development | date = December 8, 2017 | access-date = December 30, 2019}}</ref>

== Government and politics ==
County governments serve as agents of the state, with responsibilities defined in the Texas Constitution. Counties are governed by the [[commissioners' court]]. Each Texas county has four precinct commissioners and a county judge. Although this body is called a court, it conducts the general business of the county and oversees financial matters.<ref name="county">{{cite web |url=http://county.org/texas-county-government/county-govt-structure/Pages/default.aspx |title=County Government Structure |publisher=Texas Association of Counties}}</ref> The commissioners court may hire personnel to run major departments, such as health and human services.

Besides the county judge and commissioners, the other elective offices found in most counties include the county attorney, county and district clerks, county treasurer, sheriff, tax assessor-collector, justices of the peace, and constables. As a part of the checks and balances system, counties have an auditor appointed by the district courts.<ref name="county" />

Harris County was one of the earliest areas of Texas to turn Republican. It voted Republican in all but one presidential election from 1952 to 2004, the lone break coming when native Texan [[Lyndon Johnson]] carried it in his 44-state landslide in 1964. In 2008, [[Barack Obama]] was the first Democrat to win the county since Texas native [[Lyndon Johnson]] in 1964. The city of [[Houston]] itself holds one of the highest concentrations of Democratic voters in the state, while suburban areas such as [[Cypress, Texas|Cypress]], [[Spring, Texas|Spring]], and [[Katy, Texas|Katy]] in the county's western and northern areas, tend to be strongly Republican. In 2016, [[Hillary Clinton]] won the county by the largest margin for a Democrat since 1964.<ref>{{cite news |title=There's no shading it, Harris County went undeniably blue |first=Alexa |last=Ura |date=November 11, 2016 |work=[[The Texas Tribune]] |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/11/11/harris-county-turned-blue/}}</ref> The Democratic Party performed very strongly in the county during the 2018 elections, as it did nationwide.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Frosch | first1=Dan | title=How a Blue Wave Wiped Out Republicans in the Largest County in Texas | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-a-blue-wave-wiped-out-republicans-in-the-largest-county-in-texas-1542709801 | date=November 20, 2018 | newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | access-date=November 20, 2018}}</ref> In 2020, [[Joe Biden]] improved Clinton's performance by two points while Donald Trump only increased his vote share by one point. Regardless of the shift towards Democrats and being the most populated county in Texas, for the past 4 elections that it voted for a Democrat, it has always voted to the right of [[Dallas County, Texas|Dallas]], [[Travis County|Travis]], [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar]], and [[El Paso County, Texas|El Paso]], each of which have a smaller population.<ref name="Election-Results-Data">{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=2018-07-25 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>

In 2013, Allen Turner of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' said that residents of Harris County were "consistently conservative in elections" and that they were, according to a [[Rice University]] Kinder Institute for Urban Research opinion poll, "surprisingly liberal on topics such as immigration, gun control and equal matrimonial rights for same-sex couples".<ref name="houstonchronicle1">{{cite news |last=Turner |first=Allen |url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Survey-finds-area-growing-in-tolerant-4456041.php |title=Survey finds area growing in 'tolerant traditionalists' |work=Houston Chronicle|date=April 24, 2013}}</ref> Harris is regarded as a moderate or swing county in Texas, and has been a bellwether in presidential elections, voting for winners of every presidential election from 2000 through 2012 (both Barack Obama and Texas resident [[George W. Bush]] won the county twice).<ref name="houstonchronicle1" />

As a result of the Obama sweep in 2008, many Democratic candidates in contests for lower-level offices also benefited, and many Republican incumbents were replaced by Democrats in the Harris County courthouse. Some of the defeated Republican district court judges were later re-appointed to vacant District Court benches by Governor Rick Perry. In 2018, Democrats swept the court capturing all 59 seats on the civil, criminal, family, juvenile and probate courts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/GOP-Free-Zone-Republican-judges-swept-out-by-13376806.php|title=Republican judges swept out by voters in Harris County election|date=2018-11-08|work=Houston Chronicle|access-date=2018-11-14}}</ref>

The Kinder Institute's Houston Survey in 2018 found that from 2014 through 2018 the number of Houston residents who supported adoption of children by same-sex couples climbed above 50% and remained there, while in 2017 over 56% of residents reported gay or lesbian persons among their circle of close personal friends. A 2013 opinion poll had found that 46% of Harris County residents supported same-sex marriage, up from 37% in 2001. Just above 82% favored offering illegal immigrants a path to citizenship provided they speak English and have no criminal record, holding from 83% in 2013, which was up from 19% in 2009. In 2013, 87% supported background checks for all firearms, the latest year that question was included in the Kinder Houston Survey. This measure has moved up steadily from 60% in 1985 to 69% in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kinder Houston Area Survey: 2018 Results|url=https://www.datahouston.org/khas|date=2018-04-23|work=Kinder Institute|access-date=2019-03-18}}</ref><ref name="houstonchronicle1" />{{PresHead|place=Harris County, Texas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=2018-07-25}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|700,630|918,193|22,434|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|545,955|707,914|58,243|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|586,073|587,044|15,468|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|571,883|590,982|8,607|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|584,723|475,865|7,380|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|529,159|418,267|27,396|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|421,462|386,726|47,705|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|406,778|360,171|175,998|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|464,217|342,919|7,024|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|536,029|334,135|2,003|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|416,655|274,061|29,298|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|357,536|321,897|5,831|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|365,672|215,916|2,943|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|202,079|182,546|86,412|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|154,401|227,819|765|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|168,170|148,275|8,954|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|155,555|93,961|5,033|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|146,665|107,604|228|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|43,117|58,488|21,012|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|11,843|71,077|21,199|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|20,797|73,520|136|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|8,083|59,205|245|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|8,604|46,886|480|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|27,188|21,536|86|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|8,953|20,648|2,878|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|7,735|14,808|6,294|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|3,009|10,131|507|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|726|6,409|1,931|Texas}}

=== County facilities ===
The 1910 county courthouse was renovated in the 1950s to update its systems. In the 21st century, the facility received another major renovation. Completed in 2011, the $50 million, eight-year project was designed to restore notable historic aspects of the courthouse while providing for contemporary communication and building needs.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gonzales |first=J.R. |url=https://blog.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2011/08/crown-jewel-of-harris-county-government-finally-gets-to-shine/ |title=Crown jewel of Harris County government finally gets to shine |work=Houston Chronicle |date=August 23, 2011}}</ref>

The [[Texas Courts of Appeals|Texas First Court of Appeals]] and the [[Texas Courts of Appeals|Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals]], since September 3, 2010, are located in the 1910 Harris County courthouse.<ref>"[http://www.1stcoa.courts.state.tx.us/court/contact.asp Contact Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725195254/http://www.1stcoa.courts.state.tx.us/court/contact.asp |date=July 25, 2010 }}." Texas First Court of Appeals. Retrieved on September 12, 2011. "NEW ADDRESS EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 3, 2010 First Court of Appeals 301 Fannin Houston, Texas 77002-2066"</ref><ref>"[http://www.14thcoa.courts.state.tx.us/court/contact.asp Contact Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726011620/http://www.14thcoa.courts.state.tx.us/court/contact.asp |date=July 26, 2010 }}." Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals. Retrieved on September 12, 2011. "NEW ADDRESS EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 3, 2010 Fourteenth Court of Appeals 301 Fannin, Suite 245 Houston, Texas 77002"</ref> Previously they were located on the campus of the [[South Texas College of Law]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20100725195254/http://www.1stcoa.courts.state.tx.us/court/contact.asp Contact Information]." Texas First Court of Appeals. Retrieved on March 9, 2010. "Physical Location First Court of Appeals 1307 San Jacinto Street, 10th Floor (intersection of Clay and San Jacinto Streets) Houston, Texas. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100726011620/http://www.14thcoa.courts.state.tx.us/court/contact.asp Contact Information]." Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals. Retrieved on March 9, 2010. "Physical Location Fourteenth Court of Appeals 1307 San Jacinto, 11th Floor Houston, TX 77002 "</ref>

The [[Harris County, Texas jails|Harris County Jail Complex]] of the [[Harris County Sheriff's Office]] (HCSO) is the largest in Texas, and one of the largest in the nation. In July, 2012, the facility held 9,113 prisoners. To handle overcrowding in the facility, the county had to ship inmates to other counties and some are housed out of the state.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harris County jail population reductions may be short-lived if Judges, new DA don't act responsibly |work=Grits for Breakfast Blog |date=September 14, 2012 |url=http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2012/09/harris-county-jail-populations-may-be.html}}</ref>

The county has a [[potter's field]], the Harris County Cemetery on Oates Road in Houston, which previously had housing for elderly people. It has {{convert|18|acre|ha}} of land. It was established in 1921 on property taken from police officers who had acted corruptly. The county paid $80,000 for {{convert|100|acre|ha}} of land, then put in the Harris County Home For the Aged, a [[poor farm]] for elderly people of all races which had a capacity of 100; the poor farm opened in 1922. Around that time, the county cemetery was also established there. The Harris County Commissioners closed the poor farm in August 1958.<ref name=Collierfulloflife>{{cite web|last=Collier|first=Kiah|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/County-pauper-cemetery-used-to-be-full-of-life-5616267.php|title=County cemetery used to be full of life|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2014-07-14|access-date=2023-11-20}}</ref> In 2014, no more burials were allowed to occur at the Oates Road facility due to overcapacity.<ref name=BrownHatenew>{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Nate|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/humble/news/article/New-cemetery-for-indigent-burials-opens-9682874.php|title=New cemetery for indigent burials opens|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2014-06-23|access-date=2023-11-20}}</ref>

By 2013 the county was building a second potter's field due to overcapacity at the first.<ref name=Collierfulloflife/> Harris County Eastgate Cemetery had started operations in 2014.<ref name=BrownHatenew/> It is near the [[Crosby, Texas|Crosby]] [[census-designated place]] and has a Crosby postal address.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://csd.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/AboutUs.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203140808/https://csd.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/AboutUs.aspx|title=About Us Harris County Community Services Department|publisher=Harris County Government|archive-date=2020-12-03|access-date=2023-11-20|quote=Burial is provided at the Harris County Cemetery, at 21122 Crosby Eastgate Road.}} - The cemetery referred to here is the new one in the Crosby area, and not the old one on Oates Road.<br>Compare to: {{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st48_tx/place/p4817756_crosby/DC20BLK_P4817756.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Crosby CDP, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2023-11-20}} - The cemetery is not in the boundaries of the CDP.</ref>

The county had a poor farm in what is now [[West University Place]] that closed in 1923. The county cemetery was formerly there; the bodies were transferred to the <ref name=Collierfulloflife/>

=== United States Congress ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Representatives
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Name
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Party
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | First elected
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Area(s) of Harris County represented
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| District 2
| [[Dan Crenshaw]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2018
| Atascosita, Huffman, Humble, Kingwood, Spring
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| District 7
| [[Lizzie Pannill Fletcher]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2018
| West Houston, Memorial Villages, Bellaire, West University Place, west and northwest areas of county
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| District 9
| [[Al Green (politician)|Al Green]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2004
| Alief, Southwest Houston, Houston's Southside
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| District 10
| [[Michael McCaul]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2004
| Northwest
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| District 18
| [[Sheila Jackson Lee]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1994
| Downtown Houston, Bush IAH, northwest and northeast Houston, inner portions of Houston's Southside
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| District 22
| [[Troy Nehls]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2020
| Ellington Field
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| District 29
| [[Sylvia Garcia]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2018
| Aldine, Channelview, East Houston, Fall Creek portion of Humble, Galena Park, Jacinto City, northern Pasadena, North Shore, western Sheldon, South Houston
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
|District 36
|[[Brian Babin]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|2014
|Clear Lake City, NASA Johnson Space Center, southern and central Pasadena, Deer Park, Baytown, Crosby, La Porte, eastern Sheldon, Dayton, Seabrook, Morgan's Point, Shore Acres, El Lago, Nassau Bay, Taylor Lake Village
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
|District 38
|[[Wesley Hunt]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|2022
|Jersey Village, Cypress, Tomball, Katy, and Klein
|}

=== Texas Legislature ===

==== Texas Senate ====

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | District
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Name
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Party
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | First elected
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Area(s) of Harris County represented
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| 4
| [[Brandon Creighton]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2014
| Kingwood, far eastern portions of Baytown
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 6
| [[Carol Alvarado]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2013
| Houston Ship Channel, eastern portions of Houston, Jacinto City, Galena Park, northern Pasadena, western portion of Baytown
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| 7
| [[Paul Bettencourt]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2014
| Memorial Villages, Memorial/Spring Branch area, Addicks Reservoir, northwest portions of county
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| 11
| [[Larry Taylor (politician)|Larry Taylor]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2013
| Southeast
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 13
| [[Borris Miles]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2016
| Downtown Houston, Texas Medical Center, southwest and northeast Houston, Houston's Southside
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 15
| [[John Whitmire]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1983
| Northwest Houston, Bush IAH, southern portion of Humble, eastern Harris County
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| 17
| [[Joan Huffman]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2008
| Meyerland, Bellaire, West University Place, much of Greater Katy area, far west Houston, Barker Reservoir
|}

==== Texas House of Representatives ====

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | District
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Name
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Party
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | First elected
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Area(s) of Harris County represented
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| 126
| [[Kevin Roberts (politician)|Kevin Roberts]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2016
| Champions/FM 1960 area
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| 127
| [[Dan Huberty]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2010
| Humble, Kingwood, Lake Houston, Atascocita, Crosby, Wallisville
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| 128
| [[Briscoe Cain]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2016
| Baytown, Deer Park, La Porte
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| 129
| [[Dennis Paul]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2014
| Clear Lake City, NASA Johnson Space Center, Southeast Harris County (including Seabrook and Webster)
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| 130
| [[Tom Oliverson]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2016
| Northwest Harris County (including Cypress, Tomball, Waller)
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 131
| [[Alma A. Allen|Alma Allen]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2004
| far Southwest Houston and far South Side
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 132
| [[Gina Calanni]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2018
| West Harris County (including Greater Katy area)
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| 133
| [[Jim Murphy (Texas politician)|Jim Murphy]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2010 (Also served 2006–2008)
| West Houston along [[Sam Houston Tollway|West Sam Houston Tollway]], including western portion of Memorial/Spring Branch and part of the Energy Corridor
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 134
| Ann Johnson 
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2020
| Inner western portions of Houston (including Meyerland, River Oaks and Memorial Park), Texas Medical Center, West University Place, Bellaire, Southside Place, Western [[Montrose, Houston|Montrose]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 135
| Jon Rosenthal
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2018
| Jersey Village and southeastern segments of the Champions/FM 1960 area
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 137
| [[Gene Wu]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2013
| Southwest Houston (including Sharpstown and Gulfton)
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| 138
| [[Dwayne Bohac]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2002
| Northwest Houston and parts of the Memorial/Spring Branch area north of I-10, Addicks Reservoir
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 139
| [[Jarvis Johnson]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2016
| North Houston and Aldine west of I-45
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 140
| [[Armando Walle]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2008
| North Houston and Aldine east of I-45
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 141
| [[Senfronia Thompson]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1972
| Northeast Houston, Bush IAH, Greenspoint, southern portion of Humble
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 142
| Harold Dutton, Jr.
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1984
| East Houston and Northshore area
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 143
| [[Ana Hernandez Luna]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2006
| East Houston within Loop 610, Houston Ship Channel, Galena Park, Jacinto City, northern Pasadena
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 144
| [[Mary Ann Perez]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2016
| Southern Pasadena, far southeast Houston
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 145
| [[Christina Morales]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2019
| Inner southeastern portions of Houston (mainly east of I-45), South Houston (not part of the city of Houston)
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 146
| [[Shawn Thierry]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2016
| Inner portions of Houston's South Side
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 147
| [[Garnet Coleman]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1990
| Downtown Houston, inner southeastern portions of Houston (mainly west of I-45), Eastern [[Montrose, Houston|Montrose]], Midtown, [[Third Ward, Houston|Third Ward]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 148
| [[Jessica Farrar]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1994
| North and Northwest Houston mainly within Loop 610 (including Houston Heights)
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| 149
| [[Hubert Vo]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2004
| Far west Houston, Alief, unincorporated portions of Katy area east of Fry Rd, Barker Reservoir
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| 150
| [[Valoree Swanson]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2016
| North Harris County (including Spring and Klein)
|}

=== County government ===

==== Harris County elected officials ====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Position
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Name
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Party
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| County Judge
| [[Lina Hidalgo]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| Commissioner, Precinct 1
| [[Rodney Ellis]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| Commissioner, Precinct 2
| [[Adrian Garcia]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| Commissioner, Precinct 3
| Tom Ramsey
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| Commissioner, Precinct 4
| Lesley Briones
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| District Attorney
| [[Kim Ogg]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| District Clerk
| Marilyn Burgess
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| County Attorney
| Christian D. Menefee
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| County Clerk
|Teneshia Hudspeth
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| Sheriff
| [[Ed Gonzalez]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| Tax Assessor-Collector
| Ann Harris Bennett
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| Treasurer
| Carla Wyatt
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
|School Trustee, At-Large, Pos. 3
|Richard Cantu
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| School Trustee, At-Large, Pos. 5
| Erica Davis
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| School Trustee, At-Large, Pos. 7
| David W. Brown
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| School Trustee, Pct. 1, Pos. 6
| Danyahel (Danny) Norris
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| School Trustee, Pct. 2, Pos. 1
| Amy Hinojosa
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| School Trustee, Pct. 3, Pos. 4
| Andrea Duhon
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| School Trustee, Pct. 4, Pos. 2
| [[Eric Dick (lawyer)]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| Constable, Precinct 1
| Alan Rosen
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| Constable, Precinct 2
| Jerry Garcia
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| Constable, Precinct 3
| Sherman Eagleton
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| Constable, Precinct 4
| Mark Herman
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| Constable, Precinct 5
| Ted Heap
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| Constable, Precinct 6
| Silvia Trevino
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| Constable, Precinct 7
| May Walker
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| Constable, Precinct 8
| Phil Sandlin
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|}

The county has an elections administrator and elections office, which is scheduled to be non-partisan. The State of Texas Legislature passed a law, SB 1750, that asks for the position to be abolished effective September 2023, as the law states that any county with at least 3,500,000 persons should have elections done by the clerk and tax assessor-collector; of all Texas counties, only Harris would be affected. In August 2023, Karin Crump, the presiding judge of Travis County, stated that this went against the [[Texas Constitution]], citing how the law only affected one county.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sessions|first=Kennedy|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/harris-county-elections-administrator-18297399.php|title=Texas judge blocks law banning Harris County elections admin|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2023-08-15|access-date=2023-08-15}}</ref>

==== County services ====
[[File:Harris County Criminal Courts Building.jpg|thumb|upright|Harris County Criminal Courts Building]]The [[Harris County Flood Control District]] manages the effects of flooding in the county.

The [[Harris County Sheriff's Office]] operates jail facilities and is the primary provider of law enforcement services to the unincorporated areas of the county. The sheriff is the conservator of the peace in the county. The Harris County jail facilities are in northern downtown on the north side of the Buffalo Bayou. The 1200 Jail,<ref>[http://www.hcso.hctx.net/detentioncommand/detention/1200_jail.asp The 1200 Jail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223163418/http://www.hcso.hctx.net/detentioncommand/detention/1200_jail.asp |date=February 23, 2009 }}." ''Harris County, Texas''. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> the 1307 Jail, (originally a TDCJ facility, leased by the county),<ref>"[http://www.hcso.hctx.net/detentioncommand/detention/1307_jail.asp The 1307 Jail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003084112/http://www.hcso.hctx.net/detentioncommand/detention/1307_jail.asp |date=October 3, 2008 }}." ''Harris County, Texas''. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> and the 701 Jail (formed from existing warehouse storage space) are on the same site.<ref>"[http://www.hcso.hctx.net/detentioncommand/detention/701_jail.asp The 701 Jail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918014649/http://www.hcso.hctx.net/detentioncommand/detention/701_jail.asp |date=September 18, 2008 }}." ''Harris County, Texas''. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>

The Community Services Department provides community services. The department maintains the {{convert|20|acre|ha}} Oates Road Cemetery (also known as the Harris County Cemetery) for indigents in eastern [[Houston]], near the former [[Southern Bible College]]. In March 2010, the county adopted a cremation first policy, meaning that the default preference for most indigents is to have them cremated instead of buried. As of 2010, the county authorized the Community Services Department to purchase about {{convert|50|acre|ha}} of land in the [[Huffman, Texas|Huffman]] area so the county will have additional spaces for indigent burials.<ref>Taylor, David. "[https://archive.today/20130125205225/http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/09/02/lake_houston_sentinel/news/090210_county_cemetery.txt County to purchase land for cemetery]." ''[[Lake Houston Sentinel]]''. September 2, 2010. Retrieved on September 7, 2010.</ref>

The Harris County Housing Authority (HCHA) is a governmental nonprofit corporation which addresses the need for quality affordable housing.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Harris County Housing Authority |url=http://www.hchatexas.org/ |work=website |year=2010 |access-date=September 24, 2010}}</ref> The HCHA has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as the highest performing housing authority in the region and was named one of America's 10 best Public Housing Authorities.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Harris County Housing Authority Honored with Two NAHRO Awards of Merit for Model Housing Solutions |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Harris+County+Housing+Authority+Honored+with+Two+NAHRO+Awards+of...-a0183644462 |agency=Reuters |publisher=Business Wire |access-date=September 24, 2010 |date=August 25, 2008 |archive-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226152001/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Harris+County+Housing+Authority+Honored+with+Two+NAHRO+Awards+of...-a0183644462 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Guy R. Rankin]], IV is chief executive officer of Harris County Housing Authority (HCHA).

=== State government ===
The [[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]] operates some correctional facilities in Harris County, including:
* [[Kegans Unit]], located in [[Downtown Houston]], is a state jail for men. It is in the north of downtown along the north side of the Buffalo Bayou, next to the county facilities.<ref>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/hm.htm Kegans (HM)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926064917/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/hm.htm |date=September 26, 2008 }}." ''[[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]]''. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>
* [[Pam Lychner Unit]], named after [[Pam Lychner]] and located in unincorporated northeast Harris County, east of the city of [[Humble, Texas|Humble]], is a state jail for men.<ref>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/mediasvc/connections/JanFeb2003/saluting_v10no3.html Saluting Employees January/February 2003] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602214149/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/mediasvc/connections/JanFeb2003/saluting_v10no3.html |date=June 2, 2008 }}." ''[[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]]''. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref><ref>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/aj.htm Lychner (AJ)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926064850/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/aj.htm |date=September 26, 2008 }}." ''[[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]]''. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>

As of 2001, Kegans and Lychner serves male state jail offenders from Harris County, with Kegans getting lower-risk offenders and Lychner getting higher-risk and special-needs offenders. If both of the male state jails in Harris County are full, excess offenders go to the Gist Unit in [[Jefferson County, Texas|Jefferson County]]. Female state jail offenders from Harris County go to the [[Plane Unit]] in [[Liberty County, Texas|Liberty County]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20011117151853/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/publications/red/kegans-sj-00.PDF State Jail Evaluation Summary Report Kegans State Jail]." [[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]]. October 2000. Retrieved on July 2, 2010.</ref>

The South Texas Intermediate Sanction Facility Unit, a parole confinement facility for males operated by [[Global Expertise in Outsourcing]], is in downtown Houston, west of [[Minute Maid Park]].<ref>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/xm.htm SOUTH TEXAS (XM)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821230211/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/xm.htm |date=August 21, 2008 }}." ''[[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]]''. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>

===Law enforcement===
[[File:Harris County Sheriff Ford Police Interceptor Utility.jpg|thumb|Harris County Sheriff Ford Police Interceptor]]
{{As of|2018}} there are over 60 law enforcement agencies operating in the county.<ref name=Land>{{cite web|author=Land, David|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2018/09/06/303136/report-harris-county-should-consolidate-law-enforcement-duties/|title=Report: Harris County Should Consolidate Law Enforcement Duties|publisher=[[KUHT|Houston Public Media]]|date=2018-09-06|access-date=2018-09-11}}</ref> They include: the [[Harris County Sheriff's Office]], the Harris County Constable Office, the [[Houston Police Department]], [[METRO Police Department]], other municipal police departments, and school district police departments.<ref>"Appendix A: Overview of Law Enforcement Agencies." ''[https://kinder.rice.edu/sites/g/files/bxs1676/f/documents/KI%202018%20Research%20Report-Law%20Enforcement%20online%20version%204_0.pdf Collaborations and Overlapping Services in Harris County Law Enforcement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908024335/https://kinder.rice.edu/sites/g/files/bxs1676/f/documents/KI%202018%20Research%20Report-Law%20Enforcement%20online%20version%204_0.pdf|date=September 8, 2018}}''. [[Rice University]] [[Kinder Institute for Urban Research]], September 2018. Retrieved on September 11, 2018. p. .</ref>

The combined yearly sum spent by these agencies circa 2018 was $1.6 billion. That year the [[Rice University]] Kinder Institute for Urban Research released a report advocating for consolidating several of these agencies as a way of saving taxpayer money.<ref name=Land/>

==Administration by judiciary==
The chief administrative officer of a Texas County, as set up in the [[Texas Constitution]], is the [[County Judge]], who sits as the chair of the county's [[Commissioners' Court]] (the equivalent of a [[Board of Supervisors]] in some other states). In 2019, Judge [[Lina Hidalgo]] was sworn in as the County Judge. The county is split into 4 geographical divisions called precincts. Each precinct elects a [[Commissioner]] to represent them on the commissioners court and oversee county government functions in the precinct.

Other elected positions in Harris County include a [[County Attorney]], a [[County Clerk]], a [[District Attorney]], a [[court clerk|District Clerk]], a [[Sheriff]], 8 [[Constable]]s, a Tax Assessor-Collector, a [[treasurer|County Treasurer]], and every judge in the county except municipal judges, who are appointed by the mayors and confirmed by city councils of their respective cities.

Many of the organs of the Harris County government reside in the Harris County Campus in [[Downtown Houston]].

==Economy==
[[File:HewlettPackardHarrisCoTX.JPG|thumb|[[Hewlett-Packard]] United States offices, formerly headquarters of [[Compaq]]]]
{{See also|Economy of Houston}}
In 2000, the largest employers in Harris County were [[Administaff]], [[Compaq]], [[Continental Airlines]], [[Memorial Hermann|Memorial Hermann Healthcare System]], and [[Southwestern Bell]].<ref>"[http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2000/06/19/list.html?q=%201600%20Smith%20%20%20Houston Largest Employers in Harris County]." ''[[Houston Business Journal]]''. Friday June 16, 2000. Retrieved on February 16, 2010.</ref>

The [[University of Houston System]]'s annual impact on the Houston-area's economy as of 2011 equates to that of a major corporation: $1.1 billion in new funds attracted annually to the Houston area, $3.13 billion in total economic benefit, and 24,000 local jobs generated.<ref name="Economic Impact">{{cite news|title=Study suggests UH degrees are crucial economic factor|last=TRESAUGUE|first=Matthew|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/3868657.html|work=Houston Chronicle|date=May 17, 2006|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref><ref name="UH System Economic Impact">{{cite web | title = The Economic Impact of Higher Education on Houston: A Case Study of the University of Houston System | work = University of Houston System | access-date = May 14, 2011 | url = http://www.advancement.uh.edu/impact/download/PDF/EconomicImpactStudy.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110720084907/http://www.advancement.uh.edu/impact/download/PDF/EconomicImpactStudy.pdf | archive-date = July 20, 2011 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref> This is in addition to the over 12,500 new graduates the UH System produces every year who enter the workforce in Houston and throughout Texas. These degree-holders tend to stay in Houston; after five years, 80.5% of graduates are still living and working in the region.<ref name="UH System Economic Impact"/>

In 2009, 20% of the office space in northwest Harris County was vacant. As of that year, more office space was being built; in 2010, northwest Harris will have twice the amount of office space that it had in 2009. The vacancy rate in the area near [[Farm to Market Road 1960]] and [[Texas State Highway 249]] in north Harris County was 53% in 2009.<ref>McGuire, Lee. "[http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/txcn/houston/stories/khou090121_tnt_office-space.176ddca6.html More Houston office space sitting empty] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723170408/http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/txcn/houston/stories/khou090121_tnt_office-space.176ddca6.html |date=July 23, 2011 }}." ''[[Texas Cable News]]''. Friday January 23, 2009. Retrieved on November 13, 2009.</ref>

Various companies are headquartered in incorporated and unincorporated areas throughout Harris County.

[[Academy Sports and Outdoors]], a sporting goods retailer, has its corporate offices and product distribution center in unincorporated western Harris County.<ref>"[http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=content&target=company/contact&lnkSRC=SLfromFOOTER Contact Academy Sports & Outdoors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105235233/http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=content&target=company%2Fcontact&lnkSRC=SLfromFOOTER |date=January 5, 2010 }}." ''[[Academy Sports and Outdoors]]''. Accessed September 5, 2008.</ref> [[Hewlett-Packard]] formerly operated its United States region office in a complex northwest unincorporated Harris County; the complex formerly belonged to [[Compaq]] prior to Compaq's merger with HP.<ref>"[http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/contact/office_locs.html HP Office Locations]." ''[[Hewlett-Packard]]''. Accessed September 6, 2008.</ref><ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/19961225072801/http://www.compaq.com/corporate/overview/world_offices.html Compaq Offices Worldwide]." (December 25, 1996) ''[[Compaq]]''. Accessed September 6, 2008.</ref><!--HP's headquarters are in Palo Alto- the Harris office serves the USA--> The HP offices, which are now occupied by [[Hewlett Packard Enterprise]], are now in a limited purpose annexation in Houston.<ref>Compare the full street address to the map.
* {{cite web|url=https://www.hpe.com/us/en/contact-hpe.html|title=Contact Sales of Support|publisher=Hewlett Packard Enterprise|accessdate=2022-02-03|quote=WW Corporate Headquarters - Houston, TX - United States 11445 Compaq Center Drive West Houston, Texas 77070}}
* [http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Annexation/docs_pdfs/etj_city_11x8.pdf Map of the Houston city limits]
* [https://mycity.houstontx.gov/houstonmapviewer/?cmvSettings=%7B%22mapExtent%22%3A%7B%22center%22%3A%7B%22type%22%3A%22point%22%2C%22x%22%3A-10639524.354063796%2C%22y%22%3A3502074.92489655%2C%22spatialReference%22%3A%7B%22wkid%22%3A102100%2C%22latestWkid%22%3A3857%7D%7D%2C%22zoom%22%3A15%7D%2C%22layerVisibility%22%3A%7B%22Landuse%22%3A%7B%22visible%22%3Afalse%2C%22visibleLayers%22%3A%5B0%5D%7D%2C%22Cadastral%22%3A%7B%22visible%22%3Afalse%2C%22visibleLayers%22%3A%5B0%2C1%2C7%5D%7D%2C%22PUDSW%22%3A%7B%22visible%22%3Afalse%2C%22visibleLayers%22%3A%5B-1%5D%7D%2C%22PUDW%22%3A%7B%22visible%22%3Afalse%2C%22visibleLayers%22%3A%5B-1%5D%7D%2C%22PUDWW%22%3A%7B%22visible%22%3Afalse%2C%22visibleLayers%22%3A%5B-1%5D%7D%2C%22PDD%22%3A%7B%22visible%22%3Afalse%2C%22visibleLayers%22%3A%5B15%2C38%2C18%2C19%2C20%2C21%2C22%2C23%2C24%2C25%5D%7D%2C%22FloodHazards%22%3A%7B%22visible%22%3Afalse%2C%22visibleLayers%22%3A%5B0%2C1%2C2%2C3%2C4%2C5%2C6%2C7%5D%7D%2C%22Government%22%3A%7B%22visible%22%3Atrue%2C%22visibleLayers%22%3A%5B0%2C3%5D%7D%2C%22Transportation%22%3A%7B%22visible%22%3Afalse%2C%22visibleLayers%22%3A%5B1%2C4%2C5%2C6%2C21%5D%7D%2C%22PHS%22%3A%7B%22visible%22%3Afalse%2C%22visibleLayers%22%3A%5B-1%5D%7D%2C%22Neighborhood%22%3A%7B%22visible%22%3Afalse%2C%22visibleLayers%22%3A%5B1%5D%7D%7D%7D Detail of the area where the HP Buildings resides]</ref> [[Smith International]] has its headquarters in the [[Greenspoint, Houston|Greenspoint]] district and in an unincorporated area in Harris County.<ref>"[http://www.smith.com/$0abbd12c-22aa-4005-86ab-b763cea0163b Welcome to SMITH] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127094401/http://www.smith.com/$0abbd12c-22aa-4005-86ab-b763cea0163b |date=January 27, 2010 }}." [[Smith International]]. Retrieved on December 8, 2009.</ref><ref>"[http://www.greenspoint.org/ExportedSite/About_US/BoundaryMap.htm Boundary Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019073249/http://www.greenspoint.org/ExportedSite/About_US/BoundaryMap.htm |date=October 19, 2010 }}." [[Greenspoint Management District]]. Retrieved on May 19, 2009.</ref> [[BJ Services Company]] has its headquarters in the [[Spring Branch, Houston|Spring Branch]] district and in unincorporated Harris County.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20070703100150/http://www.bjservices.com/website/GBLocator.nsf Global Locations]." [[BJ Services Company]]. July 3, 2007. Retrieved on December 8, 2009.</ref><ref name="SBManagement">"[http://sbmd.org/images/maps/Large_BoundaryMap2.pdf Boundary Map]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." ''Spring Branch Management District''. Retrieved on December 8, 2009.</ref>  [[Cybersoft Technologies]] has its headquarters in an unincorporated area.<ref>"[http://www.cybersoft.net/ContactUs.html Contact Us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101120644/http://cybersoft.net/ContactUs.html |date=January 1, 2011 }}." [[Cybersoft Technologies]]. Retrieved on March 27, 2011. "Cybersoft Technologies, Inc. 4422 FM 1960 West, Suite No.&nbsp;300 Houston, TX 77068-3411"</ref> In 2012, [[Noble Energy]] announced that it was consolidating its headquarters and two other [[Greater Houston]] offices into a 10-story building on the former [[Compaq]] headquarters property in unincorporated Harris County.<ref name="NobleMove">"[http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2012/01/20/noble-energy-to-move-hq-to-former-hp.html Noble Energy to move HQ to former HP building]." ''[[Houston Business Journal]]''. January 20, 2012. Retrieved on January 22, 2012.</ref> In 2022, [[ExxonMobil]] announced it was moving its headquarters to Harris County from [[Irving, Texas]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Takahashi|first=Paul|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Irving-based-Exxon-to-move-headquarters-to-Houston-16819300.php|title=Exxon to move headquarters to Houston, from Dallas-area Irving|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2022-01-31|accessdate=2022-01-31}}</ref> [[Goya Foods]] previously had its Texas offices in an unincorporated area in the county.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20110424071548/http://www.goya.com/english/about/contact_us.html Contact Us]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6gIjoMtMB?url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424071548/http://www.goya.com/english/about/contact_us.html Archive]). [[Goya Foods]]. April 24, 2011. Retrieved on March 26, 2016. "Goya Foods of Texas 5750 Brittmoore Road Houston, TX 77041"</ref>

[[General Electric]] operates an aeroderivative division facility on Jacintoport in unincorporated Harris County.<ref>"[http://www.ge.com/mea/ourCompany/news/africa/pr_02232006.html GE Energy to provide LM2500+ Gas turbine for south african power plant]{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." ''[[General Electric]]''. February 23, 2006. Retrieved on April 24, 2009.</ref><ref>"[http://www.ge.com/myhealth/world/med_us.html Medical Centers U.S.]" ''[[General Electric]]''. Retrieved on April 24, 2009.</ref> [[Randall's Food Markets]], a subsidiary of [[Safeway Inc.]], has its distribution center in unincorporated Harris County.<ref>"[http://suppliers.safeway.com/usa/pdf/dc_directory.pdf Distribution Centers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715223405/http://suppliers.safeway.com/usa/pdf/dc_directory.pdf |date=July 15, 2011 }}." ''[[Safeway Inc.]]'' 2. Retrieved on May 13, 2010.</ref>

In 2008, [[KBR (company)|KBR]] announced that it will open a new office facility in an unincorporated area in western Harris County.<!--I-10@ Grand Parkway is outside the city limits of Houston--><ref>"[http://www.kbr.com/news/press_releases/2008/05/02/KBR_Announces_Plan_for_West_Houston_Campus_Location.aspx KBR Announces Plan for West Houston Campus Location] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102020614/http://kbr.com/news/press_releases/2008/05/02/KBR_Announces_Plan_for_West_Houston_Campus_Location.aspx |date=January 2, 2010 }}." ''[[KBR (company)|KBR]]''. May 2, 2008.</ref> In December KBR said that it would not continue with the plans due to a weakened economy.<ref>Sarnoff, Nancy. "[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/realestate/6191958.html Economic crunch undercuts real estate projects]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. January 3, 2009. Retrieved on January 21, 2009.</ref> In January 2009 KBR announced that it will not open the new office facility.<ref>"[http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/01/25/daily31.html KBR scuttles West Houston expansion]." ''[[Houston Business Journal]]''. Wednesday January 27, 2010. Modified Thursday January 28, 2010. Retrieved on January 28, 2010.</ref>

== Education ==

=== Primary and secondary schools ===
[[File:HarrisCoEducationDept.JPG|thumb|[[Harris County Department of Education]] – Ronald W. Reagan Building]]
The [[Harris County Department of Education]], a county division overseeing education by local school districts, with a 2011 budget around $100 million, is headquartered in the Ronald W. Reagan Building in the [[Northside, Houston|Northside]] district in Houston. It has an Adult Education Center in the Northside and an office in the North Post Oak Building in [[Spring Branch, Houston|Spring Branch]].<ref name="SBManagement"/><ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20090322180116/http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=ContactUs3 Contact Us]." Harris County Department of Education. Retrieved on May 30, 2009.</ref><ref>"[http://www.greaternorthside.org/_dl/gnmd_map.pdf Greater Northside Management District] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091104075640/http://www.greaternorthside.org/_dl/gnmd_map.pdf |date=November 4, 2009 }}." Greater Northside Management District. Retrieved on May 30, 2009.</ref>

Several [[school district]]s serve Harris County communities. Among the 26 districts are:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48201_harris/DC20SD_C48201.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48201_harris/DC20SD_C48201.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=2020 census - school district reference map: Harris County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-06-29}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48201_harris/DC20SD_C48201_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

{|
|- valign="top"
|
* [[Aldine ISD]]
* [[Alief ISD]]
* [[Channelview Independent School District|Channelview ISD]]
* [[Clear Creek ISD]]
* [[Crosby Independent School District|Crosby ISD]]
* [[Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District|Cypress-Fairbanks ISD]]
* [[Dayton Independent School District|Dayton ISD]]
* [[Deer Park Independent School District|Deer Park ISD]]
* [[Galena Park Independent School District|Galena Park ISD]]
* [[Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District|Goose Creek CISD]]
|
* [[Houston ISD]]
* [[Huffman Independent School District|Huffman ISD]]
* [[Humble Independent School District|Humble ISD]]
* [[Katy ISD]]
* [[Klein ISD]]
* [[La Porte Independent School District|La Porte ISD]]
* [[New Caney Independent School District|New Caney ISD]]
* [[Pasadena ISD]]
* [[Pearland Independent School District|Pearland ISD]]
* [[Sheldon Independent School District|Sheldon ISD]]
|
* [[Spring ISD]]
* [[Spring Branch ISD]]
* [[Stafford MSD]]
* [[Tomball ISD]]
* [[Waller Independent School District|Waller ISD]]
|
|}

On July 1, 2013, the [[North Forest Independent School District]] closed and its territory became a part of Houston ISD.<ref>Barajas, Erik. "[http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=9157891 North Forest ISD officially closes today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227182518/http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=9157891 |date=December 27, 2013 }}." ''[[KTRK-TV]]''. July 1, 2013. Retrieved on July 1, 2013.</ref>

In addition, [[List of state-operated charter schools in Houston|state-operated charter schools]] are in the county. Charter schools in [[unincorporated area]]s include:
* [[Jamie's House Charter School]] (6–12)
* Richard Milburn Academy Houston (high school) – Of [[Milburn Schools]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_school/tx/10279 |title=Richard Milburn Academy – Suburban Houston – Houston, Texas – TX – School overview |publisher=Greatschools.net |date=September 7, 2010 |access-date=January 14, 2012}}</ref>
* YES Prep North Central of [[YES Prep Public Schools]]

The department of education of the county operates the Highpoint Schools.<ref>"[http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=Highpoint Highpoint Schools],"  and Academic & Behavior Centers East and West (ABC-E) and (ABC-E). Harris County Department of Education. Retrieved on July 17, 2011.</ref>

===Colleges and universities===
{{see also|List of colleges and universities in Houston}}
[[File:Ezekiel W. Cullen Building (Alternate).JPG|thumb|right|[[Ezekiel W. Cullen Building]] at the [[University of Houston]]]]
[[File:Rice University - Sally Port.JPG|thumb|[[Rice University]] - Sally Port]]

Four separate and distinct state universities are located in Harris County. The [[University of Houston]] is a nationally recognized Tier&nbsp;One research university, and is the flagship institution of the [[University of Houston System|University of Houston&nbsp;System]].<ref name="Tier One Research">{{cite web |url=http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2011articles/Jan2011/011811CarnegieTierOne.php|title=Carnegie Foundation Gives University of Houston its Highest Classification for Research Success, Elevating UH to Tier One Status|author=Bonnin, Richard|publisher=University of Houston |access-date=2011-02-08}}</ref><ref name="Tier One Research 2">{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2011/01/21/uh-achieves-tier-one-status-in-research.html|title=UH achieves Tier One status in research|work=Houston Business Journal |access-date=2011-07-06|date=January 21, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Tier One Research 3">{{cite web |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7386162.html|title=UH takes big step up to Tier One status|work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=2011-07-06|date=2011-01-18}}</ref> The {{nowrap|third-largest}} university in Texas,<ref name="State of the University: Fall 2011">{{cite web | url=http://www.uh.edu/president/communications/university-community/fall-address-highlights/Fall_Address_Slides_10-3-2011.pdf | title=State of the University: Fall 2011 | publisher=University of Houston | date=October 4, 2011 | access-date=October 5, 2011 | author=Khator, Renu | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027101812/http://uh.edu/president/communications/university-community/fall-address-highlights/Fall_Address_Slides_10-3-2011.pdf | archive-date=October 27, 2011 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> the University of Houston counted 43,774 (fall 2016)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2017/august/08212017UH-Welcomes-Record-Number-Of-Students-Fall-2017.php|title=UH Welcomes Record Number of Students for Fall 2017|author=Kever, Jeannie|access-date=December 29, 2017|date=August 21, 2017|publisher=University of Houston}}</ref> students on its 667-acre campus in southeast Houston. The [[University of Houston–Clear Lake|University of Houston–Clear&nbsp;Lake]] and the [[University of Houston–Downtown]] are {{nowrap|stand-alone}} universities; they are not branch campuses of the University of Houston. Located in the historic community of Third&nbsp;Ward is [[Texas Southern University]], one of the largest historically black colleges and universities in the United&nbsp;States.

Several private institutions of higher learning—ranging from liberal arts colleges to a nationally recognized research university—are located within Harris&nbsp;County. [[Rice University|Rice&nbsp;University]] is one of the leading teaching and research universities of the United&nbsp;States and ranked the nation's 17th best overall university by ''U.S. News & World Report''.<ref>{{cite web | title = Rice University, Best Colleges 2009 | work = U.S. News & World Report | access-date = March 27, 2009 | url = http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/items/3604 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090216191034/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/items/3604 | archive-date = February 16, 2009 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

Four community college districts exist with campuses in and around Harris&nbsp;County:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Education Code Chapter 130. Junior College Districts |url=https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm |website=statutes.capitol.texas.gov}}</ref>
* The [[Houston Community College System]] serves Houston ISD (including the former North Forest ISD), Katy ISD, Spring Branch ISD, Alief ISD, and Stafford MSD. This includes most of the City of Houston.
* The [[Lone Star College System]] (formerly North-Harris Montgomery Community College District) serves Aldine ISD, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Tomball ISD, Humble ISD, and Klein ISD. This constitutes the northwestern through northeastern parts of the county.
* [[San Jacinto College]] serves Pasadena ISD, Galena Park ISD, Sheldon ISD, Channelview ISD, Deer Park ISD, La Porte ISD, and the Harris County part of Clear Creek ISD. This constitutes southeastern and eastern portions of the county 
* [[Lee College]] serves Goose Creek ISD, Crosby ISD, and Huffman ISD, far east to northeast sections
The legislation does not specify which community college is for the Harris County portion of Waller ISD.<!--Waller ISD as a district is not mentioned in the legislation; Waller County is, but we are talking about portions of Waller ISD in Harris County-->

The Houston Community College and Lone Star College systems are within the [[List of United States colleges and universities by enrollment#US Department of Education Ranking|10 largest institutions of higher learning]] in the United&nbsp;States.

===Public libraries===
Harris County operates its own [[public library]] system, the [[Harris County Public Library]].

In addition, Houston has the [[Houston Public Library]], a city-controlled public library system.

The cities of [[Baytown, Texas|Baytown]], [[Bellaire, Texas|Bellaire]], [[Deer Park, Texas|Deer Park]], and [[Pasadena, Texas|Pasadena]] have their own city-controlled libraries.

== Emergency services ==

=== Police services ===
[[File:1200JailHoustonTX.JPG|thumb|The 1200 Jail, the headquarters of the [[Harris County Sheriff's Office]]]]
[[File:LittleYorkVFDStation81HarrisCountyTX.JPG|thumb|Little York Volunteer Fire Department Station 81]]Incorporated cities operate their own police departments, though Harris County operates the [[Harris County Sheriff's Office]], which serves unincorporated areas and supplements police forces of incorporated areas.

Harris County also has a constable for each of its eight precincts and hundreds of deputies assigned to each. They mainly serve in a patrol function, established to maintain peace in the county as well as providing security to county buildings such as court houses and district attorney's offices.

=== Municipal fire/EMS services ===
The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office operates an Investigative Branch, an Emergency Response Branch (Hazardous Materials Response) and Prevention Branch (Inspections). The office is headquartered at 2318 Atascocita Road in an [[unincorporated area]].<ref>"[http://www.hcfmo.net/aboutus.aspx About the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616120349/http://www.hcfmo.net/aboutus.aspx |date=June 16, 2009 }}." ''Harris County Fire Marshal's Office''. Retrieved on May 22, 2009.</ref> Incorporated cities operate their own fire departments. The city of Houston operates the [[Houston Fire Department]] which provides fire and emergency medical coverage to the city of Houston.

===Emergency services districts===
Areas outside of municipal city limits (and some smaller municipalities) have fire and emergency medical services provided by Emergency Service Districts, distinct governmental units with the ability to levy property and sales taxes. ESD's may provide fire service, EMS service or both (dual services) and the services they provide determine the limits on their adoptable tax rate.

ESD's may provide services directly or may contract with an agency or agencies for services. Additionally, ESD's may overlap one another to ensure both fire and EMS services are provided.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! ESD !! Type !! Provider !! Sales Tax Rate (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://comptroller.texas.gov/taxinfo/local/spd.html#other |title=Special Purpose District |access-date=April 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424091510/http://comptroller.texas.gov/taxinfo/local/spd.html#other |archive-date=April 24, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> !! Property Tax Rate per $100 Valuation (2015)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hctax.net/property/jurisdictiontaxrates | title=Harris County Tax Office}}</ref>
|-
| Harris County ESD #1 || EMS || Harris County Emergency Corps<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hcec.com/|title=Harris County Emergency Corps|website=hcec.com}}</ref> || || .10
|-
| Harris County ESD #2 || EMS || South Lake Houston EMS || 1% || .0280120
|-
| Harris County ESD #4 (4A) || Dual || Huffman FD || 1% (2%) || .10 (.10)
|-
| Harris County ESD #5 || EMS || HCESD5 EMS || 1% || .02
|-
| Harris County ESD #6 || EMS || North Channel EMS || .5% || .0089
|-
| Harris County ESD #7 || Fire || Spring VFD || 1% || .06545
|-
| Harris County ESD #8 || EMS || Northwest EMS<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nwems.org/ | title=Home}}</ref> || || .10
|-
| Harris County ESD #9 || Dual || Cy-Fair FD || 1% || .055
|-
| Harris County ESD #10 || Fire || Eastex Fire Department<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eastexfd.com/ |title=Eastex Fire Department &#124; Just another WordPress site |access-date=April 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424222202/http://eastexfd.com/ |archive-date=April 24, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> || 1% ||  .10
|-
| Harris County ESD #11<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://esd11.com/|title=Harris County ESD 11 – 911 Ambulance Provider serving Spring, TX.}}</ref> || EMS || https://esd11.com/<nowiki/>|| || .04185
|-
| Harris County ESD #12 || Fire || Cloverleaf Fire Department || .5% || .03
|-
| Harris County ESD #13 || Fire || Cypress Creek FD || || .08826
|-
| Harris County ESD #14 || Dual || Highlands VFD || 2% || .05
|-
| Harris County ESD #15 || Fire || Tomball FD || 1% || .05
|-
| Harris County ESD #16 || Fire || Klein VFD || 1% || .05
|-
| Harris County ESD #17 || Fire || Little York VFD || 1% || .10
|-
| Harris County ESD #19 || Fire || Sheldon VFD || || .03
|-
| Harris County ESD #20 || Fire || Northwest FD || 1% || .10
|-
| Harris County ESD #21 || Dual || Rosehill FD || 1% || .10
|-
| Harris County ESD #24 || Fire || Aldine Fire & Rescue || || .10
|-
| Harris County ESD #25 || Fire || Westfield FD || || .10
|-
| Harris County ESD #28 || Fire || Ponderosa VFD || 1% || .10
|-
| Harris County ESD #29 || Fire || Champions FD || 1% || .09032
|-
| Harris County ESD #46 || Dual || Atascocita VFD<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avfd.com/|title=Atascocita Fire Department|website=www.avfd.com}}</ref> || 1% || .08
|-
| Harris County ESD #47 || Dual || Westlake FD || 1% || .095186
|-
| Harris County ESD #48<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hcesd48.org | title=Welcome to Harris County Emergency Services District No. 48}}</ref> || Dual || HCESD48 FD || 1% || .089
|-
| Harris County ESD #50 || Dual || Channelview FD || 1% || .05
|-
| Harris County ESD #60 || Fire || Sheldon VFD || 1% || .05
|-
| Harris County ESD #75 || Dual || Baytown FD || 1% || .0875
|-
| Harris County ESD #80 || Fire || Crosby FD || 1% || .04178
|-
| Harris-Fort Bend ESD #100 || Dual || Community FD || 1% || .07951
|-
| Waller-Harris ESD #200<ref>{{cite web | url=https://wallerharrisesd200.com/ | title=Waller Harris ESD 200}}</ref> || Other || Multiple Fire/EMS Agencies || || .0995
|}

== Hospital services ==

Within Harris County, hospital services for the indigent and needy are provided by the [[Harris Health System]] (Harris County Hospital District), a separate governmental entity. Harris Health System operates two hospitals: LBJ General Hospital and [[Ben Taub General Hospital]], as well as many clinics and the former Quentin Mease Community Hospital.

Additionally, numerous private and public hospitals operate in Harris County, including institutions in [[Texas Medical Center]] and throughout the county, for example the [[Harris County Psychiatric Center]]

== Transportation ==
[[File:HarrisCountyAnnexM8410LanternPoint.JPG|thumb|Harris County Annex M has the headquarters of the [[Harris County Transit]] agency.<ref>"[http://www.harriscountytransit.com/vendor.html Vendor Registration] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616081215/http://www.harriscountytransit.com/vendor.html |date=June 16, 2010 }}." [[Harris County Transit]]. Retrieved on January 15, 2010.</ref><!--The name of the building is in the provided image, and the address matches the one in the document-->]]

[[Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas]] (METRO) serves several areas within Harris County. An agency of the Harris County government, [[Harris County Transit]], serves communities in Harris County that are not served by METRO.<ref>"[http://www.harriscountytransit.com/index.html Welcome To The Harris County Transit Services Division] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090921033231/http://www.harriscountytransit.com/index.html |date=September 21, 2009 }}." [[Harris County Transit]]. Retrieved on January 15, 2010.</ref>

In Harris County, the average one way commute for a person using an automobile was 25 minutes, while the average commute for a person not using an automobile was 44 minutes, a 76% longer duration than the figure for commuters with cars.<ref name="FeldsteinMETRO">{{cite news |last1=Feldstein |first1=Dan |last2=Kolker |first2=Claudia |date=June 15, 1997 |title=Carless in Houston/Going carless/View is different from the slow lane |work=Houston Chronicle |url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1997_1418868 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503051854/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1997_1418868 |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Major highways ===

{|
|- valign="top"
|
* [[Image:I-10 (TX).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 10 (Texas)|Interstate 10]] a.k.a. - Katy Freeway going West or Baytown East Freeway going East
* [[Image:I-45 (TX).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 45 (Texas)|Interstate 45]] a.k.a. - North Freeway going North or Gulf Freeway going South
* [[Hardy Toll Road]]
* [[Fort Bend Toll Road]]
* [[Westpark Tollway]]
* [[Image:I-69 (TX).svg|20px]] [[Image:US 59.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 69 (Texas)|Interstate 69]]/[[U.S. Highway 59 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 59]] a.k.a. - Eastex Freeway going NE or Southwest Freeway going SW
* [[Image:I-610 (TX).svg|25px]] [[Interstate 610 (Texas)|Interstate 610]] a.k.a. - North Loop Freeway north of downtown Houston or West Loop Freeway west of downtown Houston or South Loop Freeway south of downtown Houston or East Loop Freeway east of downtown Houston
* [[Image:US 90.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 90 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 90]] a.k.a. - Crosby Freeway
* [[Image:Alternate plate.svg|20px]]<br />[[Image:US 90.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 90 Alternate (Texas)|U.S. Highway 90 Alternate]]
* [[Image:US 290.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Highway 290 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 290]] a.k.a. - Northwest Freeway
|
* [[Image:Texas 3.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 3 (Texas)|State Highway 3]]
* [[Image:Texas 6.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 6 (Texas)|State Highway 6]]
* [[Image:Toll Texas 99.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 99 (Texas)|State Highway 99]] a.k.a. - Grand Parkway
* [[Image:Texas 146.svg|23px]] [[State Highway 146 (Texas)|State Highway 146]]
* [[Image:Texas 225.svg|23px]] [[State Highway 225 (Texas)|State Highway 225]] a.k.a. - La Porte Freeway
* [[Image:Texas 249.svg|23px]] [[State Highway 249 (Texas)|State Highway 249]] a.k.a. - Tomball Parkway going from Tomball and SE or Tomball Tollway going from Tomball and NW
* [[Image:Texas 288.svg|23px]] [[State Highway 288 (Texas)|State Highway 288]] a.k.a. - South Freeway
* [[Image:Texas Beltway 8.svg|20px]] [[Beltway 8 (Texas)|Beltway 8]] a.k.a. - Sam Houston Parkway east of I-45 in north Houston and north of I-10 east of Houston or Sam Houston Tollway west of I-45 in north Houston and south of I-10 east of Houston
|}

=== Mass transit ===
Many areas in Harris County are served by [[Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas]] (METRO), a public transportation agency headquartered in [[Downtown Houston]].

Some communities outside of METRO's service area, such as [[Baytown, Texas]], and [[Channelview, Texas]], are served by [[Harris County Transit]].

=== Intercity buses ===
[[Greyhound Bus Lines]] operates various stations throughout Harris County.

=== Airports ===
[[File:IAH 3.jpg|thumb|[[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]]]]
Two commercial airports, [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]] and [[William P. Hobby Airport]], are located in Houston and in Harris County. The [[Houston Airport System]] defines Harris County as a part of Bush Intercontinental's service region.<ref>"[http://system.gocampaign.com/files/file.asp?f=13224 Master Plan Executive Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711104249/http://system.gocampaign.com/files/file.asp?f=13224 |date=July 11, 2011 }}." ''George Bush Intercontinental Airport Master Plan''. [[Houston Airport System]]. December 2006. 2-1 (23/130). Retrieved on December 14, 2010.</ref> The city of Houston operates [[Ellington Field]], a general aviation and military airport in Harris County.

General aviation airports for [[fixed-wing aircraft]] outside of Houston include:
* Publicly owned
** [[La Porte Municipal Airport (Texas)|La Porte Municipal Airport]] in [[La Porte, Texas|La Porte]]
** [[Baytown Airport]] in unincorporated east Harris County, north of [[Baytown, Texas|Baytown]]
* Privately owned, public use
** [[West Houston Airport]] is a general aviation airport located in unincorporated western Harris County, west of the Houston city limits.
** [[Dan Jones International Airport]] in unincorporated northwestern Harris County
** [[Weiser Air Park]] in unincorporated northern Harris County
** [[David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport]], a general aviation airport, is located outside of the [[Tomball, Texas|Tomball]] city limits in unincorporated northwest Harris County.
** [[Sack-O-Grande Acroport]] (also known as Harbican Airport) is located in western unincorporated Harris County.
* Privately owned, private use
** [[Hoffpauir Airport]] is located in western unincorporated Harris County.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[Greater Houston]]
* [[List of museums in the Texas Gulf Coast]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Harris County, Texas]]
* [[North Channel Sentinel]]
* [[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Grayson-Hudspeth)#Harris County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Harris County]]
* [[USNS Harris County (T-LST-822)|USNS ''Harris County'' (T-LST-822)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.harriscountytx.gov/ Harris County government's website]
* [https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/harris-county ''The Handbook of Texas Online:'' Harris County]
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/widgets/pager.php?object_id=meta-pth-6725&recno=23&path=/data/UNT/Books/meta-pth-6725.tkl Account of the early days of Harris County, 1824 – 1838] from [https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth6725/ Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas] by [[John Henry Brown]], hosted by [https://texashistory.unt.edu/ The Portal to Texas History]
* [https://archive.today/20121211161459/http://digital.lib.uh.edu/u?/p15195coll16,297 Accepted design illustration of Court House from the University of Houston Digital Library (1920–1924)]
{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Harris County, Texas
|North     = [[Montgomery County, Texas|Montgomery County]]
|Northeast = [[Liberty County, Texas|Liberty County]]
|East      = [[Chambers County, Texas|Chambers County]]
|Southeast = [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston County]]
|South     = [[Brazoria County, Texas|Brazoria County]]
|Southwest = [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]]
|West      =
|Northwest = [[Waller County, Texas|Waller County]]
}}
{{Harris County, Texas}}
{{Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|29.86|-95.39|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Harris County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1837 establishments in the Republic of Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1837]]
[[Category:Greater Houston]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in Texas]]
{{Навигационная таблица/Портал/Английская Википедия}}
[[Категория:Английская Википедия]]
[[Категория:Википедия]]
[[Категория:Статья из Википедии]]
[[Категория:Статья из Английской Википедии]]