Liberty County State of Community Report

Liberty County prides itself on being a great place to live and raise families, which is evident in the rapidly growing population. It is rural, but not too distant from the amenities of Houston. However, the rural character means that public resources and funding are more limited, and economic opportunities are fewer. Poverty levels are higher and education and health levels are lower than averages. From the 19th-century until today, the county has based its economy on natural resource extraction and processing, which may not be sustainable in the long run. Traditionally blue-collar work is the main employment driver. Many people travel outside of the county for their work, as well as for health care and other goods and services. The movement of both people and goods is enabled by strong transportation network coverage, including highways, railroads, river freight, and nearby ports. The expected expansion of a major Houston-area toll road into the county is eagerly awaited. Some bus transit is provided, but more is needed based on the financial and mobility constraints of many residents. School, fire, and other public infrastructure are provided but have some gaps, such as inadequate public hospital services. Liberty County has many wetlands and two protected areas, so there is tension between land development pressures and conservancy interests. There are also dangers from hazards like flooding, wind, and storm surge due to its proximity to the Gulf Coast and the presence of the Trinity River. The rest of the land is primarily forests and farmland, with relatively little urban land development. Planning at the city level is minimal, apart from Cleveland City.This State of Community Report is prepared by Texas Target Communities. It gathers data from a wide variety of sources in order to gain a more complete picture of current conditions in Liberty County, Texas. Due to resource limitations, there was no public participation, though it can be integrated at a later date. By centralizing the data in this document, relationships between different components and characteristics of the county become clearer and potential opportunities and synergies come to light