WORK-FORCE1
Nueces County Profile, 2nd ed.
Philip W. Rhoades, Ph.D.
Valerie Villarreal B.A.
Stephanie Jackson B.A.
Swathi Yarlagadda B.S.
Social Science Research Center
June 30, 2005
Nueces County Profile, 2nd ed.
Authors
Philip W. Rhoades, Ph.D.
Valerie Villarreal B.A.
Stephanie Jackson B.A.
Swathi Yarlagadda B.S.
This report has been produced for Work-Force 1 by the Social Science Research Center at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. Funding was provided through a contract with the Coastal Bend Work-Force Development Board.
Copyright 2005
All or portions of this report may be duplicated in support of public education, grant writing or planning efforts, if citation is made of sources: The Social Science Research Center, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi and Work-Force 1.
12
NUECES COUNTY
OVERVIEW
Nueces County is the largest county in the Coastal Bend Region. It is on the Gulf of Mexico southeast of San Antonio. It is bounded by on the north by the Nueces River and on the east by the Laguna Madre, Corpus Christi Bay, and Redfish Bay. The county consists of 1166 square miles with a 2000 population density of 375.3 residents per square mile. The average density in Texas is 79.6 persons per square mile which is the same as the national average. This county ranked 12th in 2000 population compared to all 254 counties in Texas with an estimated population of 313,645.
The county seat and largest city is Corpus Christi. Leading tourist attractions include Padre Island National Seashore, Mustang Island State Park, the Texas State Aquarium, the Art Museum of South Texas, and the USS Lexington.
The population context for Nueces County is important. Population figures indicate that Nueces County continues to have larger families with fewer working age adults available to provide for the young and elderly. The 2004 census data indicate that Nueces County grew at a much slower rate than the State as a whole. Nueces County grew only 0.7% from 2000 to 2004 while the State grew 7.9%. While the County’s population was younger than the State’s in 1990, it has aged. In 2004, 11.6% of the County’s population was 65 years old and over while only 10.2% of the State was 65 or over.
In 2004, Nueces County had only 61.7% of its population in the 16 years and over in the labor force as compared to 63.7% for Texas. The County has a median household size of 2.79 that was higher than the State’s 2.67. Also, 55.9% of Nueces County households have persons under 18, while only 56.4% of households Statewide have persons under 18. With lower household median income than the State ($43,487), Nueces County ($38,927) has more families, adults, and children in poverty. Nueces County families must try to support more people with less income.
DEMOGRAPHICS
According to the 2004 U.S. Census Bureau, the total population for Nueces County was 315,797. This is a small increase in population since 2000. When looking at Race in terms of population numbers, the total number of Whites was 226,949 this includes Hispanics and other due to that some individuals marked more than one option for Race. The total of number of Hispanics or Latinos (of any race) was 187,687. The total number of Black or African American was 13,595. The total number of all other races was 75,253 which included American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, Asian or Pacific Islander, Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander, other, and Multi-race. The total number of males in the county was 154,076 and total number of females was 161,721. The 12 and under population was 62,737, 13 – 17 age range was 24,771, and 18 and over (includes elderly population) was 234,185. The total number of the population over 65 was 35,032.
YOUTH CRIME
Crime among juveniles is prevalent in Nueces County. In 2004, Nueces County had a higher arrest rate than the State in alcohol related and drug related arrests. When examining juvenile violent crime related arrests and property arrests, a significant difference does not appear to be present between the County and State.
When looking at runaway arrests, the rate in Nueces is approximately 4 times higher than the State. Juvenile arrests for curfew, vandalism, and disorderly conduct are almost double the rate in Nueces County as compared to the State. High incidence among youth in regard to alcohol and drug related arrests could possibly lead to long-term effects in the community. These youth are more likely to continue into adult criminality. They may drop-out of school and fail to obtain the necessary skills for employment.
ADULT CRIME
When examining adult crimes, it is apparent that higher rates of arrests exist in Nueces County as compared to the State. In 2004, the rate of alcohol-related and drug related adult arrests were significantly higher than the State. The pattern was similar when examining violent crime arrests. In Nueces County, the rate of violent crime arrests was 2.7 as compared to 1.8 in the State. The property crime arrest rate in Nueces County was 10 as compared to 6.1 for the State. Higher incidence of crime in a community can only impair its potential for economic development.
VICTIMIZATION
When examining confirmed cases of child abuse, the rate confirmed victims of child abuse per 1,000 children in Nueces County was greater than that of the State in 2004. The Nueces County rate of confirmed victims was double the State rate. The rate is not as high or significant when examining confirmed cases of adult abuse in Nueces County as compared to the State.
When looking at victims of domestic violence Nueces County has higher incidence in regard to family violence. According to the 2003 Texas Uniform Crime Reports, Nueces County had a rate of 15.4 incidents of family violence compared to 8.5 for the State. The data demonstrates that a greater number of families are at risk of abuse in Nueces County as compared to the State.
EDUCATION
Education is a key component to the success of a community. In the 2003 – 2004 academic school year, Texas implemented the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), system of exams to replace the TAAS. For that year, the percentage met standard passing the Reading test was lower than the State in six out of the twelve school districts in Nueces County. These include Agua Dulce, Banquete, Bishop, Driscoll, Robstown, and West Oso ISD’s. For the Math test, the proportion passing the test was also lower than the State in five of the school districts, these include Agua Dulce, Banquete, Bishop, Robstown, and West Oso ISD’s.
Another area examined was the proportion of eligible students scoring at or above the Texas Education Agency accountability criteria on the SAT or ACT. For the 2003 -2004 school year five school districts had lower proportions than the State these include Banquete, Bishop, Corpus Christi, Robstown, and West Oso ISD’s.
Attendance is another important factor in success in school. Of the twelve school districts six report having a higher average of daily attendance rates as compared to the State average. However, Banquete, Corpus Christi, Flour Bluff, Robstown, Tuloso-Midway, and West Oso ISD’s were very close to the state.
Drop-out rates reported for the graduating class of 2003, indicated that several school districts are above the State average of 4.5%. Some of these districts are almost double the State rate such as Bishop and West Oso ISD’s.
When looking at the high school graduation rate in Nueces County, a majority of the districts are above the State average graduation rate of 84.2%. However, four of the districts in county are below the State average these include Bishop, Corpus Christi, Robstown, and West Oso ISD’s.
Institutions of higher learning were also examined. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and Del Mar College were the three institutions that were examined.
In the spring semester of 2005 academic enrollment by ethnicity at TAMU-CC was 55.9% White, 36.8% Hispanic, 3.1% Black, 4.1% and other. The total number of students was 7,849. The greatest proportion of students was enrolled in the College of Arts and Humanities (27.3%) followed the College of Education (25%), College of Science and Technology (20.3%), College of Business (17.4%), and College of Nursing of Health (10.1%).
In the spring semester of 2005 academic school year, enrollment by ethnicity at Del Mar College was 56.5% Hispanic, 36.7% White, 2.8% Black, and 4.0% other. The total number of students was 11,495. A large proportion of the students are enrolled in the Occupation Education & Technology Department (35.5%), followed by Business and Career (27.1%), Arts and Sciences (20.3%) and undeclared (17.1%).
In the fall semester of 2004 academic school year, enrollment by ethnicity at TAMU-K was 27% White, 62% Hispanic, 5% Black, and 6% other. The total number of students was 6,200. A greatest proportion of students are enrolled in the Arts and Sciences (35.0%) followed the Education (24.9%), Engineering (14.9%), Business Administration (14.2%) and Agriculture and Human Sciences (11.1%).
In the spring semester of 2005 academic school year, enrollment by ethnicity at Coastal Bend Community College was 30.7% White, 62.6% Hispanic, 4.5% Black, and 2.2% other. The total number of students was 3,565.
In 2004, the educational attainment level of the population 25 years and over demonstrates that Nueces County lacks much of the education needed for success in the workforce. While matching the State in residents with high school completed, the County has fewer individuals with Bachelors and advanced degrees. It also has more residents that have not completed high school.
ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION
A significant stress on families is poverty. The data reveal that poverty is quite present in Nueces County. One way of examining poverty is looking at the per capita income in 2004. For Nueces County, the per capita income was $18,910 as compared to the State’s $21,502. The median household income in 2004 was $38,927 for Nueces County and $43,487 for the State. From 2001 to 2004 the unemployment rate in Nueces County has been slightly increasing.
When examining poverty in Nueces County, a higher proportion of individuals and families are living in poverty as compared to the State. According to the 2000 Census data in 2002, the percent of individuals under 18 years of age below the poverty level was 19.2% as compared to the State at 21.3%. The proportion of all ages below the poverty level in Nueces County is 28% as compared to that of the State at 15.4%.
In 1999, the proportion of families living in poverty (with related children under 18) was 20.2% in Nueces County as compared to 16.6% for the State. When examining single parent households, families with only a female householder present, Nueces County had 34.4% living below the poverty level as compared to the State at 29.5%. In single parent households, with related children under 18 the proportion living below the poverty level was 42.0% for Nueces County as compared to 36.2% for the State.
The number of recipients receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) decreased slightly from 2003 to 2004. However, recipients of Food Stamps from 2003 to 2004 increased 4.7% in Nueces County. The number of recipients on Medicaid increased 4.7% from 2003 to 2004 in Nueces County.
The percentage of children enrolled in CHIPS in 2004 is higher in the county than for the state. Infants and children receiving WIC in 2004 is higher in Nueces (43.3%), compared to the State (35.6%). There are 12.1% children enrolled in head start for Nueces County, compared to 9.8% for the state in 2002.
Poverty in Nueces County is a problem and effects many individuals and families. An example of this is grandparents as caregivers. Grandparents as caregivers according to the U.S. Census Bureau is defined as grandparent living in household with one or more grandchildren under 18 years of age and being responsible for the grandchildren. In Nueces County that percentage in 2000 was 51.9 compared to the State at 46.7%. This represents 15.1% of all families with children for Nueces County compared to 9.4% for Texas and 7.0% for the Nation.
OCCUPATIONAL & EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY DATA
According to the 2000 Census data, a majority of the residents in Nueces are employed by the following top six industries: Health care and Social assistance employed 12.6%, followed by Retail trade at 12.2%, Educational services at 10.3%, Construction 8.4%, Accommodation and food services at 8.4% and Manufacturing at 7.3%. When examining the State, the pattern is similar to the County in regard to the top six employment industries; however, for the State Manufacturing leads at 11.9%.
SOCIAL SERVICES
When examining the area of social services two variables were examined: adults with mental illness and individuals with disabilities.
The estimated number of adults with mental illness from 2001 to 2005 has remained relatively stable with an average of 46,276 adults in the last 5 years.
In 2000, individuals with disabilities in Nueces County were about the same percent as the State. The percent of individuals with disabilities from 5 – 15 years of age was 5.0% in Nueces County. The percent of individuals with disabilities from 16 to 64 years of age was 22.2% and 65 and over was 53.1%.
HEALTH DATA
Several variables were examined in regard to health data including: teen births, infant mortality, mortality, chronic liver disease, diabetes, and heart disease.
The percent of teen births in 2003 was slightly higher in Nueces County (5.5%) as compared with the State (5.1%). The percent of low birth weight infants was slightly higher in 2003 at 8.5 in Nueces County as compared to 7.9 for the State. Infant mortality rate per 1,000 in Nueces County in 2002 was 7 as compared to 6.4 for the State. Mortality rate per 1,000 in Nueces County was 7.8 as compared to 7.29 in Texas.