Harris County Is One of the Most Diverse Counties in the U.S.

Harris County has always had many different groups living here. Tejano (Mexican-Texan) culture has deep roots. A large Black community grew after emancipation and again during the Great Migration. Starting in the 1970s, waves of people came from Central America, Southeast Asia, and elsewhere.

The county's oil industry, medical center, and port all drew workers from around the world. Today no single group makes up more than half the population. That makes Harris County one of the most diverse large counties in the United States. The history of these communities is recorded in the Handbook of Texas. You can read it for free at tshaonline.org.