Waller County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}} {{distinguish|Walker County, Texas}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Waller County | state = Texas | seal = | founded = 1873 | seat wl = Hempstead | largest city wl = Prairie View | area_total_sq_mi = 518 | area_land_sq_mi = 513 | area_water_sq_mi = 4.4 | area percentage = 0.8 | census yr = 2020 | pop = 56794 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 69858 {{increase}} | density_sq_mi = auto | ex image = Waller county courthouse.jpg | ex image size = 250 | ex image cap = The Waller County Courthouse in Hempstead | website = {{Official URL}} | time zone = Central | named for = Edwin Waller | district = 10th }}

'''Waller County''' is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 56,794.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Waller County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48473|website=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> Its county seat is Hempstead.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=https://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was named for Edwin Waller, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and first mayor of Austin.

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

==Geography== According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|518|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|4.4|sqmi}} (0.8%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 12, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties=== * Grimes County (north) * Montgomery County (northeast) * Harris County (east) * Fort Bend County (south) * Austin County (west) * Washington County (northwest)

==Communities== ===Cities=== {{div col}} * Brookshire * Hempstead (county seat) * Katy (partly in Harris and Fort Bend Counties) * Pattison * Prairie View * Waller (partly in Harris County) {{div col end}}

===Town=== * Pine Island

===Unincorporated areas=== {{div col}} * Fields Store * Monaville * Second Corinth * Shiloh * Sunny Side {{div col end}}

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1880 = 9024 | 1890 = 10888 | 1900 = 14246 | 1910 = 12138 | 1920 = 10292 | 1930 = 10014 | 1940 = 10280 | 1950 = 11961 | 1960 = 12071 | 1970 = 14285 | 1980 = 19798 | 1990 = 23390 | 2000 = 32663 | 2010 = 43205 | 2020 = 56794 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 69858 | estref =<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}} | align-fn = center | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=}}</ref> 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=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=May 12, 2015}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/48473.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 29, 2013|archive-date=July 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728064932/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/48473.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=2020CensusP2/> | align = right }}

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Waller County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{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.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 1980<ref name=1980CensusRaceStats>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics- Texas - Table 15. Persons by Race and Table 16. Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_txAB-03.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|page=21-46|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007094958/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_txAB-03.pdf| archive-date=October 7, 2022}}</ref> !Pop 1990<ref name=1990CensusRaceStats>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics- Texas - Table 3. Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990|page=29-138 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-45-1.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260203162919/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-45-1.pdf| archive-date=February 3, 2026}}</ref> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Waller County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US48473&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Waller County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US48473&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | 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) – Waller County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US48473&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |10,285 |11,956 |16,289 |19,260 |style='background: #ffffe6; |23,494 |51.95% |51.12% |49.87% |44.58% |style='background: #ffffe6; |41.37% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |8,240 |8,738 |9,496 |10,537 |style='background: #ffffe6; |12,104 |41.62% |37.36% |29.07% |24.39% |style='background: #ffffe6; |21.31% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |19 |20 |88 |141 |style='background: #ffffe6; |210 |0.10% |0.09% |0.27% |0.33% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.37% |- |Asian alone (NH) |41 |66 |121 |213 |style='background: #ffffe6; |785 |0.21% |0.28% |0.37% |0.49% |style='background: #ffffe6; |1.38% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |3 |9 |style='background: #ffffe6; |10 |x |x |0.01% |0.02% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.02% |- |Other race alone (NH) |64 |18 |26 |54 |style='background: #ffffe6; |314 |0.32% |0.08% |0.08% |0.12% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.55% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |296 |455 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,391 |x |x |0.91% |1.05% |style='background: #ffffe6; |2.45% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |1,149 |2,592 |6,344 |12,536 |style='background: #ffffe6; |18,486 |5.80% |11.08% |19.42% |29.02% |style='background: #ffffe6; |32.55% |- |'''Total''' |'''19,798''' |'''23,390''' |'''32,663''' |'''43,205''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''56,794 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

===2020 census===

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 56,794. The median age was 33.0 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.5 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A473&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 11, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

The racial makeup of the county was 46.6% White, 21.6% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 16.3% from some other race, and 12.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 32.5% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A473&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 11, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

22.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 77.4% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A473&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=January 11, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 17,298 households in the county, of which 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 57.0% were married-couple households, 16.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 19,522 housing units, of which 11.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.1% were owner-occupied and 24.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.3%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2000 census===

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> 32,663 people, 10,557 households, and 7,748 families resided in the county. The population density was {{convert|64|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. The 11,955 housing units averaged {{convert|23|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 57.83% White, 29.25% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 10.28% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. About 19.42% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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

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

The median income for a household in the county was $38,136, and for a family was $45,868. Males had a median income of $34,447 versus $25,583 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,338. About 11.50% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.00% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over. ==Economy== Igloo Corporation, a manufacturer of cooling and portable refrigeration products, is headquartered in unincorporated Waller County between Brookshire and Katy.<ref>"[http://www.igloocoolers.com/contact-us/world-hq/ Igloo Worldwide Headquarters] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421105201/http://www.igloocoolers.com/contact-us/world-hq/ |date=2010-04-21 }}." ''Igloo Corporation''. Accessed September 5, 2008. "Igloo Products Corp. 777 Igloo Road Katy, Texas 77494"</ref> In 2004, Igloo announced that it was consolidating its corporate, distribution, and manufacturing operations in Waller County.<ref name="HQ">"[http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2004/10/18/daily9.html Igloo consolidating operations in Katy facility]." ''Houston Business Journal''. Monday October 18, 2004. Retrieved on March 2, 2011. "1001 W. Sam Houston Parkway North" for the old Houston facility</ref>

Goya Foods has its Texas offices in an unincorporated area of the county near Brookshire.<ref>"[http://www.goya.com/english/about/contact_us.html Contact Us]." Goya Foods. Retrieved on March 26, 2016. "Goya Foods of Texas 30602 McAllister Road Brookshire, TX 77423"</ref>

==Politics and government== {{PresHead|place=Waller County, Texas|source=<ref>{{cite web | url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS | title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|144|594|120|Texas}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|182|636|8|Texas}} {{PresRow|1920|Democratic|167|674|409|Texas}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|203|1,239|19|Texas}} {{PresRow|1928|Democratic|376|504|1|Texas}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|89|1,192|2|Texas}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|111|889|2|Texas}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|300|1,065|1|Texas}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|190|1,007|239|Texas}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|448|812|374|Texas}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,487|1,264|2|Texas}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,426|929|42|Texas}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,115|1,101|51|Texas}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|980|2,167|2|Texas}} {{PresRow|1968|Democratic|958|1,684|797|Texas}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,263|1,538|38|Texas}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,992|2,828|42|Texas}} {{PresRow|1980|Democratic|3,019|3,329|115|Texas}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,116|3,828|19|Texas}} {{PresRow|1988|Democratic|3,607|3,957|60|Texas}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,065|4,270|1,723|Texas}} {{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,559|4,535|528|Texas}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|5,686|5,046|126|Texas}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|7,679|6,145|57|Texas}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|8,265|7,153|90|Texas}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|9,244|6,514|144|Texas}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|10,531|5,748|505|Texas}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|14,260|8,191|283|Texas}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|17,077|10,183|301|Texas}} {{PresFoot}} {{U.S. SenHead|place=Waller County, Texas|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}  {{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|16,385|10,432|625|Texas}} {{U.S. SenFoot}} {{U.S. SenHead|place=Waller County, Texas|Seat=2|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2020 Senate Election (Official Returns)|website=NBCNews.com|date=November 3, 2020|access-date=April 10, 2026 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}  {{U.S. SenRow|2020|Republican|14,219|7,725|514|Texas}} {{U.S. SenFoot}} {{T.X. GovHead|place=Waller County|Seat=|source=}}  {{T.X. GovRow|2022|Republican|11,381|5,100|223}} {{T.X. GovFoot}} ===United States Congress=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" align="center" valign="bottom" | '''Senators''' ! align="center" valign="bottom" | '''Name''' ! align="center" valign="bottom" | '''Party''' ! align="center" valign="bottom" | '''First Elected''' ! align="center" valign="bottom" | '''Level''' |- | bgcolor="red" |  | Senate Class 1 | John Cornyn | Republican | 2002 | Senior Senator |- | bgcolor="red" |  | Senate Class 2 | Ted Cruz | Republican | 2012 | Junior Senator |- ! colspan="2" align="center" valign="bottom" | '''Representatives''' ! align="center" valign="bottom" | '''Name''' ! align="center" valign="bottom" | '''Party''' ! align="center" valign="bottom" | '''First Elected''' ! align="center" valign="bottom" | '''Area(s) of Waller County Represented''' |- | bgcolor="red" |  | District 10 | Michael McCaul | Republican | 2004 | Entire county |}

===Texas Legislature===

====Texas Senate==== '''District 18:''' Lois Kolkhorst (R)- first elected in 2014.

====Texas House of Representatives==== '''District 3:''' Cecil Bell, Jr. (R)- first elected in 2013.

===Voting controversies=== A history of controversies exists regarding the reluctance of county officials to allow students attending historically black Prairie View A&M University to vote in Waller County.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/us/28texas.html "2 Voter Rights Cases, One Gripping a College Town, Stir Texas" by Ralph Blumenthal], ''New York Times'', May 28, 2008</ref><ref>[https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/katy-news/article/Judges-slap-Waller-voter-rules-give-hand-to-1779069.php "Judges slap Waller voter rules, give hand to Prairie View" by Cindy George], ''Houston Chronicle'' October 24, 2008</ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110717130309/http://www.usstudents.org/press-room/articles/february-2008/prairie-view-students-experiencing-voting-problems-in-waller-county-texas/?searchterm=voter]

As reported by the US District Court (Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division) in ''Veasey v Perry'', October 2014 (CIVIL ACTION NO. 13-CV-00193), pp 6–7 verbatim: * In 1971, after the 26th Amendment extended the vote to those 18 years old and older, Waller County, which was home to Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), a historically Black university, became troubled with race issues. Waller County's tax assessor and voter registrar prohibited students from voting unless they or their families owned property in the county. This practice was ended by a three-judge court in 1979. * In 1992, a county prosecutor indicted PVAMU students for illegally voting, but dropped the charges after receiving a protest from the DOJ. * In 2003, a PVAMU student ran for the commissioner's court. The local district attorney and county attorney threatened to prosecute students for voter fraud—for not meeting the old domicile test. These threatened prosecutions were enjoined, but Waller County then reduced early voting hours, which was particularly harmful to students because the election day was during their spring break. After the NAACP filed suit, Waller County reversed the changes to early voting and the student narrowly won the election. * In 2007–08, during then Senator Barack Obama's campaign for president, Waller County made a number of voting changes without seeking clearance. The county rejected "incomplete" voter registrations and required volunteer deputy registrars (VDRs) to personally find and notify the voters of the rejection. The county also limited the number of new registrations any VDR could submit, thus limiting the success of voter registration drives. These practices were eventually prohibited by a consent decree.

In 2018, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit in U.S. district court, alleging that the county's early-voting plan unduly limits early voting opportunities for students at Prairie View A&M.<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/11/prairie-view-m-students-file-suit-over-voting-hours/574600/ "Fighting for the Right to Vote in a Tiny Texas County" by Vann R. Newkirk II and Adam Harris], ''The Atlantic'' magazine.</ref> On October 10, Jacob Aronowitz, a field director for Democratic U.S. House candidate Mike Siegel, delivered a letter from Siegel, which indicated a solution to attempts to keep students at Prairie View A&M University from voting, to a clerk on the county executive's staff. As a result, Aronowitz was arrested for what he was told was "48 hour investigative detention."<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Eversden|first1=Andrew|last2=Platoff|first2=Emma|date=October 11, 2018|title=Campaign for congressional candidate Mike Siegel disputes account of worker's arrest|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/10/11/campaign-congressional-candidate-mike-siegel-disputes-account-workers-/|access-date=May 15, 2021|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en}}</ref>

===Law enforcement=== {{As of|2021}} the current sheriff is Troy Guidry, who was elected in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=HOME|url=https://www.wallercountytexassheriff.org/|access-date=December 12, 2021|website=www.wallercountytexassheriff.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lewis|first=Brooke A.|date=October 23, 2020|title=Waller County voters to elect first new sheriff since 2008|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Waller-County-voters-to-elect-first-new-sheriff-15669198.php|access-date=December 12, 2021|website=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US}}</ref> The previous sheriff was Glenn Smith, who had been sheriff since 2008. Smith was previously chief of the police department of Hempstead, where he had been fired by the town council after allegations that he and four white officers had exhibited racism and police brutality during the arrest of a 35-year-old black man.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Foxhall|first1=Emily|title=Waller County sheriff seeks 3rd term after difficult year|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Waller-County-sheriff-seeks-3rd-term-after-6854984.php|accessdate=March 3, 2017|publisher=Houston Chronicle}}</ref>

In November 2021, a 16 year old was charged with six counts of aggravated assault for crashing into six people on bicycles while attempting to roll coal. All four of the riders were hospitalized for their injuries, two of them being airlifted.<ref name="wp">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/11/09/texas-teen-driver-bicyclists-truck-charges/|title=Teen who hit 6 bicyclists with truck while allegedly harassing them faces felony charges, authorities say|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref name="bicycling">{{cite web|url=https://www.bicycling.com/news/a37808647/texas-driver-assaults-six-cyclists/|title=16-Year-Old Texas Truck Driver Who Hit Six Cyclists Charged With Felonies|date=November 9, 2021}}</ref> According to attorneys hired by the injured, the injuries included "broken vertebrae, cervical and lumbar spinal injuries, broken collar bones, hands, and wrists [requiring surgical intervention], multiple traumatic brain injuries, lacerations, soft tissue damage, road rash, and extensive bruising"<ref name="bikelaw">{{cite web|url=https://www.bikelaw.com/2021/10/waller-bike-crash/|title=Coal-rolling Texas truck driver plows into 6 cyclists|date=October 2, 2021 }}</ref> The Waller county district attorney, Elton Mathis, released a statement about the handling of the case by the Waller Police Department in which he said "This case was not handled appropriately by the investigating agency. PERIOD." According to his statement, the Texas Department of Public Safety urged the local police to treat the scene as a crime scene, and to contact the district attorney's office. Despite this, the local police released the 16 year old without doing an investigation.<ref name="wp" /><ref name="bicycling" />

==Education== School districts serving Waller County include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48473_waller/DC20SD_C48473.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48473_waller/DC20SD_C48473.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Waller County, TX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=June 29, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48473_waller/DC20SD_C48473_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> * Hempstead Independent School District * Royal Independent School District * Katy Independent School District (portions of the district are in other counties) * Waller Independent School District (portions of the district are in other counties)

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

Blinn College is the designated community college for all of the county.<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code Sec. 130.168. BLINN JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]</ref> Additionally, areas within Katy ISD are designated as the zone for Houston Community College.<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Sec. 130.182. HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.].</ref>

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

==Media== {{Main|The Waller Times}}

''The Waller Times'' publishes local community news, school news, and sports news weekly on Mondays.<ref>McLemee, Scott (February 6, 2004). "Justice Department to Look Into Alleged Threat to Students' Voting Rights", ''The Chronicle of Higher Education'' '''50''' (22): A30.</ref> It was founded in 1991 and is still family owned and operated.

==Transportation== {{More citations needed section|date=December 2010}}

[[File:Houston Executive Airport (3).jpg|thumb|Houston Executive Airport]]

===Major highways=== * 20px Interstate 10 * 20px U.S. Highway 90 * 25px U.S. Highway 290 * 20px State Highway 6 * 20px State Highway 159

The TTC-69 component (recommended preferred) of the once-planned Trans-Texas Corridor went through Waller County.<ref>[http://www.keeptexasmoving.com/index.php/ttc_i69_current_map TxDoT, TTC Section C & S, Detailed Map 1, 2007-12-17] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207090214/http://keeptexasmoving.com/index.php/ttc_i69_current_map |date=February 7, 2009 }}</ref>

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

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

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}}

* {{Official website}} * {{Handbook of Texas|id=hcw02|name=Waller County}} * [http://www.thewallertimes.com/ ''The Waller Times'' official website]

{{Geographic Location |Centre = Waller County, Texas |North = Grimes County |Northeast = Montgomery County |East = Harris County |Southeast = |South = Fort Bend County |Southwest = |West = Austin County |Northwest = Washington County }}

{{Waller County, Texas}} {{Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA}} {{Texas counties}} {{Texas}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|30.01|-95.98|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Waller County, Texas Category:1873 establishments in Texas Category:Black Belt in the American South Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1873 Category:Majority-minority counties in Texas Category:Counties in Greater Houston