Baylor County Demographics
GEOGRAPHY
The county of Baylor, FIPSCODE 48023, is the 222nd largest of the 254
counties in Texas; with an estimated population of 4,324 in 1991. The
county seat of Baylor is Seymour and the only town in the county.
. Baylor county is a Rural county which lies within the
North Texas JTPA service delivery area and the North Texas Quality
Workforce Planning region, administered by the North Texas Qwfp.
Even though congressional districts and counties have boundaries which
overlap, Baylor county falls within the 80th Texas congressional
district(s) and the 30th Texas senatorial district(s).
The county consists of 845 square miles with a 1990 population density
4.70 residents per square mile. The average density in Texas is 65.6
persons per square mile. Rainfall in the county averages 25.70 inches
per year compared to the Texas average of 21.0 inches per year.
The average growing season in Baylor county is 214 days with the
average first freeze generally occurring around Nov 3. Texas is so
climatically diverse that statewide averages are irrelevant as a means
of comparison.
POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLDS
According to the 1980 Census, Baylor county had a population of 4,919.
Forecasts from DRI/McGraw-Hill estimate the 1993 population to be
4,161 and the 1998 population projected at 4,403. This would represent
a change of 242 between 1993 and 1998 or a change of 5.82 percent
over the period. The median age of the 1989 population was 43.80
years old versus a statewide average of 30.9 years and a national
average 35.9 years.
The county race/ethnic distribution in 1990 is estimated by the Census
Bureau to be roughly:
Baylor County Texas Statewide
White 87.75% 60.59%
Black 4.10% 11.63%
Hispanic 7.62% 25.55%
Other 0.52% 2.23%
The age distribution of an area can provide valuable insight into the
county economic composition. By national standards, Texas has a
relatively young population. The 1990 Census estimates for Texas show
a population composition as follows:
Baylor County Texas Statewide
Age 0-4 5.95% 8.13%
Age 5-15 13.59% 17.36%
Age 16-24 8.92% 13.81%
Age 25-44 23.06% 33.36%
Age 45-64 22.55% 17.28%
Age 65 plus 25.93% 10.06%
Other age cohorts may be of special interest for JTPA summer youth
programs and older worker programs. Baylor county has 369 persons age
14-21 representing 8.42 percent of the population. This compares with
12.21 percent statewide. For the potential older worker age cohort,
1,653 persons or 37.70 percent are 55 or over in Baylor county based
on the 1990 census. This compares to 17.62 percent statewide.
If the population cohort 45 and over is higher than the state average,
this suggests a stable, mature population comprised of mainly
"empty-nesters," retirees and the aged. When the 25-44 age cohort is
higher than the state average, this is a healthy economic situation
since this group contains the greatest share of the productive labor
force. Decreases over time in this group, especially when similar
changes are not occurring statewide, can be an indication that people
are moving out of an area they consider to be a poor labor market.
HOUSEHOLDS
The county had about 2,065 households in 1990 according to the
DRI/McGraw Hill economic forecasting organization. This represents an
average of 1.91 persons per household. This figure is lower than the
1993 DRI estimate of 2.46 persons per household. Statewide, DRI
estimates 2.74 persons per household in 1993 with a total of roughly
6.56 million Texas households.
The 1990 Census counted the mobility of households during the 1985 to
1990 period. Based on these figures, 81.10 percent of Baylor county
residents lived either in the same house in 1990 as they did in 1985,
or in a different house but still within Baylor county. The Texas
statewide average was 77.50 percent with little difference between
metro counties (77.14%) and rural counties (79.08%). A number less
than the state average generally indicates more in-migration and
probably an expanding job base. Since the 1990 census asks questions
of persons living in the county, those persons leaving the area for
whatever reason are not counted in that county!
The average commuting time to work for the employed labor force in the
county is roughly 10.50 minutes based on 1990 Census estimates. The
Texas average is 17.9 minutes, however for metro counties the time is
21.2 minutes and for rural counties the figure is 17.0.
INCOME
The Department of Human Services (DHS) estimated a poverty population
for Baylor county of 990 persons in 1988 which represented 19.25
percent of the non-institutional population. The 1990 DHS poverty rate
was 17.23 percent. The 1990 Census shows a total of 1,112 persons
below the poverty line, defined as $6,451 for single persons by the
Census bureau in 1989. Roughly 3,406,739 Texans for 20.05 percent of
the total population fell beneath the poverty line income in 1989.
Although comparable county data are unavailable, the Texas poverty
population is estimated at 3,559,000 persons in 1993 for a poverty
rate of 20.00 percent. This exceeds the U.S. poverty rate of 14.20
percent for 1993.
Baylor county incurred over $403,217 in combined food stamp and AFDC
payments in FY1991 with $344,748 going to food stamp recipients. There
were 87 AFDC recipients in FY1991 in Baylor county with the average
annual payment per recipient at $672.06. The Texas average was $703.84
per recipient.
The county had $168,915 in Unemployment Insurance benefits paid during
calendar 1991. The average duration of unemployment for TEC Regular UI
claimants statewide in calendar 1992 was 16.2 weeks. This figure has
risen steadily from 14.59 weeks in 1990 and 15.17 weeks in 1991. In
Baylor county, the average duration before exhausting regular UI
benefits in calendar 1992 was 19.70 weeks. The most likely
interpretation of longer duration times is greater difficulty finding
a job. Therefore, duration can serve as a good barometer for local
general economic conditions. The average weekly benefits payment for
Regular UI in CY1992 was $169.63 in statewide Texas, up from $163.97
in CY1991. Comparable county data is disclosed.
Income can be viewed in several ways and under different definitions.
The per capita personal income level for Baylor county was $15,177 in
1988 with a statewide average of $14,590. By 1990, Baylor county per
capita income had increased to $17,204. Per capita income tends to
have a direct relationship with the growth of retail sales and most
service sector industries in an area. Retail sales for the county were
$44,335,000 in 1988 and are projected to decrease to $16,582,000 in
1995.
The median household income for families, based on the 1990 Census was
$17,228 for Baylor county. This compares to $27,016 statewide. This
figure is much higher than the per capita income level because it
includes all wage earners within a single household.
Total personal income is a widely used measure of regional economic
health while per capita income is generally used to compare the
relative well-being of residents across areas (not accounting for
differences in area cost of living). According to DRI, total personal
income from all sources in the county was $75,000,000 in 1990 and
projected to be $96,000,000 by 1995.
One last way to measure income is in terms of purchasing power. Sales
& Marketing Management magazine(SMM) generates a buying power index
(BPI) which incorporates disposable after-tax income as a measure of a
household's ability to purchase retail services. The 1990 BPI for
Baylor county was $25,916 with a 1995 projected level of $33,674. The
statewide figures are $34,899 and $46,225 for the same 1990 and 1995
time periods. Because SMM makes different assumptions for household
size and uses an "average" rather than a median level of household
earnings, some counties may have a BPI higher than the median
household income.
Some counties function as major employment centers and others serve as
"bedroom communities". This means that residents may work in one
county but live, pay taxes and spend most of their income in their
resident county. The degree to which a county serves as a bedroom
community can be measured by a "residence adjustment" to the county
personal income. The residence adjustment in Baylor county was
$921,000 in 1988. By 1990 however, the adjustment had decreased to
$859,000. A negative number implies that workers commute into the
county to earn income but do not reside there. Growth over time of
negative residence adjustments generally implies an eroding tax base
for the county. Similarly, a positive figure implies that on balance
the county exports jobs and income to surrounding county residents.
The average weekly wage for all covered employment in Baylor county in
the first quarter of 1992 was $280.34. This compares to the statewide
average of $445.65.
The county had 2 commercial banks in 1991, as reported by the Federal
Reserve Bank in Dallas, with total deposits of $57,898,000 and assets
of $64,121,000. This represents an increase between calendar year 1988
and 1991. The 1991 deposit to population ratio was $13,389.92 for
Baylor county compared to the Texas average of $8,389. A ratio less
than the state average generally indicates the presence of an adjacent
county serving as a regional financial center.
EMPLOYMENT
The county civilian labor force was 2,127 in March 1992 reflecting an
decrease from the March 1990 level of 2,285. According to the Texas
Employment Commission (TEC), total unemployment in March 1992 was 73
contrasted to the March 1990 total of 54. The Baylor county
unemployment rate for March 1990 was 2.40 percent. Compared to the
March 1992 rate of 3.50 percent, the March 1993 rate of 4.40 percent
was higher than the previous year. The statewide unemployment rate was
7.4 percent in March 1992 and 6.7 percent in March 1993.
As with population estimates, measures of employed persons vary
depending on the data source and definition of employment. DRI annual
average estimates of wage and salary employment for 1993 estimate
Baylor county to have 1,105 employed persons with projections of 1,241
in 1995 and 1,395 in 1998. The reader should keep in mind that
employment projections at the county level are potentially volatile
because changes such as a plant relocation could significantly alter
the growth trend.
The TEC indicates 188 business reporting units in the first quarter of
1992 with an average of 5.90 workers per unit. Average firm size
makes a difference for job hunting and job development strategy
because larger firms tend to have better defined ports of entry and
in-house training capabilities. Although definitions vary, small
business can be defined as less than 50 workers and medium sized is
250 or less. The Texas average is 19.5 workers per unit.
Total agricultural employment is not measured by these data. A new
survey-based estimate conducted by the Texas Agricultural Statistics
Service in cooperation with the Texas Department of Commerce reveals
220 total farm and ranch employment for Baylor county in January 1993
with 130 of those being self-employed farmers/ranchers. The totals
include self-employed, unpaid family workers and hired workers and are
not seasonally adjusted. The January 1993 figures are contrasted by
the January 1991 levels of 230 total employment with 150 of those
being self-employed proprietors.
The non-agricultural industry employment distribution for Baylor
county by major industry sector for 1993 is as follows:
Employment Percent
MINING 4 0.36%
CONSTRUCTION 44 3.98%
MANUFACTURING 96 8.69%
TRANSPORT/UTILITIES 77 6.97%
WHOLESALE/RETAIL TRADE 243 21.99%
SERVICES 269 24.34%
FINANCE,INS,RE 53 4.80%
GOVERNMENT 319 28.87%
Comparable figures for Texas for 1993 are estimated for Mining(2.3%),
Construction (5.0%), Manufacturing (13.1%), Transportation (5.9%),
Wholesale and Retail trade (24.0%), Services (25.6%), Finance,
Insurance, Real Estate (6.0%), and Government (18.1%).
Relative to the Texas economy, the SOICC economic diversification
index measures the degree to which a county economy is diversified.
Significant concentrations of employment in only one or two sectors
makes an area less diversified and more susceptible to widespread
economic decline should a key sector suffer a significant loss. The
Baylor county economy is classified as Very Diversified within a range
from poorly diversified to very diversified.
The 1990 Census allows a look at the occupational distribution of
employment in Baylor county as well. The following categories will
likely not add up to 100 percent due to rounding error. The
occupational titles are defined by the Census classification system.
EACH OCCUPATION IS FOLLOWED BY TEXAS STATEWIDE PERCENTAGES IN
PARENTHESES.
Census Occupation Texas Baylor County
Executive/managerial (12.29%) 6.83%
Professional specialty (13.79%) 8.55%
Technicians/support wkrs (3.90%) 2.85%
Clerical/Admin support (16.14%) 12.47%
Sales related workers (12.50%) 12.58%
Protective service wkrs (1.71%) 1.94%
Precision craft/repair (11.74%) 12.58%
Machine operator/assembler (5.40%) 6.24%
Transport/material moving (4.20%) 5.22%
Farming/forestry/fishing (2.57%) 11.08%
Other service related wkrs (11.12%) 15.11%
Helpers/laborers/cleaners (3.96%) 3.87%
Private household workers (.68%) 0.70%
EDUCATION PROFILE
It is very difficult to get an accurate assessment of education
quality and problems at the county level. It can be argued that
measures of academic achievement such as SAT or ACT test scores are
not comparable due to differences in curricula, economic and
demographic characteristics of students and other issues.
Educational attainment numbers do not reflect course matter or quality
of education but rather cumulative exposure to the education system.
The percent of persons 25 and over in Baylor county who have completed
at least a high school degree was 50.30 percent in 1980. This figure
has increased to 63.63 percent in 1990. Statewide, Texas experienced a
significant increase from 62.6 percent completing at least a high
school education in 1980, to 72.1 percent in 1990.
In addition, Baylor county had 10.30 percent of its residents age 25
and over with a college degree (Bachelors) or more in 1990. This
compares to 20.3 percent statewide for 1990 and 16.9 percent in 1980.
School districts in Baylor county showed 697 Average Daily Attendence
(ADA) in the 1990 school year which represents a decrease from ADA
totals in the 1986 school year of 780. Estimates of public school
dropouts for the 1990-91 school year were 7. This compares to 7 in the
1988-89 year. Longitudinal dropout rates for the entire 7-12 period
are not available, but the annual dropout rate for Baylor county was
2.68 for 1990-91. Longitudinal rates are between 5 and 6 times the
annual rate with greater numbers of dropouts occurring after the 9th
grade.
Additional information on education quality is available by school
district from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) through the newly
developed Academic Excellence Indicators System (AEIS).
OTHER AREAS OF INTEREST
1. The county had a November 1988 voter turnout of 2,067 of which
44.20 percent voted Republican for President.
In the 1992 presidential election there were 3,055 registered voters.
Voter turnout was 69.79 percent of which 611 persons voted for Mr.
Bush for 28.66 percent. Mr. Clinton received 46.44 percent of the
Baylor county vote while Mr. Perot received 24.81 percent.
For the November 1990 elections featuring the race for Governor, there
were 3,090 total registered voters in the county, of which 1,460 or
47.30 percent actually cast ballots. Of those voting, 895 voted
Democratic or 61.30 percent of the total Baylor county return.
Statewide, Ann Richards garnered 1,925,670 total votes or 49.47
percent of the total.
2. There were 3 licensed physicians in the county in 1989 with a
population to physician ratio of 1,411 residents per physician. The
Texas average was 583 residents per physician. In 1991, there were 2
doctors in the county with a population to physician ratio of 2,162.
The statewide average in 1991 was 565 with 30,796 practicing
physicians.
3. Crime occurs in every county but not all occurrences are reported.
According to the Uniform Crime Reports, there were 67 total major
reported crimes in the county in 1989 with an average of 1,680.04
major crimes per 100,000 population in 1989. The statewide average of
major crimes per 100,000 population was 7,983 in 1989. In 1991, there
were 53 major crimes committed in the county which equates to 1,225.72
per 100,000 population representing a decrease of -20.90 percent
between 1989 and 1991. The Texas average per 100,000 population in
1991 was 7,791. Based on these data, major crime in Baylor county was
15.73 percent of the Texas average. A major crime includes murder,
rape, assault, burglary, robbery, theft, and motor vehicle theft.
Thank you to the Texas Department of Commerce
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