Howard County Geography
The region consists of 904 square miles with a population density of 37.20 residents per square mile compared to a statewide density of 79.54. This county ranked 80th in 2000 population compared to all 254 counties in Texas. Howard County is a member of TWC's Permian Basin Local Workforce Development region. This area is a rural county. This county also ranked 152nd in size by square miles when compared to all counties in Texas. The Howard County area is assigned to the following district(s): Texas Representative District(s) of 85 and State Senatorial District(s) of 31. The area is in the U.S. Congressional District(s) of: 19. The county seat is Big Spring and the county's major city, town or place is Big Spring. See Texas Online at http://www.state.tx.us/category.jsp?language=eng&categoryId=11.1 for State and local updates. Howard County is classified as a rural county by virtue of either its close relationship with a significant central city or lack thereof. Using 2000 Census population data, roughly 86.05 percent of all Texas population could be found in the 76 metropolitan counties defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 2003. In 1993 the county was classified as a rural county. Texas has established a network of 24 Councils of Government (COGs) to assist local governments in planning for common needs and to coordinate regional economic development activity. Howard County falls within the Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission region. For additional information and links to the COG regions see www.txregionalcouncil.org/regions.htm.
GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES
Howard County is located in an area where three ecological regions merge. To the north and east are the western Rolling Plains, to the south is the Edwards Plateau, and to the north are the southern High Plains (also know as the Llano Estacado or the Staked Plains). The merging of these ecological regions results in a variety of plant and animal life since representatives from each region are found overlapping in Howard County. The merging of these regions in Howard County has also created some very scenic terrain around Big Spring, such as a Scenic Mountain, which offers a panoramic view of Big Spring, south Mountain and Signal Peak.
The region consists mostly of level plains broken up by a few canyons in scattered areas. These plains are fairly dry with low lying bushes, small areas of grass, no large areas of woodland, and rich soils with underground water. The caprock escarpment in this region is caused by surface erosion. Along the edge of the high plains, this escarpment is a striking physical feature rising abruptly 2,500 feet above sea level and as much as 1,000 feet above the plains at its base.
On the southern high plains, the dominant vegetation types are woody plants and grasses. The woody plants consist of mesquite, lotebush, catclaw, junipers, and shinery oak. The grasses are primarily of the buffalo grass and plains bristle types. Chinese elm, grain sorghum, cotton and a variety of small grains have been successfully cultivated.
The rolling plains and prairies accommodate very similar vegetation to the southern high plains with the addition of chinaberry, pecan, and little leaf sumac. Prickly pear cactus and the cottonwood are more common in this area.
Soil types are dominated by the sandy loams and clays. Howard County is located in the Colorado River watershed.
The Howard County area is assigned to the following districts:
- Texas Representative District 85 and State Senatorial Districts 31.
- The area is in the U.S. Congressional District of: 19.
- The county seat is Big Spring and the county's major city, town or place is Big Spring.