Texas Border Public Health
The Office of Border Public Health
The Texas Portion of the U.S. – México Border
The U.S. – México border is the area 100 kilometers or 62.5 miles, north and south of the international boundary. This area was defined by the La Paz Agreement La Paz Agreement (epa.gov) in 1983. The Texas border makes up about half of the U.S. – Mexico border, stretching 1,254 miles from the Gulf of México to El Paso.
Four Mexican states share borders with the state of Texas. In order from the southeast coast to the northwest desert:
- Tamaulipas
- Nuevo León
- Coahuila
- Chihuahua
The Texan border includes two federally recognized tribal nations, creating tri-national regions:
- Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas near Eagle Pass
- Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in El Paso
Some binational sister-city communities along the Texas border are:
- Brownsville and Matamoros
- McAllen and Reynosa
- Rio Grande City and cities Miguel Alemán and Camargo
- Laredo and Nuevo Laredo
- Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras
- Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña
- Presidio and Ojinaga
- El Paso and Ciudad Juárez
Population
The Texas border has a population of around 3 million residents. The population density is very different among the frontier, rural, and metropolitan areas.
For example, Brewster County has 1.5 people per square mile while El Paso County has 879 people per square mile.
Demographics
The Texas border region has lower infant mortality rates and less heart disease and stroke. Unfortunately, there are higher obesity, diabetes, cervical cancer, and caesarian section delivery rates. There's also more risk for certain contagious diseases such as tuberculosis and Zika. Many people lack access to primary, preventive, and specialty medical care. The public health workforce needs to be developed more also.
The table below compares important factors in border and non-border areas of Texas.
Demographics of Border and Non-Border Areas of Texas
Factor |
Texas Border |
Texas Non-border |
---|---|---|
Population size |
2.9 million |
27.8 million |
Hispanic ethnicity |
87% |
35% |
Below poverty level |
24.7% |
13.1% |
Adults aged 19-64 no health insurance |
38.5% |
21.9% |
Do not speak English very well |
29.7% |
11.5% |
No high school diploma ages 25 and older |
28.9% |
14.3% |
Data sources: Population size and percent of Hispanic ethnicity from Texas Population Projections Program, July 2018 projections for 2022. Most recent projections available as of June 23, 2022. https://demographics.texas.gov/Data/TPEPP/Projections. Remaining data from U.S. Census Bureau, 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Percentages computed from files S1701 Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months, S2701 Selected Characteristics of Health Insurance Coverage in the United States, S1601 Language Spoken at Home, B15003 Educational Attainment for the Population 25 Years and Over. Most recent 5-year estimates available as of June 23, 2022. https://data.census.gov/cedsci/
Physical Address
Texas Department of State Health Services Office of Border Public Health
1100 W.49th Street
Austin, TX 78756-9347
United States
Book traversal links for Texas Border Public Health
Regional and Local Health Operations
- Center for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (CHEPR)
- Indigent Health Care and Treatment Act
- Contact Regional and Local Health Operations
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- Office of Border Public Health
- Task Force of Border Health Officials
- Local Binational Communication and Collaboration
- Binational Tuberculosis Program
- Contact OBPH
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Office of Border Public Health Community Health Worker Training Center Open submenu links Close submenu links
- Healthy Border Initiative
- Border Health Data
- Map of DSHS Border Area
- Border Public Health News and Resources
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- Public Health Region 1 Contacts
- Public Health Region 1 Local Health Department Information
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- Public Health Region 1 Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
- Health Service Region 1 - Public Health Preparedness
- Public Health Region 1 Community Health Improvement
- Public Health Region 1 Tuberculosis Elimination
- Community Health Worker - Texas Public Health Region 1
- Public Health Region 1 Epidemiology and Surveillance
- Public Health Region 1 Radiation Control
- Public Health Region 1 Clinical Laboratory Improvement (CLIA)
- Public Health Region 1 STD and HIV Prevention
- Public Health Region 1 Tobacco Prevention and Control
- Public Health Region 1 Vision and Hearing Screening
- Public Health Region 1 Environmental Services
- Public Health Region 1 Public Sanitation and Retail Food Safety
- Public Health Region 1 Health Facility Licensing and Compliance HFLC Zone 1 Office
- Public Health Region 1 Oral Health Services
- Public Health Region 1 Indigent Health Care
- Public Health Region 1 Drugs and Medical Devices
- Public Health Region 1 Manufactured Foods
- Public Health Region 1 Milk and Dairy Products
- Public Health Region 1 - Epidemiology and Surveillance
- Public Health Region 1 Meat Safety Assurance
- Public Health Region 1 Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN)
- Public Health Region 1 Events (DRAFT)
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- Public Health Region 4/5N Environmental and Consumer Health Protection
- Public Health Region 4/5N Epidemiological Response Team Contacts
- Public Health Region 4/5N Health Facility Compliance Division
- Public Health Region 4/5N HIV-STD Program
- Public Health Region 4/5N Immunization Division
- Office for the Elimination of Health Disparities
- Public Health Region 4/5N Tobacco Prevention and Control
- Public Health Region 4/5N Community Health Services
- Public Health Region 4/5N Oral Health Services
- Public Health Region 4/5N- Public Health Nursing Program
- Public Health Region 4/5N - Social Work Services
- Public Health Region 4/5N Tuberculosis Elimination Program
- Public Health Region 4/5N - Zoonosis Control
- Public Health Region 4/5N Children's Health Insurance (CHIP)
- Public Health Region 4/5 North Clinic Locations
- Public Health Region 4/5 North Local Health Departments
- Public Health Region 4/5 North Publications
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- Public Health Region 6/5S Clinic Locations
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- Dental Health Services - Texas Public Health Region 6/5 South and Region 7
- Zoonosis Control - Texas Public Health Region 6/5 South
- Preparedness - Texas Public Health Region 6/5 South
- HIV-STD Program - Texas Public Health Region 6/5 South
- Public Health Region 6/5S- Community Health Services
- immunizationsnew
- Public Health Region (PHR) 6-5S Immunization Program
- Public Health Region 6/5 Tobacco Prevention and Control Program
- Public Health Region 6/5S Retail Food Safety Program
- Specialized Health & Social Services - Texas Public Health Region 6/5 South
- Public Health Region 6/5S - Environmental Health Services
- Public Health Region 6/5 Related Sites
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- Public Health Region 8 Local Health Departments
- Public Health Region 8 Local Health Authorities
- Public Health Region 8 Field Office Locations
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- Public Health Region 8 - Tuberculosis Elimination
- Public Health Region 8 - Zoonosis Control
- Public Health Region 8 - Epidemiology
- Public Health Region 8 - Oral Health
- Public Health Region 8 - Immunization
- Public Health Region 8 - Preparedness and Response
- Public Health Region 8 - Public Health Sanitation
- Public Health Region 8 - Retail Food Safety
- Public Health Region 8 - Tobacco Prevention and Control
- Public Health Region 8 - Binational Esperanza y Amistad Tuberculosis Program
- Public Health Region 8 - Border Public Health
- Public Health Region 8 - Specialized Health and Social Services
- Public Health Region 8 - Community Health Improvement
- Public Health Region 8 - HIV/STD Prevention
- Public Health Region 8 - Texas Health Steps
- Public Health Region 8 - Influenza (Flu) Surveillance
- Public Health Region 8 Annual Reports
- Public Health Region 8 Public Health Organizations Offering Mpox Vaccinations
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- Public Health Region 9/10 Data and Reports
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- Epidemiology
- HIV/STD
- Immunization Program
- Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women
- Preparedness and Response
- Health Steps - Texas Public Health Region 9/10
- Zoonosis
- Personal Care Services
- Public Health Region 9/10 Border Public Health
- Public Health Region 9/10 Oral Health Services
- Children With Special Health Care Needs
- Public Health Region 9/10 Local Health Departments
- Public Health Region 9/10 Offices and Clinics
- Public Health Region 9/10 Regional County Map
- Public Health Region 9/10 News & Events
- Public Health Region 9/10 Offering Mpox Vaccinations
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- Public Health Region 11 Local Health Departments
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- Public Health Region 11 Community Health Services
- Public Health Region 11 Immunization Program
- Public Health Region 11 Tobacco Prevention and Control
- Public Health Region 11 Zoonosis Control
- Public Health Region 11 Retail Foods Safety
- Public Health Region 11 Tuberculosis Elimination Program
- Public Health Region 11 Texas Health Steps Program
- Public Health Region 11 Toxic Substance Control Division
- Public Health Region 11 Vision, Hearing and Speech Services
- Public Health Region 11 Border Public Health
- Public Health Region 11 Preparedness and Response Program
- Public Health Region 11 Specialized Health and Social Services
- Public Health Region 11 Radiation Control Program
- Public Health Region 11 Epidemiological Response Team
- Public Health Region 11 TB Bi-National Project
- Public Health Region 11 General Sanitation Program
- Public Health Region 11 Manufactured Foods Program
- Public Health Region 11 Birth Defects Monitoring Division
- Public Health Region 11 Meat Safety Assurance Program
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Public Health Improvement - Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant (PHHSBG) Open submenu links Close submenu links