Population (2015) 777,640 Cook PVI R+13 (2014) | Median income 63,282 | |
 | ||
Current Representative John Culberson (R–Houston) Ethnicity 38.4% White
12.2% Black
10.3% Asian
31.1% Hispanic
0.12% Native American | ||
Texas District 7 of the United States House of Representatives is a Congressional district that serves a small area of western Harris County. As of the 2000 census, District 7 comprises 651,620 people.
Contents
- Cities wholly in the district
- Cities partially in the district
- History of Texass seventh district
- 2012 redistricting
- References
One of the wealthiest districts in the state, District 7 includes several upscale areas of western Houston, wealthy enclaves of Houston, one incorporated suburb, large areas of unincorporated suburbs, and the heavily Democratic Neartown area.
The district was one of the state's first to elect a Republican to office and is now one of the most Republican districts in Texas. It has not elected a Democrat to office since 1967, before districts of equal population were required. Republican John Culberson has represented the district since 2001.
Cities wholly in the district
Cities partially in the district
History of Texas's seventh district
Texas received a seventh congressional district through reapportionment in 1881 as a result of population growth reflected in the 1880 Census and in 1883, Thomas P. Ochiltree, an Independent, was elected its first representative. From 1882 to 1902 the district was located in North Central Texas and was represented by Wacoan Robert L. Henry. After the redistricting of 1902, the district shifted eastward and was represented Congressmen from Palestine and Galveston. After 1952, the district again shifted to Waco.
The district was redrawn mid-decade in 1966 after the Supreme Court ruled in Wesberry v. Sanders two years earlier that congressional district populations had to be equal or close to equal in population. As a result, Houston, which had been located entirely in District 8, was divided into three districts, one of which was District 7. Prior to 1966, the district was represented by a Wacoan, John Dowdy. From 1885 to 1966, the seventh congressional district elected only Democratic representatives to Congress.
Since the district has been located in Houston, it has only elected Republican representatives, including former President George H. W. Bush, who now lives in the district.
2012 redistricting
After the 2012 redistricting process, the 7th district lost some of its territory to the newly drawn 2nd district. The district lost most of the portion north of Jersey Village, while expanding farther west and south, so that it goes in an easterly direction bordering Interstate 10 to the south. The district now includes parts of unincorporated Harris County and Sharpstown east of the Southwest Freeway. The district lost Memorial Park, Montrose, Spring Branch and Rice University to the 2nd district.