Recently, we did an article on the healthiest counties in Texas, so now we thought we would cover the opposite end of that spectrum: the unhealthiest counties in our state. No offense to these counties, of course; we’re just going by the statistics we have found on the CountyHealthRankings website. The factors for the data include number of premature or accidental deaths, pollution, smoking and drinking habits, access to good healthcare and healthy food, etc. Without further ado, here are the 15 unhealthiest counties in Texas.
- Morris County
Larry D Moore/Wikipedia Unfortunately, 239 people in Morris County died before the age of 75 in the years of 2010-12, which is much higher than the state average. The adult obesity rate is 34%, also higher than the Texas average, and 32% of the population reports being physically inactive. The unemployment rate here is 8.8%.
- Aransas County
Larry D Moore/Wikipedia There were 472 premature deaths here between the years of 2010-12, and 28% of people report being physically inactive. There were 103 injury deaths in Aransas County per 100,000 people between the years of 2008-12.
- Cass County
Archarzel/Wikipedia 36% of people in Cass County report poor or fair health, and the adult smoking rate is 27%, which is 10% higher than the Texas average.
- Terry County
J Stephen Conn/flickr 38% of the driving deaths between the years of 2009-13 in Terry County involved alcohol impairment, and the food environment index is only a 5.6, in comparison with the Texas average of 8.4.
- Fisher County
Leaflet/Wikipedia In Fisher County, only 47% of the population has access to exercise opportunities, and 30% are physically inactive.
- Collingsworth County
Billy Hathorn/Wikipedia While the food environment index is fairly high at 7.4, 37% of the children here live in poverty, and 45% of the county experienced drinking water violations between 2013-14.
- Brooks County
J Stephen Conn/flickr Only 42% of people here have access to exercise opportunities, and 47% of children live in poverty.
- Hutchinson County
Christian M Mericle/Wikipedia 33% of adults suffer from obesity here, and there were 364 premature deaths between 2010-12.
- Hall County
Billy Hathorn/Wikipedia Only 40% of the population has access to exercise opportunities, and 59% of the county experienced drinking water violations between the years of 2013-14.
- Jim Wells County
Larry D Moore/Wikipedia 28% of people here report poor or fair health, which is 10% higher than the Texas average. 608 people died before the age of 75 between 2010-12.
- Real County
Larry D Moore/Wikipedia 83 people died a premature death here between 2010-12, and only 32% of the county has access to exercise opportunities.
- Red River County
Jerrye & Roy Klotz MD/Wikipedia Unfortunately, 30% of children here live in poverty, and 33% report poor or fair health.
- Limestone County
Larry D Moore/Wikipedia A staggering 50% of the population reports poor or fair health in Limestone County, much higher than the Texas average of 18%. 49% of adults smoke, and 32% are obese.
- Polk County
Nsaum75/Wikipedia 969 people died before 75 between 2010-12, and the adult obesity rate is 34%.
- San Augustine County
Larry D Moore/Wikipedia San Augustine County is the unhealthiest county in Texas, with 224 reported premature deaths between 2010-12, and a 10.1% unemployment rate. The food environment index is only 4.4.
Did this list surprise you? What counties would you have expected on the list that didn’t show up here? Let us know in the comments!
Larry D Moore/Wikipedia
Unfortunately, 239 people in Morris County died before the age of 75 in the years of 2010-12, which is much higher than the state average. The adult obesity rate is 34%, also higher than the Texas average, and 32% of the population reports being physically inactive. The unemployment rate here is 8.8%.
There were 472 premature deaths here between the years of 2010-12, and 28% of people report being physically inactive. There were 103 injury deaths in Aransas County per 100,000 people between the years of 2008-12.
Archarzel/Wikipedia
36% of people in Cass County report poor or fair health, and the adult smoking rate is 27%, which is 10% higher than the Texas average.
J Stephen Conn/flickr
38% of the driving deaths between the years of 2009-13 in Terry County involved alcohol impairment, and the food environment index is only a 5.6, in comparison with the Texas average of 8.4.
Leaflet/Wikipedia
In Fisher County, only 47% of the population has access to exercise opportunities, and 30% are physically inactive.
Billy Hathorn/Wikipedia
While the food environment index is fairly high at 7.4, 37% of the children here live in poverty, and 45% of the county experienced drinking water violations between 2013-14.
Only 42% of people here have access to exercise opportunities, and 47% of children live in poverty.
Christian M Mericle/Wikipedia
33% of adults suffer from obesity here, and there were 364 premature deaths between 2010-12.
Only 40% of the population has access to exercise opportunities, and 59% of the county experienced drinking water violations between the years of 2013-14.
28% of people here report poor or fair health, which is 10% higher than the Texas average. 608 people died before the age of 75 between 2010-12.
83 people died a premature death here between 2010-12, and only 32% of the county has access to exercise opportunities.
Jerrye & Roy Klotz MD/Wikipedia
Unfortunately, 30% of children here live in poverty, and 33% report poor or fair health.
A staggering 50% of the population reports poor or fair health in Limestone County, much higher than the Texas average of 18%. 49% of adults smoke, and 32% are obese.
Nsaum75/Wikipedia
969 people died before 75 between 2010-12, and the adult obesity rate is 34%.
San Augustine County is the unhealthiest county in Texas, with 224 reported premature deaths between 2010-12, and a 10.1% unemployment rate. The food environment index is only 4.4.
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