Chet Edwards For Congress

Profile of the 17th Congressional District of Texas

The 17th Congressional District of Texas was created in 2003 by the Texas Legislature. The 17th is a geographically diverse district—spanning from the suburbs of Fort Worth in the North, through the Heart of Texas in Waco and to the Bryan/College Station area in the South.

The district includes all of Bosque, Brazos, Grimes, Hill, Hood, Johnson, Madison, McLennan and Somervell counties and part of Burleson, Limestone and Robertson counties.

The 17th is notable for its number of colleges and universities. The district includes two Big XII schools: Baylor University and Texas A&M University, the third-largest college in the nation. The 17th is also home to several other important colleges, including Texas State Technical College, McLennan Community College, Blinn College in Bryan and Hill College, with campuses in Hillsboro and Cleburne.

Major district employers include Texas A&M University and the A&M System, Baylor University, L-3 Communications in Waco, Sanderson Farms in Bryan and the TXU Comanche Peak power plant in Glen Rose.

Farming and ranching play a vital role in the economy of the 17th. Key crops include soft red wheat, cotton and corn. The district is also home to many family-operated cow-calf operations.

Transportation is a top issue in the 17th District, with major highways such as Interstate 35 and TX Highway 6 experiencing increasing traffic due to NAFTA and rapid population growth. Improved air travel options are also priorities in both the Waco and Bryan/College Station area. The development of a high-speed rail system is a key issue in Brazos County, as well.

The 17th is ethnically diverse: 10.8% of the population is African-American, while Hispanics comprise 15.4% of the district. The district’s total population is 651,620. Over 55,000 veterans live in the 17th District.