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Upper East Region
gross domestic product,
2020
About 3 percent of Texas’ GDP of $1.8 trillion.
Upper East Region Counties:
- Anderson
- Bowie
- Camp
- Cass
- Cherokee
- Delta
- Franklin
- Gregg
- Harrison
- Henderson
- Hopkins
- Lamar
- Marion
- Morris
- Panola
- Rains
- Red River
- Rusk
- Smith
- Titus
- Upshur
- Van Zandt
- Wood
The 23-county Upper East region encompasses about 16,000 square miles in the northeast corner of Texas, stretching from the Arkansas and Louisiana borders in the east to Cedar Creek Reservoir in the west.
The region includes three metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs): the Longview MSA, comprising Gregg, Rusk and Upshur counties; the Texarkana MSA, which comprises Bowie County; and the Tyler MSA, comprising Smith County.
Population Change
Van Zandt County led regional percentage gains between 2010 and 2020 at 13.2 percent, followed by gains of 11.5 percent in Rains County and 11.3 percent in Smith County.
REGION
3.4%
TEXAS
15.9%
U.S.
7.4%
Jobs & Wages
About 462,000 people were employed in the region in 2020. Railroad equipment manufacturing, rail transportation support, and support activities for mining are some of the most concentrated industries in the region as measured by location quotient (LQ), indicating the region has a competitive advantage in those industries.
Percent change in total jobs, 2010 to 2020
Employment growth in the Upper East Region was 2.2%, compared to Texas at 17.1% and the U.S. at 7.8%.
Top Industries by Location Quotient, 2020
| Industry | Employment | Average Annual Wages | Location Quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 816 | $88,341 | 11.94 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | 992 | $60,254 | 9.18 |
| Support Activities for Mining | 6,352 | $75,448 | 8.55 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 3,559 | $44,324 | 7.84 |
| Animal Production (Proprietors) | 7,585 | $13,962 | 5.69 |
Industries with Largest Total Jobs Growth, 2015 to 2020
| Industry | Average Annual Wages | Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 | Percent Employment Change, 2015 to 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual and Family Services | $23,244 | 3,248 | 77.9% |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | $30,963 | 2,071 | 33.5% |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | $25,175 | 1,520 | 22.2% |
| Business Support Services | $34,130 | 936 | 58.3% |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $51,911 | 885 | 61.7% |
THE Upper East REGION IS ONE OF THE COMPTROLLER’S 12 ECONOMIC REGIONS.
Sources: JobsEQ; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts