ECONOMIC TRENDS
GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE
T
ECONOMIC TRENDS
his edition of the Aqua Book provides an overview of South Texas’ economic conditions since
2008, followed by a description of some findings on the impact of the shale oil boom on our
local economies. Looking ahead, we provide some analysis concerning the region’s exposure
to oil and gas activities, as well as the degrees of economic diversification and specialization. We
also discuss current transformation in South Texas’ economic landscape that is poised to affect
the future course of the regional economy.
With the inception of the South Texas Economic Development Center, we have expanded our
geographic scope of research work beyond the Coastal Bend. This region lies roughly south of and
including San Antonio. The Rio Grande marks the southern and western boundary, and the Gulf of
Mexico is its eastern boundary. This region consists of 41 counties (see map below) and five metro
areas.
San Antonio MSA
Guadalupe
Kinney
Maverick
Uvalde
Bexar
Medina
Wilson
Zavala
Dimmit
Laredo MSA
Frio
Atascosa
La Salle
Webb
Wharton
Goliad
Bee
Jackson
Matagorda
Victoria
Refugio
Calhoun
Aransas
Jim San Patricio
Wells
Corpus Christi MSA
Nueces
Kleberg
Duval
ZapataJim Hogg Brooks
Kenedy
Hidalgo
McAllen MSA
Annual Review of South Texas Economy
Lavaca
DeWitt
Karnes
Live
Oak
McMullen
Starr
2
Gonzales
Willacy
Cameron
Brownsville MSA