Texas Local Government Code - LOC GOV'T § 386.032. Area of Pervasive Poverty, Unemployment, or Economic Distress

(1) the average rate of unemployment in the area during the most recent 12-month period for which data are available was at least 1 1/2 times the state average for that period;

(2) the area is a low-income poverty area;

(3) the area is in a jurisdiction or pocket of poverty, according to the most recent certification available from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; or

(4) at least 70 percent of the residents or households of the area have an income that is less than 80 percent of the median income of the residents or households of the locality or state, whichever is less.