The 5th encompasses several neighborhoods to the north and east of Dallas, then stretches 200 miles south to draw in seven counties and parts of three other counties. About 55 percent of the district's residents live in Dallas County. The economy of Dallas and its surrounding suburbs is strong and on the rise, with new businesses constantly appearing and high-tech jobs increasing. Many of the suburbs outside the city have growing populations and provide easy access to a bustling metropolis while supplying the benefits of small-town life. Mesquite, once predominantly farmland, is now a popular residential area.
Prisons are a large employer in the district.
In the more rural counties, like Leon and Robertson, cattle, natural gas and coal continue to be big industries as well. Many of the smaller towns previously relied on steel or lumber and were hard hit when those fell. Today, however, there are brownfield revitalization efforts taking place in the 5th. The 5th leans toward the GOP in most elections. After the latest redistricting in 1996, the district picked up some reliably Republican territory in the northeast neighborhoods of Dallas.