The Deep East Texas Council of Governments and Economic Development District is a voluntary association of local governments in the 11 county region encompassing all of Angelina, Houston, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity and Tyler counties. We are one of the largest rural COGs in the nation. At 9,413 square miles, the DETCOG region is larger than the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island. DETCOG is both a political subdivision of the State of Texas and a federally chartered Economic Development District. We are one of 24 regional councils of governments in Texas. We were founded to facilitate planning, eliminate duplication, and promote economy and efficiency in the coordinated development of our region. While we are a governmental agency, we have no taxing or ordinance making authority. We are governed by a diverse 58-member Board of Directors which is representative of the population we serve. As required by law, more than two-thirds of our board members are elected officials of member counties and cities.