County demographics explain 60.8% of homicide rate variation versus 31.4% for economics. Black population share has β=0.81 association with homicide rates. One percent higher black share equals 0.37 more homicides per 100,000. Combined model shows demographics explain 42.9% of variance, economics only 22.5%. Homicide gaps between blacks and whites persist at every income level. Black-white homicide gap shrinks only 30% after adjusting for economics. Poverty cannot theoretically explain full racial homicide disparities due to insufficient black overrepresentation in poverty. Victimization disparities underestimate offending disparities due to interracial homicides. Causally informative studies show poverty has null or marginal effect on violent crime. Crime causes poverty via reduced employment and community economic damage. Selection concentrates low IQ, antisocial traits, and mental disorders in poor classes via mobility. Economic controls absorb trait differences rather than prove causal poverty effects. Racial homicide disparities have weak causal link to economics. Eliminating economic disparities would leave most homicide gaps intact.