Brazos County, Texas
Brazos County (/ˈbræzəs/ ⓘ BRAZ-əs) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 233,849.[1][2] The county seat is Bryan.[3] Along with Brazoria County, the county is named for the Brazos River, which forms its western border. The county was formed in 1841 and organized in 1843.[4][5]
Brazos County | |
|---|---|
The Brazos County Courthouse in Bryan | |
| Seal | |
Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
Texas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 30°40′N 96°18′W / 30.66°N 96.3°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Founded | 1843 |
| Named for | Brazos River |
| Seat | Bryan |
| Largest city | College Station |
| Area | |
| • Total | 591 sq mi (1,530 km2) |
| • Land | 585 sq mi (1,520 km2) |
| • Water | 5.8 sq mi (15 km2) 1.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 233,849 |
| • Density | 400/sq mi (150/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 10th |
| Website | www |
Brazos County is part of the Bryan-College Station Metropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of Bryan, College Station, and smaller cities and towns in Brazos, Burleson, and Robertson counties.
History edit
In 1837, most of the area of present-day Brazos County was included in Washington County. The Brazos River, which bisected the latter, proved a serious obstacle to county government, and a new county, Navasota, was formed in January 1841. The first court, with Judge R. E. B. Baylor presiding, was held later that year in the home of Joseph Ferguson, fourteen miles west of the site of present Bryan. The county seat, named Boonville for Mordecai Boon, was located on John Austin's league and was surveyed by Hiram Hanover in 1841. In January of the following year Navasota County was renamed Brazos County.[6]
Originally one of the state's poorer counties, the county donated 2,416 acres of land in the 1870s to create Texas A&M University, which has enabled the county to be among the state's most financially successful.
After the Civil War tens of thousands of new residents moved to Brazos County, attracted by its good lands, with plenty of timber and a patchwork of prairies and fertile floodplains. As newcomers poured in by the thousands the county suffered from arson, feuding, shooting and racial violence, including mob lynchings.[7]
Geography edit
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 591 square miles (1,530 km2), of which 585 square miles (1,520 km2) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km2) (1.0%) is water.[8]
Adjacent counties edit
- Robertson County (northwest)
- Leon County (north)
- Madison County (northeast)
- Grimes County (east)
- Washington County (south)
- Burleson County (southwest)
The northwestern boundary follows the Old Spanish Trail.
Demographics edit
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 614 | — | |
| 1860 | 3,096 | 404.2% | |
| 1870 | 9,205 | 197.3% | |
| 1880 | 13,576 | 47.5% | |
| 1890 | 16,650 | 22.6% | |
| 1900 | 18,859 | 13.3% | |
| 1910 | 18,919 | 0.3% | |
| 1920 | 21,975 | 16.2% | |
| 1930 | 21,835 | −0.6% | |
| 1940 | 26,997 | 23.6% | |
| 1950 | 38,390 | 42.2% | |
| 1960 | 44,895 | 16.9% | |
| 1970 | 57,978 | 29.1% | |
| 1980 | 94,492 | 63.0% | |
| 1990 | 121,862 | 29.0% | |
| 2000 | 152,415 | 25.1% | |
| 2010 | 194,851 | 27.8% | |
| 2020 | 233,849 | 20.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1850–2010[10] 2010[11] 2020[12] | |||
2020 census edit
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[11] | Pop 2020[12] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 115,252 | 123,035 | 59.15% | 52.61% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 20,827 | 23,569 | 10.69% | 10.08% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 484 | 502 | 0.25% | 0.21% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 9,982 | 14,621 | 5.12% | 6.25% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 82 | 210 | 0.04% | 0.09% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 246 | 1,009 | 0.13% | 0.43% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 2,573 | 7,836 | 1.32% | 3.35% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 45,405 | 63,067 | 23.30% | 26.97% |
| Total | 194,851 | 233,849 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
2000 census edit
As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 152,415 people, 55,202 households, and 30,416 families residing in the county. The population density was 260 people per square mile (100 people/km2). There were 59,023 housing units at an average density of 101 units per square mile (39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74.45% White, 10.72% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 4.01% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 8.42% from other races, and 1.97% from two or more races. 17.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.3% were of German, 8.4% English, 7.3% Irish and 7.2% American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 55,202 households, out of which 27.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.30% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.90% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.50% under the age of 18, 32.00% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 13.80% from 45 to 64, and 6.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,104, and the median income for a family was $46,530. Males had a median income of $32,864 versus $24,179 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,212. About 14.00% of families and 26.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.60% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation edit
Public Transportation edit
The Brazos Transit District operates a fixed route bus service and paratransit throughout Bryan and College Station.[14][15]
Major highways edit
- U.S. Highway 190
- State Highway 6
- State Highway 21
- State Highway 30
- State Highway 40
- State Highway 47
- State Highway OSR
- Farm to Market Road 60
- Farm to Market Road 2154
- Farm to Market Road 2347
- Farm to Market Road 2818
Airport edit
Easterwood Airport, owned by Texas A&M, is the local commercial airport, with flights to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Coulter Field is in Bryan.
Politics edit
Unlike most counties that are home to a large university, Brazos County is a Republican stronghold, perhaps reflecting the political views of influential Texas A&M alumni and families of the student body. No Democratic presidential nominee has carried it since Texas native Lyndon Johnson in his 1964 landslide. In 2020, Joe Biden was the first Democrat to win over 40% of its vote since 1968.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 47,530 | 55.71% | 35,349 | 41.43% | 2,434 | 2.85% |
| 2016 | 38,738 | 57.64% | 23,121 | 34.40% | 5,352 | 7.96% |
| 2012 | 37,209 | 66.49% | 17,477 | 31.23% | 1,276 | 2.28% |
| 2008 | 37,465 | 63.85% | 20,502 | 34.94% | 706 | 1.20% |
| 2004 | 37,594 | 69.22% | 16,128 | 29.70% | 587 | 1.08% |
| 2000 | 32,864 | 70.01% | 12,359 | 26.33% | 1,718 | 3.66% |
| 1996 | 22,082 | 57.14% | 13,968 | 36.15% | 2,594 | 6.71% |
| 1992 | 23,943 | 48.53% | 14,819 | 30.03% | 10,578 | 21.44% |
| 1988 | 29,369 | 65.72% | 14,885 | 33.31% | 436 | 0.98% |
| 1984 | 34,733 | 73.55% | 12,348 | 26.15% | 140 | 0.30% |
| 1980 | 17,798 | 60.25% | 9,856 | 33.37% | 1,885 | 6.38% |
| 1976 | 15,685 | 58.75% | 10,628 | 39.81% | 387 | 1.45% |
| 1972 | 14,243 | 71.03% | 5,692 | 28.39% | 116 | 0.58% |
| 1968 | 6,839 | 43.90% | 6,299 | 40.43% | 2,441 | 15.67% |
| 1964 | 4,003 | 33.31% | 7,998 | 66.54% | 18 | 0.15% |
| 1960 | 4,553 | 43.46% | 5,907 | 56.38% | 17 | 0.16% |
| 1956 | 4,942 | 58.58% | 3,463 | 41.05% | 31 | 0.37% |
| 1952 | 4,681 | 52.62% | 4,213 | 47.36% | 2 | 0.02% |
| 1948 | 1,533 | 27.72% | 3,459 | 62.55% | 538 | 9.73% |
| 1944 | 464 | 10.61% | 3,358 | 76.75% | 553 | 12.64% |
| 1940 | 617 | 12.92% | 4,151 | 86.90% | 9 | 0.19% |
| 1936 | 45 | 1.69% | 2,610 | 98.16% | 4 | 0.15% |
| 1932 | 195 | 6.96% | 2,588 | 92.40% | 18 | 0.64% |
| 1928 | 738 | 33.23% | 1,480 | 66.64% | 3 | 0.14% |
| 1924 | 255 | 10.43% | 2,128 | 87.07% | 61 | 2.50% |
| 1920 | 277 | 12.75% | 1,281 | 58.98% | 614 | 28.27% |
| 1916 | 273 | 20.87% | 1,027 | 78.52% | 8 | 0.61% |
| 1912 | 142 | 14.90% | 762 | 79.96% | 49 | 5.14% |
Communities edit
Cities edit
- Bryan (county seat)
- College Station
- Navasota (partial)
- Wixon Valley
Towns edit
Census-designated place edit
Unincorporated communities edit
- Allenfarm
- Cawthon
- Edge
- Fairview
- Harvey
- Millican - Former municipality[17]
- Mooring
- Mudville
- Nelleva
- Peach Creek
- Smetana
- Tabor
- Wellborn
Ghost Towns edit
Education edit
School districts:[18]
- Bryan Independent School District
- College Station Independent School District
- Navasota Independent School District
Blinn College is the designated community college for all of the county.[19]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Brazos County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- ^ "Brazos County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- ^ . National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ . Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
- ^ "Brazos County". Texas Almanac. Texas State Historical Association. May 21, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
- ^ Brazos County in Handbook of Texas Online
- ^ Nevels, Cynthia Skove (2007). Lynching to Belong: Claiming Whiteness Through Racial Violence. United States: Texas A&M University.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
- ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
- ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
- ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Brazos County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Brazos County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ "The District Fixed Routes". Brazos Transit District. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
- ^ "The District Paratransit". Brazos Transit District. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ^ Kapitan, Greg (December 6, 2006). "Millican community is not a city after all". The Eagle. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Brazos County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022. - Text list
- ^ Texas Education Code Sec. 130.168. BLINN JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
External links edit
- Brazos County government
- Brazos County AgriLife Extension office
- Brazos County Attorney's Office
- Brazos County, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Brazos County from the Texas Almanac
- Brazos County from the TXGenWeb Project
- Historic Brazos County materials, hosted by the Portal to Texas History