Brenham, Texas
Encyclopedia
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with a population of 16,147 according to the 2009 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Washington County. Brenham is south of College Station
College Station, Texas
College Station is a city in Brazos County, Texas, situated in East Central Texas in the heart of the Brazos Valley. The city is located within the most populated region of Texas, near three of the 10 largest cities in the United States - Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio...
, and about halfway between Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
and Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
approximately 70 miles Northwest of Houston.
Brenham is renowned as the heart of the bluebonnet region in Central Texas. The local chamber of commerce promotes the Bluebonnet Trails and offers free maps to guide visitors along the most scenic routes that also pass by historic sites and attractions.
As the county seat for Washington County, the county is also home of the "Birthplace of Texas," the site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836 in the town of Washington. A TPWD State Historic Park is now located at the site.
Brenham is also known for a German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
heritage festival that takes place each May called Maifest, similar to Volksfest
Volksfest
A Volksfest is a large event in Germany which combines a festival and a carnival. Admission to a Volksfest is free however you have to pay for each ride separately....
.
Geography
Brenham is located at 30°9′43"N 96°23′49"W (30.161901, -96.397004).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 8.8 square miles (22.7 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 13,507 people, 4,907 households, and 3,115 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,541.5 people per square mile (595.3/km²). There were 5,317 housing units at an average density of 606.8 per square mile (234.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.99% White, 21.91% African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.86% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.75% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.25% of the population.
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 15.9% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,198, and the median income for a family was $41,486. Males had a median income of $31,133 versus $22,152 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,351. About 12.8% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 20.7% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Industry
Blue Bell Creameries
Blue Bell Creameries, founded in 1907, is the manufacturer of Blue Bell brand ice cream.Blue Bell sells its ice cream directly in only 20 states, mostly in the Southern United States, although Blue Bell ice cream has also been eaten aboard the International Space Station and at Camp David...
, an ice cream brand that is especially popular in the state of Texas and the southeastern United States. Blue Bell is the third best-selling ice cream brand in the United States, despite being sold in only 20 states.
Government and infrastructure
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability ServicesTexas Department of Aging and Disability Services
Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services is a state agency that supports the state's elderly and disabled population. The agency maintains its headquarters in the John H...
operates the Brenham State Supported Living Center
Brenham State Supported Living Center
The Brenham State Supported Living Center is a state-operated living center for disabled people along Texas State Highway 36 in Brenham, Texas. It is operated by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services....
(formerly Brenham State School).
The United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Brenham Post Office.
Education
The City of Brenham is served by the Brenham Independent School DistrictBrenham Independent School District
Brenham Independent School District is a public school district based in Brenham, Texas .Located in Washington County, a very small portion of the district extends into Austin County...
and Brenham Christian Academy
Brenham Christian Academy
Brenham Christian Academy is a private Christian school located in Brenham, Texas and was established in 1993 with its first graduating class of 1997.- References :*. Brenham Christian Academy. Retrieved on 2008-03-16....
. Brenham is also the home of Blinn College
Blinn College
Blinn College is a two-year academic institution based in Brenham, Texas with campuses in Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, and Sealy. While the Brenham campus is Blinn's main campus, more than 70% of students attend the Bryan campus....
, the oldest county-owned junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
in Texas. Blinn also has campuses in Bryan, Schulenburg, and Sealy.
See also
- History of the Jews in Brenham, TexasHistory of the Jews in Brenham, TexasThe history of the Jews in Brenham, Texas, covers a period of over 140 years. As one of the first areas in Texas, outside of major population centers, to develop a sizable Jewish population, the community boasts many things of historical note. The Brenham community was formally organized in...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, TexasNational Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, TexasList of Registered Historic Places in Washington County, TexasThis is intended to be a complete list of properties and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington County, Texas...
- Betty Miller UnterbergerBetty Miller UnterbergerBetty Miller Unterberger is a retired historian, who as professor of American international relations spent the bulk of her extensive academic career at Texas A&M University...