Bertram, Texas Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Bertram, Texas
City
Globe Theater
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Burnet
Government
• Type	City Council
Area
• Total	1.53 sq mi (3.95 km²)
• Land	1.51 sq mi (3.91 km²)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.04 km²)
Elevation	1,257 ft (383 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	1,616
• Density	1,056/sq mi (409.1/km²)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	78605
Area code(s)	512
FIPS code	48-07864
GNIS feature ID	2409838

Bertram is a city in Burnet County, Texas, United States. It is located about 10 miles (16 km) east of Burnet, which is the county seat. In 2020, about 1,616 people lived there. By 2021, the population was estimated to be around 1,764.

Geography and Climate
- Weather in Bertram
History of Bertram
- Changes Over Time
People in Bertram
Culture and Events
Education
Photo Gallery
See also

Geography and Climate

Bertram is found in the eastern part of Burnet County. The city covers a total area of about 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²). All of this area is land.

Weather in Bertram

The weather in Bertram has hot and humid summers. Winters are usually mild, but can sometimes be cold. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. On climate maps, it is shown as "Cfa".

History of Bertram

Bertram was founded in 1882. It started when a community called San Gabriel moved about two miles northwest. This move happened because the new Austin and Northwestern Railroad was built.

The new town was named after Rudolph Bertram. He was a merchant from Austin and a big investor in the railroad. A post office opened in Bertram in 1882. By 1891, about 150 people lived there. The town had businesses like a cotton gin, general stores, and shops for blacksmiths and shoemakers.

After 1900, Bertram became an important place for shipping goods. Farmers sent cotton, cattle, and wool from here. In 1928, a huge amount of cotton was processed in Bertram. Over 11,600 bales of cotton were ginned that year.

Changes Over Time

In the early 1930s, the price of cotton dropped a lot. This, along with the Great Depression, caused the town's population to shrink. It went from 1,000 people in 1929 to 550 by 1931.

The population grew again over the years. By 1966, it was 1,205. In 1989, Bertram had about 1,002 people and 19 businesses. At that time, the main industries included making ceramic tiles and plastic products.

A famous baseball player named Owen "Chief Wilson" lived in Bertram. The local baseball field is named in his honor.

People in Bertram

In 2020, there were 1,616 people living in Bertram. There were 632 households and 478 families.

About 66.7% of the people were White (not Hispanic).
About 26.2% were Hispanic or Latino.
Other groups included Black or African American, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and people of mixed races.

Culture and Events

Bertram hosts a special event every year called the "Oatmeal Festival". It takes place during the Labor Day weekend. This festival is named after a nearby community that used to exist, called Oatmeal. Many people from all over central Texas come to enjoy the activities.

The Oatmeal Festival started in 1978. It was a fun way to make fun of all the chili cooking contests in Texas. The money raised from the festival helps the community. It has helped build an open-air pavilion in Bertram and a community center in Oatmeal. The festival also gives scholarships to local high school students. It supports other local events too, like the Easter Egg Hunt and Santa's Workshop.

Education

Students in Bertram go to schools in the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District. In 2007, Bertram Elementary School received a special award. It was named a National Blue Ribbon School, which means it's one of the best schools in the country.