Brazos County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brazos County
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The Brazos County Courthouse in Bryan
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Location within the U.S. state of Texas
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 Texas's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Texas |
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| 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)
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| • Total | 233,849 | |
| • Density | 395.7/sq mi (152.77/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | |
| Congressional district | 10th | |
Brazos County is a county in the state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, about 233,849 people lived there. The main city and county seat is Bryan.
Brazos County is named after the Brazos River. This river forms its western border. The county was created in 1841 and officially started in 1843. It is part of the larger Bryan-College Station region. This area includes Bryan, College Station, and other towns.
Contents
History of Brazos County
In 1837, most of what is now Brazos County was part of Washington County. The Brazos River made it hard for the government to manage things. So, a new county called Navasota was formed in 1841.
The first court meeting happened in the home of Joseph Ferguson. The county seat was named Boonville. In 1842, Navasota County was renamed Brazos County.
At first, Brazos County was not very rich. But in the 1870s, the county gave 2,416 acres of land. This land was used to create Texas A&M University. This university helped the county become one of the most successful in Texas.
After the Civil War, many new people moved to Brazos County. They were drawn by the good land, forests, and fertile areas. As more people arrived, the county faced some difficult times with social unrest and conflicts.
Geography of Brazos County
Brazos County covers about 591 square miles. Most of this area, about 585 square miles, is land. The rest, about 5.8 square miles, is water.
Counties Nearby
Brazos County shares borders with these other counties:
- Robertson County (to the northwest)
- Leon County (to the north)
- Madison County (to the northeast)
- Grimes County (to the east)
- Washington County (to the south)
- Burleson County (to the southwest)
The northwestern border of the county follows a historic route called the Old Spanish Trail.
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 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 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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The population of Brazos County has grown a lot over the years. In 1850, there were only 614 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 233,849 people.
Getting Around Brazos County
Public Transportation
The Brazos Transit District offers bus services. They have regular bus routes and special services for people who need them. These services run throughout Bryan and College Station.
Main Roads
Several important highways pass through Brazos County:
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
Airports
Easterwood Airport is the local airport for commercial flights. It is owned by Texas A&M University. You can fly from here to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Coulter Field is another airport located in Bryan.
Communities in Brazos County
Cities
- Bryan (This is the county seat)
- College Station
- Navasota (Only part of this city is in Brazos County)
- Wixon Valley
Towns
Census-designated place
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially cities or towns:
- Allenfarm
- Cawthon
- Edge
- Fairview
- Harvey
- Millican (This used to be a town)
- Mooring
- Mudville
- Nelleva
- Peach Creek
- Smetana
- Tabor
- Wellborn
Ghost Towns
These are places where people used to live, but now they are mostly empty:
- Boonville
- Cottonwood
- Dallam
- Dinkins
- Enright
- Macey
- Moore
- Reliance
- Sims
- Stone City
- Union
- Varisco
- Wicker
- Zack
Education in Brazos County
Brazos County has several school districts:
- Bryan Independent School District
- College Station Independent School District
- Navasota Independent School District
Blinn College is the community college for the entire county.
Texas A&M University is also located in College Station. It is the largest university in Texas by the number of students.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Brazos para niños
