Bryson, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bryson, Texas
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Downtown Bryson
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Jack |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.43 sq mi (3.69 km2) |
| • Land | 1.32 sq mi (3.41 km2) |
| • Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,257 ft (383 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 430 |
| • Density | 301/sq mi (116.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
76427
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| Area code(s) | 940 |
| FIPS code | 48-10960 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409928 |
Bryson is a small city located in Jack County, Texas, in the United States. In 2020, about 430 people lived there. It's a quiet place with a rich history.
Contents
Where is Bryson Located?
Bryson is in the western part of Jack County. It's about 14 miles (23 km) southwest of Jacksboro, which is the main town and county seat for Jack County. You can reach Bryson by taking U.S. Highway 380. This highway also goes southwest for about 13 miles (21 km) to Graham.
The city covers a total area of about 9,100 acres (3,700 ha). Most of this area is land, around 8,400 acres (3,400 ha). The rest, about 300 ha (741.3 acres), is water. This water includes Lake Bryson, a reservoir located about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) northwest of the city. Bryson is also part of the Rock Creek area, which flows south into the Brazos River.
Bryson's Story
Bryson was first settled in the late 1800s. It was originally called "Mount Hecla." A post office opened there with that name in 1878. That same year, a man named Henry Bryson built the very first home in the area. It was a log cabin!
Later, the community was renamed after Henry Bryson. This change became official in 1884 when the local post office also took the name "Bryson." Mr. Bryson even became a County Commissioner, helping to run the county. Some of the early families who lived in Bryson included the Blounts, Chambers, Claytons, and many others.
In 1902, a railroad line, the Chicago, Rock Island and Texas Railway, reached Bryson. This helped the town grow. Even though oil was found in Jack County as early as 1898, Bryson really became important for processing oil in the mid-1920s. Because of the oil business, many people moved to Bryson. It became known as Jack County's "second city" after Jacksboro.
On June 6, 1929, Bryson officially became a city with its own mayor and city council. Important leaders like B.B. Bryson and Sam Cullers helped govern the town. In 1930, Bryson had 641 people. Another oil boom in 1938 made the population grow even more, with some people even living in tents! By 1940, the population was 806.
As oil production slowed down, Bryson's population also decreased. In 1970, only 455 people lived there. However, during the last part of the 1900s, Bryson slowly grew again to over 500 residents. In 2004, there were about 22 businesses serving the community.
Who Lives in Bryson?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 641 | — | |
| 1940 | 806 | 25.7% | |
| 1950 | 588 | −27.0% | |
| 1960 | 545 | −7.3% | |
| 1970 | 455 | −16.5% | |
| 1980 | 579 | 27.3% | |
| 1990 | 520 | −10.2% | |
| 2000 | 528 | 1.5% | |
| 2010 | 539 | 2.1% | |
| 2020 | 430 | −20.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Every ten years, the United States counts its population. This is called a census. The table on the left shows how Bryson's population has changed over the years.
What the 2020 Census Shows
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 373 | 86.74% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 3 | 0.7% |
| Asian (NH) | 2 | 0.47% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 9 | 2.09% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 43 | 10.0% |
| Total | 430 |
The 2020 United States census found that 430 people lived in Bryson. There were 278 households, which means 278 different homes or groups of people living together. Out of these, 197 were families. The table above shows the different racial groups living in Bryson according to the 2020 census.
Learning in Bryson
Students in Bryson attend schools run by the Bryson Independent School District.
The first school in Bryson started in 1875 in a log cabin and was called "Cottonwood." As more people moved to the area, the log cabin was replaced by a bigger wooden building. Later, a two-story building was built. In 1885, the school was renamed "Bryson Academy" and had two new teachers.
In 1905, the two-story wooden building was replaced with a brick one for both elementary and high school students. A gym was added to the school in 1938. Later, a new high school was built, and the old brick building became a shop for agricultural studies. In 1957, a new elementary school building was constructed. Most recently, in 2012, the old school was taken down, and a brand new school building was built for the students of Bryson.
Pictures of Bryson
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The sign in City Park
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The only traffic light in Bryson
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The Henry Bryson Log Cabin
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Bryson school built in 2012
Want to Learn More?
In Spanish: Bryson (Texas) para niños
