East Bernard, Texas Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids East Bernard, Texas
City
Veterans Memorial at Norma Lee Pullen Gymnasium
Nickname(s): EB
Location of East Bernard, Texas
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Wharton
Area
• Total	3.79 sq mi (9.82 km²)
• Land	3.79 sq mi (9.80 km²)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km²)
Elevation	125 ft (38 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	2,218
• Density	618.76/sq mi (238.88/km²)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	77435
Area code(s)	979
FIPS code	48-21988
GNIS feature ID	1334880

East Bernard is a small city located in Wharton County, Texas, in the United States. In 2020, about 2,218 people lived there. Important roads like U.S. Highway 90 Alternate (US 90A) and Texas State Highway 60 (SH 60) meet in the city. East Bernard has its own school district, several businesses, and even two car dealerships. The San Bernard River flows right by the city's eastern side.

History of East Bernard
Geography of East Bernard
Population Information
- 2020 Census Details
- Past Population Data
Education in East Bernard
Media
Transportation
Notable People
Images for kids
See also

History of East Bernard

East Bernard officially became a city in 2000. This makes it one of Texas's newer cities.

Early Settlement and Growth

The community started on the east side of the San Bernard River. Around 1850, Jethro Spivi built the first home there. This is how the town got its name, "East Bernard." Not many people lived here until 1859. That's when the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway arrived.

A bridge was built over the river. The train station, called Bernard Station, was first on the east bank. But by 1869, it moved to the west side. This new spot became the future Main Street of East Bernard. The rest of the town grew up around this railway station. The first post office opened in 1866. The community was likely officially named East Bernard in 1874.

After the American Civil War, the town grew quickly. Many new settlers with British last names arrived. Later, after the 1880s, more German and Slavic immigrants came. By the mid-1890s, about 150 people lived in this farming community. It had a steam gin, a gristmill, a telegraph office, and two general stores.

Community Buildings and Economy

The first church in East Bernard was built in 1893. German Methodist settlers moved their church from Content, a town south of Weimar. They moved it by train to East Bernard and rebuilt it in 1909. Catholic and Baptist groups started holding services around 1900. Their churches were finished between 1905 and 1907. The current Catholic church, built in 1925, has beautiful stained glass windows from Czechoslovakia. It also has mosaics from Munich and a statue from Italy.

East Bernard has had several newspapers over the years. The East Bernard Tribune started in the 1920s. In the late 1980s, a weekly paper with the same name served the town. Riverside Hall, built in 1927, was a popular dance hall. Famous musicians like Paul Whiteman even performed there.

Early merchants started a banking business in a general store. By 1907, they formed the Union State Bank. In 1960, a local furniture company owner helped start a chamber of commerce. Since East Bernard was not yet a city, this group helped with many town duties. In the 1980s, East Bernard's economy was mostly about farming. But it also had a gas pipeline company and a major kite-maker. By 1988, about 1,500 people lived there, and there were 63 businesses. The population grew to 1,544 in 1990 and 1,729 in 2000.

Sports Achievements

East Bernard is known for its strong sports teams. The city's football team won the Texas state championship in 1977 and again in 2012.

The East Bernard Brahamarettes volleyball team is also very famous. In 2017, a book called Above the Net listed Texas schools with many state championship titles. The Brahamarettes tied for the most wins, with 13 state championships!

Geography of East Bernard

East Bernard covers about 3.8 square miles (9.8 square kilometers) of land. The San Bernard River flows from north to south through the area. This river forms the eastern edge of the city. It also marks the border between Wharton County (to the west) and Fort Bend County (to the east).

US 90A runs through East Bernard, next to the Union Pacific Railroad. It goes east to Rosenberg and west to Eagle Lake. SH 60 goes north to Wallis and south to Wharton. Other important roads include Farm to Market Road 1164 and Farm to Market Road 2919. East Bernard is on the edge of the Lissie prairie. This area is important for growing rice.

Population Information

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1970	1,159	—
1980	1,735	49.7%
1990	1,544	−11.0%
2000	1,729	12.0%
2010	2,272	31.4%
2020	2,218	−2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

East Bernard first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1970 as an unincorporated community. It became a city in 2003.

2020 Census Details

As of the 2020 United States census, East Bernard had 2,218 people. There were 836 households and 637 families living in the city.

Past Population Data

In 2000, there were 1,729 people in East Bernard. About 37.2% of households had children under 18. Most households (61.0%) were married couples. The average household had 2.74 people. The average family had 3.13 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 27.4% were under 18. About 13.5% were 65 or older. The average age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were about 99.9 males.

The median income for a household was $35,500. For a family, it was $42,786. About 12.2% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 17.2% of those under 18.

Education in East Bernard

The East Bernard Independent School District serves the City of East Bernard. The district is home to the East Bernard High School Brahmas. The first school building was built around 1888. It was about one mile north of the train depot. By 1912, a brick high school was built in town.

Around 1916, East Bernard became its own independent school district. By 1956, nearby schools joined with East Bernard. These included schools from Nottawa, Muldoon, Bernard Prairie, and Lissie. Today, a Texas historical marker shows where the original school once stood.

The graduating class of 2015 was special. It marked 100 years since the first class graduated from the school. Some students in this class were even related to the town's first settlers.