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Kenney, Texas facts for kids

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Kenney
Kenney in 2020
Kenney in 2020
Kenney is located in Texas
Kenney
Kenney
Location in Texas
Kenney is located in the United States
Kenney
Kenney
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Texas
County Austin
Elevation
390 ft (120 m)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
77452
GNIS feature ID 1339040

Kenney (also Kinney) is a small, unincorporated community in northern Austin County, Texas, United States. This means it's a town that isn't officially governed by its own local city government. According to information from 2000, about 200 people lived there. It is located within the larger Greater Houston metropolitan area.

History of Kenney

The area around Kenney was first settled in the 1820s. Many German immigrants moved here between the 1830s and 1900. However, the community of Kenney itself didn't start until 1880.

How Kenney Got Its Name

In 1880, a train station was built on the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway line. This line connected Brenham and Bellville. A post office was also opened. The community was first called Thompson, named after its first postmaster, J.E. Thompson.

After four years, in 1884, the community's name changed to Kenneyville. This was to honor a religious speaker named John Wesley Kenney. In 1892, the name was shortened to just Kenney.

Growth and Changes Over Time

Kenney grew quite a bit in 1885. It had a steam-powered gristmill (which grinds grain) and a cotton gin (which separates cotton fibers). There were also three churches, many businesses, and about 150 residents.

By 1890, the population had decreased to 75 people. William Schill opened the community's first hotel, and John Chernosky managed a general store. The population grew again to 202 people by 1904. In 1917, the American Red Cross started a local group here, with 178 members.

Even though Kenney is an unincorporated community, it still has its own post office. The ZIP code for Kenney is 77452. From 1990 to 2000, the population stayed around 200 people.

Geography of Kenney

Kenney is located where Farm to Market Road 2754 meets Texas State Highway 36. It's also on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway line. The community is about 8 miles (13 km) north of Bellville and 11 miles (18 km) south of Brenham. It is in the far northern part of Austin County.

Climate in Kenney

The weather in Kenney is known for having fairly warm temperatures and rain spread out throughout the year. The Köppen Climate System describes the weather as humid subtropical. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters.

Climate data for Kenney, Texas
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 61
(16)
65
(18)
72
(22)
79
(26)
85
(29)
92
(33)
95
(35)
96
(36)
90
(32)
82
(28)
71
(22)
63
(17)
79
(26)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 40
(4)
43
(6)
50
(10)
57
(14)
65
(18)
71
(22)
73
(23)
73
(23)
68
(20)
58
(14)
49
(9)
42
(6)
57
(14)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 3.1
(79)
3
(76)
3
(76)
3.6
(91)
4.5
(110)
3.8
(97)
2.6
(66)
2.7
(69)
3.8
(97)
3.9
(99)
3.9
(99)
3.6
(91)
41.5
(1,050)
Source: Weatherbase

Education in Kenney

A school was first opened in Kenney in 1885. By the late 1980s, the community had two schools. Today, students in Kenney attend schools that are part of the Bellville Independent School District.

Notable People from Kenney

Some famous people have come from Kenney:

  • Nolan Luhn - a wide receiver who played for the Green Bay Packers football team.
  • Red Lynn - a former pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB).

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