Brenham, Texas should not be confused with Bonham, Texas.
| Official Name: | Brenham, Texas |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Etymology: | Named in memory of Richard Fox Brenham |
| Image Blank Emblem: | City of Brenham logo.jpg |
| Blank Emblem Type: | Logo |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Texas |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Washington |
| Named For: | Richard Fox Brenham |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Atwood Kenjura |
| Leader Title2: | City Council |
| Leader Title3: | City Manager |
| Leader Name3: | Carolyn Miller[1] |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 33.74 |
| Area Land Km2: | 33.61 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.13 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 13.03 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 12.98 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.05 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 17369 |
| Population Density Km2: | 531.48 |
| Elevation Ft: | 312 |
| Coordinates: | 30.1619°N -96.3969°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 77833 |
| Area Code: | 979 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 48-10156[3] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2409901 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1376.51 |
| Utc Offset1: | -6 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | Central Daylight Time |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | -5 |
| Timezone1: | Central Standard Time |
| Population Demonym: | Brenhamite |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box ZIP code |
| Postal2 Code: | 77834 |
Brenham is a city in east-central Texas, United States, and the county seat of Washington County,[4] with a population of 17,369 according to the 2020 U.S. census.
Brenham is also known for its annual German heritage festival that takes place each May called Maifest, similar to Volksfest.[5] Numerous German immigrants settled here in the mid-19th century, following the revolutions in German states in 1848.Brenham is also the Home of "the World's Largest BBQ Pit" on US 290 West.[6]
The area surrounding Brenham was occupied by various Native American tribes through the 19th century. The Brenham area was part of the Old Three Hundred, the first authorized colonization of Texas by Anglo-Americans led by Stephen F. Austin. In the 1820s and 1830s, several small communities developed in the area. In 1843, the Hickory Grove community was renamed Brenham in memory of a local physician, Richard Fox Brenham, who died while serving in the Texian militia during the Mier Expedition. On February 4, 1844, Washington County voters selected Brenham to become the county seat. German immigrants settled in Brenham as early as 1846. With the exception of the Civil War years, the German-born population of Brenham increased throughout the second half of the 19th century. The largest numbers of German immigrants arrived between 1880 and 1883. Jewish immigrants to Brenham established one of Texas' first Orthodox synagogues in 1885,[7] which was relocated to Austin in 2015.[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.8 square miles (22.7 km2), all land.
The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen climate classification describes the weather as humid subtropical, Cfa.[9]
| White alone (NH) | 8,842 | 9,186 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 8,820 | 65.46% | 58.45% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 50.78% | |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,922 | 3,656 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 3,841 | 21.63% | 23.26% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 22.11% | |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 18 | 27 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 36 | 0.13% | 0.17% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 0.21% | |
| Asian alone (NH) | 249 | 277 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 434 | 1.84% | 1.76% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 2.50% | |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 6 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 14 | 0.01% | 0.04% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 0.08% | |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 4 | 21 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 62 | 0.03% | 0.13% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 0.36% | |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 87 | 146 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 534 | 0.64% | 0.93% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 3.07% | |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,384 | 2,397 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 3,628 | 10.25% | 15.25% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 20.89% | |
| Total | 13,507 | 15,716 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 17,369 | 100.00% | 100.00% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, 17,639 people, 6,197 households, and 3,606 families were residing in the city.
As of the census of 2000, 13,507 people, 4,907 households, and 3,115 families lived in the city. The population density was 1541.5sp=usNaNsp=us. The 5,317 housing units had an average density of 606.8sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 69.99% White, 21.91% African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.86% Asian, 4.76% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 10.25% of the population.
Of the 4,907 households, 30.0% had children under 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were not families. About 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.40, and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city, the age distribution was 22.5% under 18, 15.9% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,198, and for a family was $41,486. Males had a median income of $31,133 versus $22,152 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,351. About 12.8% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 20.7% of those age 65 or over.
Brenham is the home of and headquarters for Blue Bell Creameries. Blue Bell is the fourth-best selling ice cream brand in the United States, and is sold in 16 states.
Brenham is also home to a large Valmont Industries industrial plant, where metal poles are manufactured.
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services operates the Brenham State Supported Living Center (formerly Brenham State School), the largest facility in Texas for providing housing and care to intellectually disabled persons.[13]
The city operates as a council–manager government; as such, it elects its mayor and city council, who then appoint a city manager. The mayor is elected by the city at large, while the city council is elected by ward, with four wards,[14] and each ward elects a single city council member. Two additional council members are elected from the city at-large.[15] The mayor and city council members serve four-year terms.
The City of Brenham's primary education is provided by Brenham Independent School District (Brenham ISD) and various private schools. The public schools in Brenham ISD include Brenham Elementary School, Krause Elementary School, Alton Elementary School, Brenham Middle School, Brenham Junior High School, and Brenham High School. Brenham High School's mascot is the lion cub.[16]
The traditional role of middle school is split in two in Brenham, with fifth and sixth graders attending Brenham Middle School and seventh and eighth graders attending Brenham Junior High School. In 2022, Brenham ISD proposed a project to tear down and rebuild Brenham Junior High School to be able to handle the sixth through 8th grades, then convert Brenham Middle School into a fourth elementary school serving students up to fifth grade,[17] but this proposal was rejected by voters.[18]
Blinn College, the oldest county-owned junior college in Texas, is located in Brenham.[19] Blinn has campuses also in Bryan, Schulenburg, and Sealy.
The following highways pass through Brenham:
The Galveston Subdivision of the BNSF Railway passes through Brenham,[20] with spurs serving Valmont Industries and Blue Bell Creameries. The Blue Bell spur was formerly part of a separate Southern Pacific line between Austin and Houston, though it now terminates within Brenham on both ends.[21]