Bryan is a city located in Brazos County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 65,660. It is the county seat of Brazos County and is situated in East Texas. The city is centrally located, approximately equidistant from three of the 10 largest cities in the United States. It is 92 miles north of Houston, 166 miles northeast of San Antonio and 169 miles south of Dallas. It is 104 miles east of Austin, the state capital of Texas. 75% of the Texas and Louisiana populations (13.1 million people) live within 3.5 driving hours of Bryan. The main campus of Texas A&M University is located just south of Bryan in College Station. The university's enrollment includes approximately 44,000 students on the 5,200 acre (21 km²) campus. Blinn College is also located in Bryan with an enrollment of over 5,000 students.

Historical Events

The area around Bryan, Texas was part of a land grant to Moses Austin by Spain. Moses Austin's son, Stephen F. Austin helped bring settlers to the area. Among the settlers was William Joel Bryan, a cousin of Stephen F. Austin. The town of Bryan was founded in 1821. It grew quickly when the Houston and Texas Central Railroad arrived in 1860. In 1866, the county seat of Brazos County, Texas was changed from Boonville, Texas to Bryan. A short time later, in 1871, the City of Bryan became incorporated. In October of 2004, Bryan changed it's motto from "A great place to live" to "The Good Life, Texas Style".

• 1820s: Area settled by members of Stephen F. Austin's colony.
• 1859: The Houston and Texas Central Railroad is built in the area.
• 1866: A post office was granted and Bryan replaced Boonville, Texas as the Brazos County seat.
• 1867: The railroad that had stopped at Millican, Texas because of delays during the Civil War reached Bryan.
• 1871: The first Bryan courthouse was built.
• 1872: Bryan is incorporated.
• 1876: Texas A&M College opens in nearby College Station, Texas.
• 1877: The Bryan Independent School District was established.
  • 1884: Population reaches 3,000.
• 1889: Bryan obtained electric lighting and a waterworks.
• 1892: Bryan's fifth Brazos County Courthouse was built.
• 1900: The International-Great Northern Railroad arrived in Bryan.
  • 1900: Population reaches 3,589.
• 1902: Bryan's Carnegie Library was opened with a $10,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie.
• 1910: Bryan builds an interurban railroad to College Station, Texas, which is abandoned in 1923.
  • 1910: Population reaches 4,132.
  • 1920: Population reaches 6,307.
• 1930s: North Oakwood merges with Bryan and Bryan and College Station become "twin" cities.
  • 1930: Population reaches 7,814.
• 1936: Texas State Highway 6 is built through Bryan.
  • 1940: Population reaches 11,842.
  • 1950: Population reaches 18,072.
  • 1960: Population reaches 27,542.
  • 1970: Population reaches 33,141.
  • 1980: Population reaches 44,337.
  • 1990: Population reaches 55,002.
  • 2000: Population reaches 65,660.
  • 2004: City motto changed to "The Good Life, Texas Style".

Geography

Bryan is located at 30°39'56" North, 96°22'0" West (30.665547, -96.366745)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 112.5 km² (43.4 mi²). 112.3 km² (43.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.21% water.

Transportation

Mass Transit

• Texas A&M University's Department of Transporation Services provides public bus transportation through portions of Bryan and Central College Station. Also, the city is served by The District transportation services.

Airports

Regional

• The city is served by Easterwood Airport. Easterwood provides multiple scheduled flights daily to Dallas, Texas and Houston, Texas.
• Coulter Field is owned by the city of Bryan.

Intercontinental

• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is located 1.5 hours away in North Houston, Texas.

Major Roads

• U.S. Highway 190
• Texas State Highway 6: Earl Rudder Freeway (East Bypass)
• Texas State Highway 6 Business: North Texas Avenue / South Texas Avenue
• Texas State Highway 21
• Texas State Highway 47
• Texas FM 60: University Drive East
• Texas FM 158: William J. Bryan / Boonville Road
• Texas FM 1179: Braircrest Drive
• Texas FM 2818: Harvey Mitchell Parkway (West Loop, West Bypass)

Railroads

• Union Pacific Rail line: Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 65,660 people, 23,759 households, and 14,873 families residing in the city. The population density is 584.9/km² (1,515.2/mi²). There are 25,703 housing units at an average density of 229.0/km² (593.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 64.65% White, 17.72% African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.65% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 13.32% from other races, and 2.17% from two or more races. 27.83% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 23,759 households out of which 32.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% are married couples living together, 14.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% are non-families. 26.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.65 and the average family size is 3.27.

In the city the population is spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 18.1% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 15.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 28 years. For every 100 females there are 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $31,672, and the median income for a family is $41,433. Males have a median income of $29,780 versus $22,428 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,770. 22.3% of the population and 15.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 27.0% of those under the age of 18 and 11.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Sports Facilities Near Bryan

• Football: Kyle Field (Largest Crowd: 87,555)
• Raceing: Texas World Speedway (Capacity: 23,000)
• Basketball: Reed Arena (Largest Crowd: 12,811)
• Baseball: Olsen Field (Largest Crowd: 11,052)
• Volleyball: G. Rollie White Coliseum (Largest Crowd: 3,778)
• Track and Field: Anderson Track and Field Complex (Capacity: 3,500)
• Soccer: Aggie Soccer Complex (Capacity: 2,275)
• Softball: Aggie Softball Complex (Capacity: 1,750)
• Tenis: George P. Mitchell Tennis Center (Capacity: 1,500)
• Hockey: Artic Wolf Ice Center (Capacity: 500)

Tallest Buildings

• Varisco: (Downtown) 9 floors
• Galleria Village (Clear Channel Communications): 8 floors
• LaSalle Hotel: (Downtown) 7 floors
• Wells Fargo Plaza: 6 floors

Surrounding Cities

Nearest Cities

• Cities within 30 miles
  • College Station, Texas (5.7 miles)
  • Wixon Valley, Texas (7.3 miles)
  • Snook, Texas (14.0 miles)
  • Hearne, Texas (21.5 miles)
  • Caldwell, Texas (24.8 miles)
  • Somerville, Texas (24.9 miles)
  • Franklin, Texas (26.3 miles)
  • Navasota, Texas (27.2 miles)

Nearest Major Cities

• Major Cities within 200 miles
  • Houston, Texas (92 miles)
  • Austin, Texas (104 miles)
  • San Antonio, Texas (166 miles)
  • Dallas, Texas (169 miles)

External links

• The Official Web site of the City of Bryan
• Bryan Eagle (City Newspaper)
• The Battalion (TAMU Newspaper)
• Bryan Visitors & Convention Bureau
• Bryan Chamber of Commerce
• Research Valley Main Page
• St. Joseph Regional Medical Center
• Easterwood Airport

See also: Texas; Brazos County, Texas