Brazoria County, Texas

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Brazoria County, Texas
Map of Texas highlighting Brazoria County
Location in the state of Texas
Map of the U.S. highlighting Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded 1836
Seat Angleton
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
1,597 sq mi (4,136 km²)
1,386 sq mi (3,590 km²)
211 sq mi (546 km²), 13.21%
Population
 - (2010)
 - Density
313,166
226/sq mi (87/km²)
Website www.brazoria-county.com

Brazoria County[p] is a county in the U.S. state of Texas, located on the Gulf Coast within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. Regionally, parts of the county are within the extreme southern-most fringe of the regions locally known as Southeast Texas. Brazoria County is among a number of counties that are part of the region known as the Texas Coastal Bend. Its county seat is Angleton, and its largest city is Pearland. Brazoria County, like nearby Brazos County, takes its name from the Brazos River. The county also includes what was once Velasco, Texas, which was the first capital of the Republic of Texas. It served as the first settlement area for Anglo-Texas, whereby the Old Three Hundred immigrated from the United States in 1821. As of the 2010 census, the population of the county is 313,166.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

Brazoria County, like nearby Brazos County, takes its name from the Brazos River, which flows through it. Anglo-Texas began in Brazoria County when the first of Stephen F. Austin's authorized 300 American settlers arrived at the mouth of the Brazos River in 1821. Many of the events leading to the Texas Revolution developed in Brazoria County. In 1832, Brazoria was organized as a separate municipal district by the Mexican government, and so became one of Texas original counties at independence in 1836. Stephen F. Austin's original burial place is located at a church cemetery Gulf Prairie Cemetery in the town of Jones Creek, but was exhumed in 1910 and brought to the state capital in Austin. Also, the town of West Columbia served as the first capital of Texas, dating back to pre-revolutionary days.

Group of men at work in Brazoria County

Congressman and 2008 Presidential Candidate Ron Paul lives in Brazoria County, in Lake Jackson.

Brazoria County resembles both rural and suburban life, as it is part of the Greater Houston area.

Back View of Trucks

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,597 square miles (4,136.2 km2), of which 1,386 square miles (3,589.7 km2) is land and 211 square miles (546.5 km2) (13.2%) is water.

[edit] Major highways

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] National protected areas

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1850 4,841
—
1860 7,143 47.6%
1870 7,527 5.4%
1880 9,774 29.9%
1890 11,506 17.7%
1900 14,861 29.2%
1910 13,299 −10.5%
1920 20,614 55.0%
1930 23,054 11.8%
1940 27,069 17.4%
1950 46,549 72.0%
1960 76,204 63.7%
1970 108,312 42.1%
1980 169,587 56.6%
1990 191,707 13.0%
2000 241,767 26.1%
2010 313,166 29.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[2]
Texas Almanac: 1850-2010[3]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 241,767 people, 81,954 households, and 63,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 174 people per square mile (67/km²). There were 90,628 housing units at an average density of 65 per square mile (25/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 77.09% White, 8.50% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 2.00% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 9.63% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. 22.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 12.1% were of German, 11.2% American and 7.2% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 79.0% spoke only English at home, while 18.1% spoke Spanish.

There were 81,955 households, out of which 40.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.20% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.00% were non-families. 19.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82, and the average family size was 3.23.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 32.40% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 8.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 107 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,632, and the median income for a family was $55,282. Males had a median income of $42,193 versus $27,728 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,021. About 8.1% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2010 Brazoria County had a population of 313,166. The racial and ethnic make-up of the population was 53.22% Non-Hispanic white, 12.06% black, 0.57% Native American, 5.50% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.15% Non-Hispanics reporting some other race and 2.63% of the population reporting more than one race. 27.67% of the county population was Hispanic or Latino.

[edit] Government and infrastructure

[edit] County representation

The Brazoria County Jail is located at 3602 County Road 45 in unincorporated central Brazoria County, north of Angleton.[5]

[edit] State representation

Clemens Unit, one of several prisons in Brazoria County

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates six prisons for men and its Region III office in unincorporated Brazoria County.[6] As of 2007 there were 1,495 full-time correctional job positions in the county.[7] In 1995, of the counties in Texas, Brazoria had the second highest number of state prisons and jails, after Walker County.[8] In 2003 there were a total of 2,572 employees at the six TDCJ facilities.[9] The 6 TDCJ units are:

(The following 3 are co-located in Otey,[14] near Rosharon.[11])

  • Ramsey Unit - The unit is co-located with Stringellow and Terrell. The TDCJ Region III Maintenance Headquarters is within this unit.[15]
  • Stringfellow Unit, near Rosharon - The unit is co-located with Ramsey and Terrell.[16] The unit was originally named Ramsey II Prison Unit.[17]
  • C. T. Terrell Unit - The unit is co-located with Ramsey and Stringfellow.[18] It was originally known as the Ramsey III Unit.[19]

In 2007, TDCJ officials said that discussions to move the Central Unit from Sugar Land to Brazoria County were preliminary.[7]

[edit] Elected officials

[edit] United States Congress

Senators Name Party First Elected Level
  Senate Class 1 Kay Bailey Hutchison Republican 1993 Senior Senator
  Senate Class 2 John Cornyn Republican 2002 Junior Senator
Representatives Name Party First Elected Area(s) of Brazoria County Represented
  District 14 Ron Paul Republican 1996 (also served 1976-1977 and 1979–1985) Central and southern areas (Alvin, Lake Jackson, Angleton, Freeport, [also part of Galveston County])
  District 22 Pete Olson Republican 2008 Northern areas (Pearland)

[edit] Texas Legislature

[edit] Texas Senate

District Name Party First Elected Area(s) of Brazoria County Represented
  11 Mike Jackson Republican 1999 Northern and central areas
  17 Joan Huffman Republican 2008 Southern areas, Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula (Galveston County)

[edit] Texas House of Representatives

District Name Party First Elected Area(s) of Brazoria County Represented
  25 Dennis Bonnen Republican 1996 Lake Jackson, Angleton, Freeport
  29 Randy Weber Republican 2008 Pearland, Alvin

[edit] Communities

[edit] Cities

   

[edit] Towns

[edit] Villages

[edit] Unincorporated areas

[edit] CDPs

[edit] Other areas

   

[edit] Education

A variety of school districts serve Brazoria County students. They include:

Alvin Community College and Brazosport College serve as higher education facilities.

The Brazoria County Library System has branches in Alvin, Angleton, Brazoria, Clute, Danbury, Freeport, Lake Jackson, Manvel, Pearland, Sweeny and West Columbia, and runs the Brazoria County Historical Museum.

[edit] Transportation

Brazoria County Airport, in central unincorporated Brazoria County, is the county's sole publicly owned airport.

The following airports, located in the county, are privately owned and for public use:

The closest airport with regularly scheduled commercial service is Houston's William P. Hobby Airport, located in southern Houston in adjacent Harris County. The Houston Airport System has stated that Brazoria County is within the primary service area of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, an international airport in Houston in Harris County.[20]

[edit] See also

Portal icon Houston portal

[edit] References

    [p]   ^The word "Brazoria" is pronounced "brah-Zor-ee-ah" in English.

  1. ^ United States Census Bureau. "2010 Census Data". United States Census Bureau. http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/. Retrieved 25 December 2011. 
  2. ^ U.S. Decennial Census
  3. ^ Texas Almanac: County Population History 1850-2010
  4. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  5. ^ "Sheriff's Office." Brazoria County. Accessed September 13, 2008.
  6. ^ "Region III Director's Office." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on January 8, 2010.
  7. ^ a b Lowman, John. "Talk of prison move preliminary." Brazosport Facts. Wednesday June 6, 2007. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.
  8. ^ Horswell, Cindy. "For hard-hit economy of Liberty County, crime officially pays." Houston Chronicle. Thursday June 29, 1995. A30. Retrieved on July 23, 2010.
  9. ^ a b Isensee, Bridie. "TDCJ makes overtime changes." Brazosport Facts. August 13, 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  10. ^ "CLEMENS (CN)." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Accessed September 12, 2008.
  11. ^ a b Staff and Wire Reports. "Parts of Houston join evacuation." Houston Chronicle. September 21, 2005. Retrieved on May 10, 2010.
  12. ^ "DARRINGTON (DA)." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Accessed September 12, 2008.
  13. ^ "SCOTT (RV)." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Accessed September 12, 2008.
  14. ^ "Table of Contents and Excerpt, Trulson and Marquart, First Available Cell." University of Texas Press. Retrieved on July 16, 2010.
  15. ^ "RAMSEY (R1)." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Accessed September 12, 2008.
  16. ^ "STRINGFELLOW (R2)." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Accessed September 12, 2008.
  17. ^ Tompkins, John. "Ramsey unit renamed." Brazosport Facts. November 10, 2006. Retrieved on December 7, 2009.
  18. ^ "C. T. TERRELL (R3)." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Accessed September 12, 2008.
  19. ^ Timms, Ed. "Uneasy about death row, Terrell wants name off unit Prison expected to be renamed." The Dallas Morning News. July 14, 2001. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. "Another prison the Ramsey III unit in Brazoria County probably will be renamed for Mr Terrell".
  20. ^ "Master Plan Executive Summary." George Bush Intercontinental Airport Master Plan. Houston Airport System. December 2006. 2-1 (23/130). Retrieved on December 14, 2010.

[edit] External links

Fort Bend County Harris County Galveston County
Wharton County
   Brazoria County, Texas    
Matagorda County Gulf of Mexico
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Municipalities and communities of Brazoria County, Texas, United States
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Footnotes

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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Coordinates: 29°10′N 95°26′W / 29.17°N 95.44°W / 29.17; -95.44

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