Brenham

Brenham, Texas

Brenham, Texas

Historic Aereal Map of Brenham, Texas from 1873. Brenham is the seat of Washington County, Texas. Photograph Credit: Augustus Koch via Wikipedia.

Brenham, the county seat of Washington County, is on U.S. Highway 290 seventy-two miles northwest of Houston. The Hickory Grove community changed its name in 1843 to Brenham in honor of Republic of Texas hero Dr. Richard Fox Brenham, who had practiced medicine in the vicinity. In February 1844 Brenham became the county seat through the electoral efforts of Jabez D. Giddings and Jesse Farral's and James Hurt's offer of 100 acres as a townsite. A post office was established in 1846. In 1858 the new county seat, a rapidly growing supply center for a prosperous agricultural area, was incorporated. With the construction of the Washington County Railroad in 1860, Brenham, the rail terminus, served as a distribution point for the state's interior until 1871, when the Houston and Texas Central was extended to Austin.

Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.

Belongs to

Brenham is part of or belongs to the following places.

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Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

Brenham is classified as a Town

Associated Names

  • (Hickory Grove)

Locations

  • Latitude
    30.15712460
    Longitude
    -96.39379900

Has Post Office

Yes

Is Incorporated

Yes

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Brenham by the Numbers

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Population Counts

Brenham
Pop. Year Source
858 2020 United States Census Bureau
17,752 2019 Texas Demographic Center
15,716 2010 United States Census Bureau
13,507 2000 United States Census Bureau
11,952 1990 United States Census Bureau
10,966 1980 United States Census Bureau
8,922 1970 United States Census Bureau
7,740 1960 United States Census Bureau
6,941 1950 United States Census Bureau
6,435 1940 United States Census Bureau
5,974 1930 United States Census Bureau
5,066 1920 United States Census Bureau
4,718 1910 United States Census Bureau
5,968 1900 United States Census Bureau
5,209 1890 United States Census Bureau
4,101 1880 United States Census Bureau
2,221 1870 United States Census Bureau