The area in and around present day Washington County was settled by members of the Stephen F. Austin Colony. The City of Brenham originated in from the Hickory Grove community, changing it's name to Brenham in 1843 in honor of Dr. Richard Fox Brenham, a local physician and Republic of Texas hero. The City of Brenham became the county seat in 1843 and was incoporated in 1858.
Whether you are a Texas history buff, searching for the elusive antique, wine and food aficionado, or needing to reconnect with nature, Brenham and Washington County is the place for you!
In fact you could think of Washington County as a large under populated city with very picturesque neighborhoods and really really big yards with cows.
Brenham is a leader in the health care industry with both a regional hospital and medical clinic, servicing the needs of the people in Washington County and the surrounding eight counties. In fact, Brenham has the only full-service hospital on U.S. Highway 290 between Houston and Austin.
Educationally, Brenham is home to the first accredited public school system in Texas. The current enrollment is nearly 4,800 students in grades 1-12. Brenham is also home of Blinn College, a two-year college with a local enrollment of 2,500 students and an overall enrollment of nearly 10,000 students. Blinn has an exceptional vocational and job training program which provides excellent training for the benefit of employees of local businesses.
Brenham offfers seven parks, nine soccer fields, six baseball fields, six softball fields, five basketball and six tennis courts. In addition, Brenham's new recreational facility (Hohlt Park) is nearing completionand will include eleven soccer fields, one of which is a championship field, three baseball fields, one softball field, two volleyball courts, a fishing/irrigation pond, a one-mile exercise trail, horseshoe pits, a disc golf course, two playground/picnic areas and a hlaf-mile nature trail on 70 acres of land. Also, at a separate location, the Blue Bell Aquatics Center has just been opened which includes an indoor six-lane competition pool, a therapy/rehabilitation pool, and an outdoor 6,000 square foot pool.
Blue Bell Creameries, based in Brenham, Texas, opened its doors in 1907.
It all started on a hot summer day when local farmers decided to establish the Brenham Creamery Company and make butter from excess cream brought in by area farmers. A few years later the creamery began making ice cream and delivering it to neighbors by horse and wagon. It was in 1930 that the company changed its name to Blue Bell Creameries after the native Texas bluebell wildflower.
A lot has changed since those early days. Horse drawn buggies have been traded in for refrigerated trucks and the creamery no longer produces butter. Today, Blue Bell produces around 50 different ice cream flavors, including its number one seller, Homemade Vanilla, numerous frozen snack items and a No Sugar Added and Light line of ice cream.
And although Blue Bell is only available in about 20% of the nation’s supermarkets, it ranks as one of the top three best selling ice creams in the country. Our products are sold in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. No matter how much the market grows, quality standards never change and are never diluted or compromised. That's why, people who are lucky enough to live where they can buy Blue Bell Ice Cream, say it's "the best ice cream in the country."
Housing Cost
Take your choice from historic to new homes. Many sub-divisions have been and are being constructed. Attention is being paid to the provision of affordable homes to meet demands of the growing population. Apartments and rental houses are available. Alternately, there are many country homes in Washington County.
Estimated median house/condo value in 2006: $97,000.
Zip codes:77833 - Area code: 979
Demographics
Population in July 2007: 15,098. Brenham covers 8.76 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 341 feet above sea level.
Zip codes:77833 - Area code: 979
Climate
Brenham, TX climate is hot during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 80's and cool during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 50's.
The warmest month of the year is August with an average maximum temperature of 96.90 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 39.30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 24 degrees Fahrenheit, and moderate during winter with an average difference of 23 degrees Fahrenheit.
The annual average precipitation at Brenham is 44.15 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is May with an average rainfall of 5.14 Inches.
Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com
