Editing Brazoria, Texas

{{short description|City in Brazoria County, Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Brazoria, Texas
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = 
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = 
| image_map             = TXMap-doton-Brazoria.PNG
| mapsize               = 250x200px
| map_caption           = Location of Brazoria, Texas
| image_map1            = Brazoria County Brazoria.svg
| mapsize1              = 250px
| map_caption1          = 
| subdivision_type      = [[Country]]
| subdivision_name      = United States
| subdivision_type1     = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1     = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2     = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2     = [[Brazoria County, Texas|Brazoria]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes  = 
| government_type       = 
| leader_title          = 
| leader_name           = 
| established_title     = 
| established_date      = 
| unit_pref             = Imperial
| area_footnotes        = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2        = 7.00
| area_land_km2         = 7.00
| area_water_km2        = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi      = 2.70
| area_land_sq_mi       = 2.70
| area_water_sq_mi      = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of      = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes  = 
| population_total      = 2866
| population_density_km2 = 436.41
| population_density_sq_mi = 1130.18
<!-- General information -->
| timezone              = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset            = -6
| timezone_DST          = CDT
| utc_offset_DST        = -5
| elevation_footnotes   = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft          = 26
| coordinates           = {{coord|29|2|50|N|95|34|3|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type      = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code           = 77422
| area_code             = [[Area code 979|979]]
| blank_name            = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info            = 48-10072<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name           = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info           = 2409894<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409894}}</ref>
| website               = {{URL|http://cityofbrazoria.org/}}
| footnotes             = 
}}

'''Brazoria''' ({{IPAc-en|b|r|ə|ˈ|z|ɔər|i|ə}} {{respell|brə|ZOR|ee|ə}}) is a city in [[Brazoria County, Texas]], United States, and is part of the {{nowrap|[[Greater Houston|Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land]]}} metropolitan area. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the city population was 2,866.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4810072| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Brazoria city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=April 16, 2014}}</ref>

==Geography==
Brazoria is located southwest of the center of Brazoria County. The northeastern edge of the community, known as Old Brazoria, is located along the [[Brazos River]]. [[Texas State Highway 36]] runs through the center of the city, leading southeast {{convert|16|mi}} to [[Freeport, Texas|Freeport]] and northwest {{convert|41|mi}} to [[Rosenberg, Texas|Rosenberg]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Brazoria has a total area of {{convert|6.8|km2|disp=flip}}, all  land.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

==Demographics==
{{stack|{{US Census population
|align=right
|1870= 725
|1880= 676
|1890= 432
|1950= 776
|1960= 1291
|1970= 1681
|1980= 3025
|1990= 2717
|2000= 2787
|2010= 3019
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
|2020=2866}}}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Brazoria racial composition as of 2020'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4810072&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|1,794
|62.6%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|280
|9.77%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|12
|0.42%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|15
|0.52%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|2
|0.07%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|8
|0.28%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|135
|4.71%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|620
|21.63%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''2,866'''
|
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 2,866 people, 1,171 households, and 869 families residing in the city.

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,787 people, 1,063 households, and 736 families residing in the city.  The population density was {{convert|1,489.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,166 housing units at an average density of {{convert|623.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the city was 81.95% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 10.30% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.57% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.68% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 5.38% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.11% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 11.37% of the population.

There were 1,063 households, out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 33 years.  For every 100 females, there were 101.9 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,058, and the median income for a family was $41,563.  Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $21,543 for females.  The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,666.  About 10.8% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 19.3% of those age 65 or over.

== History ==
[[File:Brazoria TX Henry Smith statue.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.7|alt=Photo shows a statue of Henry Smith at the Civic Center at 202 W Smith St, Brazoria, TX 77422.|[[Henry Smith (Texas governor)|Henry Smith]] statue is in front of the Civic Center.]]

Brazoria was founded in 1828 on land granted by [[Stephen F. Austin]] to [[John Austin (soldier)|John Austin]], who laid out the town. The town's name was selected by John Austin, "for the single reason that I know of none like it in the world". Supposedly, the first [[Masonic lodge]] in Texas was founded in 1835 when six men met under the Masonic Oak in Brazoria. The following year, the town was nearly deserted during the [[Runaway Scrape]]. H. M. Shaw opened a school in Brazoria in 1838 and a post office opened in 1846. The community's 1884 population was served by 12 general stores, five churches, three hotels, good schools, cotton gins, and sugar mills. By 1890 the town had become the county seat. Two years later the ''Velasco World'' weekly newspaper began publishing in the town.<ref name=Hallstein>{{Handbook of Texas|id=hgb10|name=Brazoria, Texas|author=Hallstein, Anna|date=November 6, 2015 |retrieved=August 11, 2018 }}</ref>

However, the railroad bypassed Brazoria and it lost the county seat to [[Angleton, Texas|Angleton]] in 1897. The town went into decline. The Brazoria school boasted three teachers and 142 students in 1906. The ''Banner'' weekly news started publishing in 1914. The local discovery of oil and sulphur in 1939 and the construction of a bridge across the [[Brazos River]] helped restore the town's fortunes. By 1987 Brazoria counted 50 businesses. Brazoria celebrates Frontier Days in March, the No Name Festival in June, and the Santa Ana Ball in July.<ref name=Hallstein/>

== Education ==
The city is served by the [[Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District]].

Two public elementary schools serve Brazoria—Barrow Elementary, which is located in the city limits, and Wild Peach Elementary, which is located outside the city limits.  West Brazos Junior High School is also located in Brazoria and serves all junior high school students in the Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District.

Students continue on to [[Columbia High School (West Columbia, Texas)|Columbia High School]]. Columbia High School is located the city of [[West Columbia, Texas|West Columbia]].

The [[Texas Legislature]] assigned the area in Columbia-Brazoria ISD (including Brazosport) to the [[Brazosport College]] district.<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code Sec. 130.170.  BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]</ref>

<gallery widths="175px"  class="center">
File:CBISD Barrow Elementary.jpg|Barrow Elementary School on Gaines Street
File:CBISD Wild Peach Elementary.jpg|Wild Peach Elementary School on County Rd 353
File:CBISD West Brazos Jr High.jpg|West Brazos Junior High School on Hwy 36
</gallery>

==Government and infrastructure==
The [[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]] operates the [[Clemens Unit]] in an [[unincorporated area]] near Brazoria.<ref>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/cn.htm CLEMENS (CN)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725200949/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/cn.htm |date=2010-07-25 }}." ''[[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]]''. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref><ref>Staff and Wire Reports. "[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/topstory2/3363238.html Parts of Houston join evacuation]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. September 21, 2005. Retrieved on May 10, 2010.</ref><ref name=Hallstein/>

The Brazoria Library is a part of the [[Brazoria County Library System]].

<gallery widths= widths="200px" class="center">
File:Brazoria TX Post Office.jpg|US Post Office in Brazoria
File:Brazoria TX Municipal Court.jpg|Brazoria Municipal Court Building
File:Brazoria TX Library.jpg|Brazoria Community Library
</gallery>

== Medical services ==
Brazoria is served by West Brazos EMS which is operated by Sweeny Community Hospital.  Although there is not a hospital within the city limits, Sweeny Community, Brazosport Regional, Matagorda Regional, and UTMB Angleton-Danbury are all within a driving distance.

==Transportation==
[[Eagle Air Park]] (IATA code BZT) is the city airport.

==Climate==
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Brazoria has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=512714&cityname=Brazoria%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Brazoria, Texas]</ref>

== Notable person ==
* [[Sofie Herzog]],<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fheec|title=Herzog, Sofie Dalia|last=Silverthorne|first=Elizabeth|date=15 June 2010|website=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=26 October 2017}}</ref> doctor

==See also==
{{portal|Texas}}
* [[List of municipalities in Texas]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Brazoria, Texas}}
* [http://www.brazoriachamber.net/ Brazoria Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.brazoriahf.org Brazoria Heritage Foundation]
* [http://brazosvalleyrail.org/ Brazos Valley Railroad Society]
* [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hgb10 Handbook of Texas online]


{{Brazoria County, Texas}}
{{Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:Cities in Brazoria County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Greater Houston]]
[[Category:Former county seats in Texas]]