Editing Brazoria County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Brazoria County
 | state                = Texas
 | seal                 = File:Brazoria County, Texas seal.gif
 | founded              = 1836
 | seat wl              = Angleton
 | largest city wl      = Pearland
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1609
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1358
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 251
 | area percentage      = 16%
 | pop                  = 372031
 | density_sq_mi        = 272.9
 | ex image             = Courthouse-06-14-2019-001-1920px.jpg
 | ex image size        = 270px
 | ex image cap         = The Brazoria County Courthouse in Angleton
 | web                  = https://brazoriacountytx.gov/
 | time zone            = Central
 | district             = 9th
 | district2            = 14th
 | district3            = 22nd
 | named for            = [[Brazos River]]
 | census yr            = 2020}}

'''Brazoria County''' ({{IPAc-en|b|r|ə|ˈ|z|ɔər|i|ə}} {{respell|brə|ZOR|ee|ə}}) is a [[county (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the county was 372,031.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Brazoria County, Texas|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/brazoriacountytexas/PST120221|access-date=November 23, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Angleton, Texas|Angleton]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615012444/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=June 15, 2011 }}</ref>

Brazoria County is included in the [[Greater Houston|Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land]] [[metropolitan statistical area]]. It is located in the [[Gulf Coast of the United States|Gulf Coast]] region of Texas.

Regionally, parts of the county are within the extreme southernmost 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, Texas|Angleton]], and its largest city is [[Pearland, Texas|Pearland]]. Brazoria County, like [[Brazos County]] farther upriver, takes its name from the [[Brazos River]]. It served as the first settlement area for Anglo-Texas, when the [[Old Three Hundred]] emigrated from the United States in 1821. The county also includes what was once [[Columbia, Texas|Columbia]] and [[Velasco, Texas]], early capital cities of the [[Republic of Texas]]. The highest point in Brazoria County is Shelton's Shack, located near the Dow Chemical Plant B Truck Control Center, measuring 342&nbsp;ft above sea level.

== History ==
Brazoria 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 [[Old Three Hundred|300 American settlers]] arrived at the mouth of the Brazos 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, so became one of Texas original counties at independence in 1836.

An early resident of Brazoria County, Joel Walter Robison, fought in the Texas Revolution and later represented [[Fayette County, Texas|Fayette County]] in the [[Texas House of Representatives]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fro42
|title=Robison, Joel Walter|publisher=[[Texas State Historical Association]]|access-date=August 2, 2015}}</ref>

Stephen F. Austin's original burial place is located at a church cemetery, [[Gulf Prairie Cemetery]], in the town of [[Jones Creek, Texas|Jones Creek]], on what was his brother-in-law's Peach Point Plantation. His remains were exhumed in 1910 and brought to be reinterred at the state capital in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]]. The town of [[West Columbia, Texas|West Columbia]] served as the first capital of Texas, dating back to prerevolutionary days.

[[File:Men in Work Clothes.jpg|thumb|Group of men at work in Brazoria County, 1939]]
The [[Hastings Oil Field]] was discovered by the [[Stanolind]] Oil and Gas Company in 1934. Production was from a depth of {{convert|5990|ft|m}}, associated with a [[salt dome]] structure. Total production by 1954 was about 242 million barrels.<ref name=oo>{{cite book |last1=Olien |first1=Diana |last2=Olien |first2=Roger |title=Oil in Texas, The Gusher Age, 1895-1945 |date=2002 |publisher=University of Texas Press |location=Austin |isbn=0292760566 |pages=214}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Weingartner |first1=R. |editor1-last=Nettleton |editor1-first=L.L. |title=Geophysical Case History of the Hastings Oil Field, Brazoria and Galveston Counties, Texas, in Geophysical Case Histories, Volume 1=1948 |date=1949 |publisher=Society of Exploration Geophysicists |pages=156–165}}</ref>

[[Lake Jackson, Texas|Lake Jackson]] is a community developed beginning in the early 1940s to provide housing to workers at a new [[Dow Chemical Company]] plant in nearby [[Freeport, Texas|Freeport]]. The county has elements of both [[rural]] and [[suburban]] communities, as it is part of [[greater Houston]].

[[File:Back View of Trucks.jpg|thumb|Back view of agricultural trucks, 1939]]
On June 2, 2016, the [[May 2016 United States storm complex|flooding]] of the Brazos River required evacuations for portions of Brazoria County.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/houston/article/Houston-region-braces-for-more-flooding-as-rain-7958840.php|title=Mandatory evacuations ordered in Brazoria County|date=June 2, 2016|work=Houston Chronicle|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref>

== Geography ==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1609|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1358|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|251|sqmi}} (16%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 19, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

=== Adjacent counties ===
*[[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]] (north)
*[[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston County]] (northeast)
*[[Gulf of Mexico]] (southeast)
*[[Matagorda County, Texas|Matagorda County]] (southwest)
*[[Wharton County, Texas|Wharton County]] (west)
*[[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]] (northwest)

=== National protected areas ===
*[[Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge]]
*[[San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)

==Communities==
=== Cities ===
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Alvin, Texas|Alvin]]
*[[Angleton, Texas|Angleton]] (county seat)
*[[Brazoria, Texas|Brazoria]]
*[[Brookside Village, Texas|Brookside Village]]
*[[Clute, Texas|Clute]]
*[[Danbury, Texas|Danbury]]
*[[Freeport, Texas|Freeport]]
*[[Iowa Colony, Texas|Iowa Colony]]
*[[Lake Jackson, Texas|Lake Jackson]]
*[[Liverpool, Texas|Liverpool]]
*[[Manvel, Texas|Manvel]]
*[[Oyster Creek, Texas|Oyster Creek]]
*[[Pearland, Texas|Pearland]] (small parts in [[Harris County, Texas|Harris]] and [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend]] counties)
*[[Richwood, Texas|Richwood]]
*[[Sandy Point, Texas|Sandy Point]]
*[[Surfside Beach, Texas|Surfside Beach]]
*[[Sweeny, Texas|Sweeny]]
*[[West Columbia, Texas|West Columbia]]
{{div col end}}

=== Towns ===
*[[Holiday Lakes, Texas|Holiday Lakes]]
*[[Quintana, Texas|Quintana]]

=== Villages ===
*[[Bailey's Prairie, Texas|Bailey's Prairie]]
*[[Bonney, Texas|Bonney]]
*[[Hillcrest, Texas|Hillcrest]]
*[[Jones Creek, Texas|Jones Creek]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Damon, Texas|Damon]]
* [[East Columbia, Texas|East Columbia]]
* [[Rosharon, Texas|Rosharon]]
* Ryan Acres
* [[Wild Peach Village, Texas|Wild Peach Village]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Amsterdam, Texas|Amsterdam]]
* [[Anchor, Texas|Anchor]]
* [[Brazosport, Texas|Brazosport]]
* [[Bryan Beach, Texas|Bryan Beach]]
* [[Chenango, Texas|Chenango]]
* [[China Grove, Brazoria County, Texas|China Grove]]
* [[Chocolate Bayou, Texas|Chocolate Bayou]]
* [[Danciger, Texas|Danciger]]
* [[English, Brazoria County, Texas|English]]
* [[Four Corners, Brazoria County, Texas|Four Corners]]
* [[Hinkle's Ferry, Texas|Hinkle's Ferry]]
* [[Lochridge, Texas|Lochridge]]
* [[Old Ocean, Texas|Old Ocean]]
* [[Otey, Texas|Otey]]
* [[Silverlake, Texas|Silverlake]]
* [[Snipe, Texas|Snipe]]
* [[Turtle Cove, Texas|Turtle Cove]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
* [[Hasima, Texas|Hasima]]
* [[Hastings, Texas|Hastings]]
* [[Lake Barbara, Texas|Lake Barbara]]
* [[Mims, Texas|Mims]]
* [[Oakland, Brazoria County, Texas|Oakland]]
* [[Perry's Landing]]
* [[Velasco, Texas|Velasco]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 4841
|1860= 7143
|1870= 7527
|1880= 9774
|1890= 11506
|1900= 14861
|1910= 13299
|1920= 20614
|1930= 23054
|1940= 27069
|1950= 46549
|1960= 76204
|1970= 108312
|1980= 169587
|1990= 191707
|2000= 241767
|2010= 313166
|2020= 372031
|estyear= 2023
|estimate= 398938
|estref=<ref name="QF"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br />1850–2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319111841/http://www.texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=March 19, 2013 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=April 19, 2015}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

As of the [[census]] of 2000, 241,767 people, 81,954 households, and 63,104 families resided in the county.<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|174|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. The 90,628 housing units averaged {{convert|65|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units}}. According to the [[2010 United States Census|2010 United States census]], 313,166 people were living in the county; by 2020, its population grew to 372,031.<ref name="2020CensusP2" />

Of the 81,955 households in 2000, 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 not families. About 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 age distribution as 28.60% under 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 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 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.

=== Race and ethnicity ===
In the late 1800s, the county was majority black as many were former slaves who had worked on plantations in the county. In 1882, it had 8,219 black people and 3,642 white people. However, after [[Jim Crow laws]] were cemented, many African-Americans moved to Houston and the county became majority white. By 2022, due to the growth of ethnic minorities in Pearland, non-Hispanic white people were now a plurality and not a majority in the county as a whole.<ref name="HardyBlackCongressman">{{cite web|last=Hardy|first=Michael|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/brazoria-county-may-elect-first-black-congressman-since-19th-century/|title=Brazoria County Is Poised to Elect Its First Black Congressman. Not Everyone Is Happy About It. |newspaper=[[Texas Monthly]]|date=February 18, 2022|accessdate=February 22, 2022}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Brazoria County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''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 may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Brazoria County, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48039&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Brazoria County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48039&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Brazoria County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48039&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|158,052
|166,674
|style='background: #ffffe6; |161,833
|65.37%
|53.22%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |43.50%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|20,183
|36,880
|style='background: #ffffe6; |53,668
|8.35%
|11.78%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |14.43%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|828
|1,013
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,022
|0.34%
|0.32%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|4,776
|17,013
|style='background: #ffffe6; |26,231
|1.98%
|5.43%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.05%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|54
|58
|style='background: #ffffe6; |129
|0.02%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|215
|472
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,374
|0.09%
|0.15%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.37%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|2,596
|4,413
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12,572
|1.07%
|1.41%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.38%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|55,063
|86,643
|style='background: #ffffe6; |115,202
|22.78%
|27.67%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |30.97%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''241,767'''
|'''313,166'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''372,031'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

In 2000, the [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 77.09% White, 8.50% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 2.00% Asian, 9.66% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. About 22.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. About 12.1% were of [[Germans|German]], 11.2% [[United States|American]], and 7.2% [[English people|English]] ancestry according to 2000's census; about 79.0% spoke only [[English language|English]] at home, while 18.1% spoke [[Spanish language|Spanish]]. By 2010, 70.1% were [[White American|White]], 12.1% [[African American]], 5.5% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.6% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 9.2% of some other race, and 2.6% [[Multiracial American|of more than one race]]; about 27.7% were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race).

== Government and politics==

=== Elected officials ===
[[Nathan Haller]], a black man, was the elected representative for the county from 1892 to 1897. After Jim Crow laws were imposed, black residents were suppressed politically until the [[Civil Rights Movement]] of the 1950s and 1960s.<ref name=HardyBlackCongressman/>
In 2022 most major government officials were white.<ref name=HardyBlackCongressman/>

==== United States Congress ====
{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan=2 align=center valign=bottom | '''Senators'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Name'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Party'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''First Elected'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Level'''
|-
|bgcolor="red"|&nbsp;
| Senate Class 1
| [[John Cornyn]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2002
| Senior Senator
|-
|bgcolor="red"|&nbsp;
| Senate Class 2
| [[Ted Cruz]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2012
| Junior Senator
|-
! colspan=2 align=center valign=bottom | '''Representatives'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Name'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Party'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''First Elected'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Area(s) of Brazoria County Represented'''
|-
|bgcolor="red"|&nbsp;
| District 14
| [[Randy Weber]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2012
| Central and southern areas ([[Alvin, Texas|Alvin]]), [[Lake Jackson, Texas|Lake Jackson]], [[Angleton, Texas|Angleton]], [[Freeport, Texas|Freeport]]), also part of ([[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston County]]) 
|-
|bgcolor="red"|&nbsp;
| District 22
| [[Troy Nehls]]
| [[Republican (United States)|Republican]]
| 2020
| Northern areas ([[Pearland, Texas|Pearland]]), Northwest areas ([[Manvel, Texas|Manvel]]), also parts of [[Harris County, Texas|Harris]] and [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston]] counties
|}

=== Texas Legislature ===

==== Texas Senate ====
{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan=2 align=center valign=bottom | '''District'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Name'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Party'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''First Elected'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Area(s) of Brazoria County Represented'''
|-
|bgcolor="red"|&nbsp;
| 11
| [[Mayes Middleton ]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1999
| Northern and central areas
|-
|bgcolor="red"|&nbsp;
| 17
| [[Joan Huffman]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2008
| Southern areas, Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula (Galveston County)
|}

==== Texas House of Representatives ====
{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan=2 align=center valign=bottom | '''District'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Name'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Party'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''First Elected'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Area(s) of Brazoria County Represented'''
|-
|bgcolor="red"|&nbsp;
| 25
| [[Cody Vasut]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2020
| Lake Jackson, Angleton, Freeport
|-
|bgcolor="red"|&nbsp;
| 29
| [[Ed Thompson (Texas politician)|Ed Thompson]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2008
| Pearland, Alvin, Manvel
|}

Pearland native [[Kyle Kacal]], a Republican from [[College Station, Texas|College Station]], holds the District 12 state House seat based in [[Brazos County, Texas|Brazos]] and four neighboring counties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/138318/kyle-kacal#.Uwq2zcuPIfg|title=Kyle Kacal's Biography|publisher=votesmart.org|access-date=February 23, 2014}}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Brazoria County, Texas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|95,867|63,976|2,203|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|90,433|62,228|2,323|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|72,791|43,200|5,190|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|70,862|34,421|1,456|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|67,515|36,480|945|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|63,662|28,904|682|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|53,445|24,883|1,691|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|36,392|22,959|6,287|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|30,384|21,861|19,222|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|34,028|23,436|1,617|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|39,166|18,609|234|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|27,614|18,253|1,677|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|19,475|21,711|558|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|21,045|11,350|37|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|10,631|11,439|8,033|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|8,477|15,917|103|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|10,880|10,561|264|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|9,536|7,137|208|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|8,360|8,386|15|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,133|4,783|1,447|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|850|5,543|1,298|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|799|3,781|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|462|2,284|39|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|617|2,948|11|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,588|1,086|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,114|1,761|119|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,235|1,184|186|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|581|1,033|114|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|263|746|374|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Brazoria County, Texas|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|90,208|67,075|4,163|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}

===Law enforcement and jails===
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname      = Brazoria County Sheriff's Office
| commonname      =
| abbreviation    = BCSO
| patch           = TX - Brazoria County Sheriff.jpg
| flag            =
| badge           =
| motto           =
| mottotranslated =
| formedyear      = 1836<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.brazoria-county.com/sheriff/indexE.asp |title=Brazoria County - Sheriff's Office |access-date=June 25, 2009 |archive-date=July 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090716000933/http://www.brazoria-county.com/sheriff/indexE.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| preceding1      =
| employees       =
| budget          =
| governingbody   =
| constitution1   =
| police          = Yes
| local           = Yes
| headquarters    = [[Angleton, Texas]]
| sworn           =
| unsworn         =
| electeetype     = Sheriff
| minister1name   = Leonard "Bo" Stallman
| chief1name      =
| chief1position  =
| unitname        =
| officetype      =
| officename      =
| stationtype     =
| stations        =
| boat1type       =
| boats1          =
| aircraft1type   =
| aircraft1       =
| website         = http://www.brazoria-county.com/sheriff/
| footnotes       =
}}

The Brazoria County Sheriff's Office is the oldest law enforcement agency in the State of Texas, established by the Republic of Texas in March 1836. Among its duties include running the Brazoria County Jail, located at 3602 County Road 45 in unincorporated central Brazoria County, north of Angleton.<ref>"[http://www.brazoria-county.com/sheriff/index.asp Sheriff's Office] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915081444/http://www.brazoria-county.com/sheriff/index.asp |date=September 15, 2008 }}." Brazoria County. Accessed September 13, 2008.</ref>

[[File:ClemensUnitBrazoriaCoTX.jpg|thumb|[[Clemens Unit]], one of several prisons in Brazoria County]]
The [[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]] (TDCJ) operates six state prisons for men and its Region III office in [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] Brazoria County.<ref>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/reg3.htm Region III Director's Office] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125212504/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/reg3.htm |date=January 25, 2010 }}." [[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]]. Retrieved on January 8, 2010.</ref> As of 2007,1,495 full-time correctional job positions were in the county.<ref name="CentralUnitprelim">Lowman, John. "[http://thefacts.com/news/article_9f28cbe2-031e-5671-ba03-74a3dcf32417.html Talk of prison move preliminary]." ''[[Brazosport Facts]]''. Wednesday June 6, 2007. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.</ref> In 1995,<!--Woodman opened in 1997--> of the counties in Texas, Brazoria had the second-highest number of state prisons and jails, after [[Walker County, Texas|Walker County]].<ref name="Horswellhard">Horswell, Cindy. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1995_1283149 For hard-hit economy of Liberty County, crime officially pays]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Thursday June 29, 1995. A30. Retrieved on July 23, 2010.</ref> In 2003, a total of 2,572 employees were employed at the six TDCJ facilities.<!--Expand - and how many prisoners are held here? --><ref name="TDCJOvertime">Isensee, Bridie. [http://thefacts.com/news/article_8837df5d-1d77-50b7-b5f7-504d314bb5f0.html "TDCJ makes overtime changes"], ''[[Brazosport Facts]]'', August 13, 2003, Retrieved May 9, 2010.</ref> The TDCJ units are:
*[[Clemens Unit]],<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 }}." TDCJ. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> nearBrazoria<ref name="Evac">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>
*[[Memorial Unit]] (formerly Darrington Unit), near [[Rosharon, Texas|Rosharon]] - The [[Windham School District (Texas)|Windham School District]] Region III office is within the unit.<ref>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/da.htm DARRINGTON (DA)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725201116/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/da.htm |date=2010-07-25 }}." TDCJ. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>
(The following 3 are co-located in [[Otey, Texas|Otey]],<ref>"[http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/excerpts/extrufir.html Table of Contents and Excerpt, Trulson and Marquart, First Available Cell]." ''[[University of Texas Press]]''. Retrieved on July 16, 2010.</ref> near Rosharon.<ref name="Evac"/>)
*[[Ramsey Unit]] - The unit is co-located with Stringfellow and Terrell. The TDCJ Region III Maintenance Headquarters is within this unit.<ref>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/r1.htm RAMSEY (R1)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821230141/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/r1.htm |date=August 21, 2008 }}." TDCJ. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>
*[[Stringfellow Unit]], near Rosharon - The unit is co-located with Ramsey and Terrell.<ref>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/r2.htm STRINGFELLOW (R2)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821225947/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/r2.htm |date=2008-08-21 }}." TDCJ. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> The unit was originally named Ramsey II Prison Unit.<ref>Tompkins, John. "[http://thefacts.com/story.lasso?ewcd=639ef8125c2ce3a7 Ramsey unit renamed]." ''[[Brazosport Facts]]''. November 10, 2006. Retrieved on December 7, 2009.</ref>
*[[C. T. Terrell Unit]] - The unit is co-located with Ramsey and Stringfellow.<ref>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/r3.htm C. T. TERRELL (R3)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725201437/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/r3.htm |date=2010-07-25 }}." TDCJ. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> It was originally known as the Ramsey III Unit.<ref>Timms, Ed. "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EDB04901F63509A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM 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".</ref>

In 2007, TDCJ officials said discussions to move the [[Central Unit]] from [[Sugar Land, Texas|Sugar Land]] to Brazoria County were preliminary.<ref name="CentralUnitprelim"/>

Former units:
*[[Retrieve Unit]] (later Wayne Scott Unit), near [[Angleton, Texas|Angleton]].<ref name="TDCJOvertime"/><ref>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/rv.htm SCOTT (RV)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924072708/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/rv.htm |date=2008-09-24 }}." TDCJ. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> - Main prison closed in 2020<ref name=McCartymainclosing>{{cite web|last=McCarty|first=Maddy|url=https://thefacts.com/news/article_8bb7d704-50a4-5901-8ab1-a754807979a2.html|title=TDCJ main Wayne Scott unit closing|newspaper=[[The Brazosport Facts]]|place=[[Clute, Texas]]|date=October 30, 2020|accessdate=February 19, 2023}}</ref>

==Education==
A variety of school districts serve Brazoria County students. They include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48039_brazoria/DC20SD_C48039.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419064421/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48039_brazoria/DC20SD_C48039.pdf |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Brazoria County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=June 29, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48039_brazoria/DC20SD_C48039_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Alvin Independent School District|Alvin ISD]]
* [[Angleton Independent School District|Angleton ISD]]
* [[Brazosport Independent School District|Brazosport ISD]]
* [[Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District|Columbia-Brazoria ISD]]
* [[Danbury Independent School District|Danbury ISD]]
* [[Damon Independent School District|Damon ISD]]
* [[Friendswood Independent School District|Friendswood ISD]]
* [[Pearland Independent School District|Pearland ISD]]
* [[Sweeny Independent School District|Sweeny ISD]]

[[Alvin Community College]] and [[Brazosport College]] serve as [[higher education]] facilities. Alvin CC serves areas in Alvin, Danbury, and Pearland ISDs as well as portions of the Angleton ISD that Alvin CC had annexed prior to September 1, 1995. Brazosport College serves the remainder of Angleton ISD and the Brazosport, Columbia-Brazoria, Damon, and Sweeny ISD areas.<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.163. ALVIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.170. BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]. The [https://www.alvincollege.edu/about/images/ServiceAreaMap-Large.jpg college zone map] of Alvin ISD shows what was annexed before September 1, 1995.</ref>

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.

==Transportation==

===Major highways===
*[[Image:Texas 6.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 6 (Texas)|State Highway 6]]
*[[Image:Texas 35.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 35 (Texas)|State Highway 35]]
*[[Image:Texas 36.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 36 (Texas)|State Highway 36]]
*[[Image:Toll Texas 99.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 99 (Texas)|State Highway 99]] a.k.a. - Grand Parkway Toll Road (Under Construction)
*[[Image:Texas 288.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 288 (Texas)|State Highway 288]]
*[[Image:Texas 332.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 332 (Texas)|State Highway 332]]

===Airports===
The [[Texas Gulf Coast Regional 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:
*Flyin' B Airport in western unincorporated Brazoria County
*[[Skyway Manor Airport]] in [[Pearland, Texas|Pearland]]
*[[Pearland Regional Airport]] in eastern unincorporated Brazoria County south of the Pearland city limits

The closest airport with regularly scheduled commercial service is Houston's [[William P. Hobby Airport]], located in southern [[Houston]] in adjacent [[Harris County, Texas|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.<ref>"[http://system.gocampaign.com/files/file.asp?f=13224 Master Plan Executive Summary] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711104249/http://system.gocampaign.com/files/file.asp?f=13224 |date=July 11, 2011 }}." ''George Bush Intercontinental Airport Master Plan''. [[Houston Airport System]]. December 2006. 2-1 (23/130). Retrieved on December 14, 2010.</ref>

===Toll roads===
{{Infobox government agency
|name         = Brazoria County Toll Road Authority
|type         = authority
|formed       = {{start date|2003|12}}<ref name="BCTRA">{{Cite web |url=http://countyprogress.zacpubs.com/brazoria-county-creates-toll-authority/ |title=Brazoria County Creates Toll Authority : Texas County Progress |access-date=January 31, 2018 |archive-date=August 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083227/http://countyprogress.zacpubs.com/brazoria-county-creates-toll-authority/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|jurisdiction = Brazoria County, Texas
|headquarters = [http://brazoriacountytx.gov/government/commissioners-court Brazoria Commissioners Court]
}}

The '''Brazoria County Toll Road Authority''' operates toll lanes on [[Texas State Highway 288|TX 288]] inside Brazoria County. They connect to the SH 288 Express Toll Lanes in Harris County operated by the [[Texas Department of Transportation]].

====History====

BCTRA came into existence in December 2003 <ref name="BCTRA" /> when it saw that the [[Houston Texas|Houston]] area needed more roadways and wanted to have a say so about any roads that come into Brazoria County.

====Roadway system====

The only toll road BCTRA has in operation at this time is the '''Brazoria County Expressway'''. Located within the media of SH 288, the expressway begins at County Road 58 in [[Manvel, Texas|Manvel]] and is maintained by BCTRA for five miles up to the [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]] line at [[Clear Creek (Harris County, Texas)|Clear Creek]]. The 288 Toll Lanes continue into Harris County (maintained by [[Texas Department of Transportation|TxDOT]]) for ten miles up to [[Interstate 69 in Texas|I-69]]/[[U.S. Route 59 in Texas|US 59]] in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]]. Construction began on the Brazoria County Expressway in late 2016 and was completed on November 16, 2020. Tolls are collected electronically and an [[EZ Tag]], [[TxTag]] or [[TollTag]] is required for passage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brazoriacountytx.gov/departments/brazoria-county-expressway|title=Brazoria County Expressway|access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>[https://www.click2houston.com/traffic/2020/11/13/288-expressway-set-to-open-on-monday/ Fresh drive: This is what the new 288 toll road looks like for one of the first drivers] [[KPRC-TV|Click2Houston.com (KPRC-TV)]] Published on November 12, 2020, and updated on November 16, 2020 (Retrieved November 22, 2020)</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Texas}}
*[[List of museums in the Texas Gulf Coast]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Brazoria County, Texas]]
*[[List_of_Recorded_Texas_Historic_Landmarks_(Anderson-Callahan)#Brazoria_County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Brazoria County]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Brazoria County, Texas}}
*[http://www.brazoria-county.com/ Brazoria County government]
*[http://www.brazoriacountyday.org/ Brazoria County Day website]
*[http://bcffa.us/ Brazoria County FireFighters Association]
*[http://www.bchm.org/ Brazoria County Museum]
*[http://www.brazoria-county.com/parks Brazoria County Parks Department]
*{{Handbook of Texas|id=hcb12|name=Brazoria County, Texas}}
*[http://texasalmanac.com/topics/government/brazoria-county Brazoria County] from the [[Texas Almanac]]
*[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Etxbrazor/ Brazoria County] from the TXGenWeb Project
*[http://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=%22United+States+-+Texas+-+Brazoria+County%22&t=dc.coverage Historic materials about Brazoria County], hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Brazoria County, Texas
|North     = [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]]
|Northeast = [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston County]]
|East      =
|Southeast = [[Gulf of Mexico]]
|South     =
|Southwest = [[Matagorda County, Texas|Matagorda County]]
|West      = [[Wharton County, Texas|Wharton County]]
|Northwest = [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]]
}}

{{Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA}}
{{Brazoria County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|29.17|-95.44|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Brazoria County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1836 establishments in the Republic of Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1836]]
[[Category:Greater Houston]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in Texas]]