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Brownwood, Texas

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City of Brownwood
City
Brown County Courthouse
Brown County Courthouse
Location within the state of Texas
Location within the state of Texas
Country United States
State Texas
CountyBrown
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • City CouncilMayor Stephen Haynes
H D Jones
Eddie Watson
Carl McMillan
Draco Miller
Jerry DeHay
 • City ManagerBobby Rountree
Area
 • Total
12.6 sq mi (32.6 km2)
 • Land12.6 sq mi (32.6 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
1,365 ft (416 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total
20,407
 • Density1,493/sq mi (576.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (CDT)
ZIP codes
76801-76804
Area code325
FIPS code48-10780Template:GR
GNIS feature ID1372753Template:GR
Websitewww.ci.brownwood.tx.us

Brownwood is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, Texas, United States.Template:GR The population was 18,813 at the 2000 census.

History

The original site of the Brown County seat of Brownwood was on the east of Pecan Bayou. A dispute arose over land and water rights, and the settlers were forced to find a new location. Greenleaf Fisk donated sixty acres re-locate the county seat to the west side of the bayou, on what is now the current site of Brownwood,[1] and one hundred additional acres for county use. The town was incorporated in 1884.[2]

During the Second World War, Brownwood was the location of U.S. Army Camp Bowie, which had a peak complement of over 80,000 soldiers. Camp Bowie serves as a training camp today at the intersection Farm-to-market roads 45 and 2126.

On 19 April 1976, an F5 tornado struck near Brownwood, causing extensive damage, but no fatalities.[3]

Brownwood's census figures were re-evaluated after the 2000 census from 18,813 to reflect more accurate figures of 20,407. The city was categorized in 2003 as a "Micropolitan Statistical Area". The federal Office of Management and Budget has issued a definition of "Micropolitan Statistical Areas" as "an urban cluster of at least 10,000, but less than 50,000 population, plus adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic integration with the core, as measured by commuting ties."

A dispute over water rights created the adjacent city of Early. The two cities are separated by the Pecan Bayou, one of five major tributaries of the Colorado River of Texas.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.6 square miles (32.6 km²), all of it land.

Water bodies

Lake Brownwood is located north of the city. The lake is a 7,300-acre (30 km2) reservoir created by damming the Pecan Bayou. There is a wide variety of fish in the lake: large mouth bass, small mouth bass, white bass, stripers, white crappie, yellow cat, flathead cat, perch, and gar. Camping, water skiing, jet skiing, and boating are available. It is home of the Lake Brownwood State Park, a 538-acre (2.18 km2) area which opened in 1938.

The Pecan Bayou is a major tributary of the Colorado River. Due to the damming of the area to form Lake Brownwood, the Pecan Bayou has a shallow depth and little flow downstream from Brownwood. During heavy rains, the bayou often floods. It runs northwest to southeast and serves as a boundary between the cities of Brownwood and Early, Texas.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 18,813 people, 7,110 households, and 4,664 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,493.2 people per square mile (576.5/km²). There were 8,169 housing units at an average density of 648.4 per square mile (250.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.74% White, 5.51% African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 8.47% from other races, and 2.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.34% of the population. NOTE: The 2000 census figures were adjusted later to reflect a more accurate figure of just over 20,000 people. The city has been economically designated a Microplex.

There were 7,110 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,325, and the median income for a family was $33,991. Males had a median income of $29,090 versus $18,905 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,158. About 18.2% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.9% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The Texas Youth Commission operates the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex in Brownwood.[4]

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Brownwood District Parole Office in the city.[5]

The United States Postal Service operates the Brownwood Post Office.[6]

Education

The city lies within the Brownwood Independent School District and also offers Howard Payne University. Howard Payne University teams achieved national championship status in 1957 and 1964 in NAIA Cross Country, and in 2008 with NCAA Division III Women's Basketball. The Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom, a museum with recreations of famous rooms in American history, such as Independence Hall, and a 32-foot (9.8 m) high mural depicting Biblical history, is located on the Howard Payne campus.

Brownwood High School has a strong tradition of non-sport UIL participation, including academic competitions and drama (one-act-plays). Other opportunities for student participation include band, DECA, FFA, drill team (the Lionettes), Key Club, student council, Students Against Drunk Driving, and National Honor Society.

The BHS mascot is the Lion, with school colors of maroon and white. The school was tied for most state championships in High School football, with 7, the last coming in 1981, until Celina won their 8th state championship in 2007. Gordon Wood, who coached at Brownwood High for a quarter-century, retired in 1985 as one of the greatest coaches in Texas history, with 396 wins. He was recently surpassed by former Celina and Pilot Point coach G. A. Moore.

Brownwood is also the home of a West Texas campus of the Texas State Technical College System. Computer Aided Drafting and Design, Digital Imaging and Design, Software and Business Accounting, Associate Degree Nursing, Chemical Dependency Counseling, Health Information Technology, Computer Network Systems and Administration, Computer Science Database and Web Programming Technology, Emergency Medical Technology/Paramedic, Mechatronics, and Welding Technology are some of the courses offered at the TSTC campus.

Transportation

Brownwood is served by the following U.S. Highways: US 67, US 84, US 183, and US 377. The BNSF Railway also serves Brownwood. The railroad was a major player in the development and growth of the city.

Brownwood is served by Brownwood Regional Airport. The airport currently has two runways: 17/35, a 5599 × 150 ft. / 1707 × 46 m asphalt runway (30,000 lb per wheel), and 13/31, a 4596 × 100 ft. / 1401 × 30 m asphalt runway (25,000 lb per wheel). Mostly cargo and private air operations take place at the airport, although in the past Mesa Airlines offered regional connections.

Famous residents

References

  1. ^ Aston, B.W (1997). Along the Texas Forts Trail. University of North Texas Press;. p. 120. ISBN 978-1574410358. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  2. ^ Odintz, Mark. "Brownwood, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  3. ^ A Severe Weather and Flood Climatology of West Central Texas. Retrieved on July 16, 2010.
  4. ^ "Facility Address List." Texas Youth Commission. Retrieved on May 22, 2010.
  5. ^ "Parole Division Region V." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 22, 2010.
  6. ^ "Post Office Location - BROWNWOOD." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 22, 2010.
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