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Home My WebLink AboutB-CS Chamber of Commerce Brochure (mid-1970s)CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Welcome to the Center of Aggieland! 401 SOUTH WASHINGTON POST OFFICE BOX 726 BRYAN, TEXAS 77801 (713) 779 -2278 Community Profile Bryan College Station and the Brazos Valley This is HISTORY The area which is now Brazos County was part of the territory granted to Stephen F. Austin by the Span- ish Government. Robert Millican is said to be the first Anglo-American settler (1821), and the first set - lement was named for him. In 1841 the present limits of the county were estab- lished by the Congress of the Republic of Texas. The county was officially named Brazos County in 1842 and organized in 1843. Boonville, three miles east of Bryan, was established as the county seat in that year, but in 1866 the county seat was moved to Bryan, its present site. In 1871, the citizens of Brazos County donated 2,000 acres of land and S50,000 to obtain the Texas A&M University, which was established as a land grant col- lege and formally opened at College Station on Octo- ber 4, 1876. ECONOMY Bryan - College Station is the growth center of a seven county economic development dis- trict. As designated, the economic growth center of the Bryan - College Station area will share improved acc- ess to other major markets of the state through the Federal Highway Act. Bryan - College Station and Texas A&M University are experiencing tremendous growth which began in the mid - sixties. Assured growth of the two cities has come with the development of energy resources with 100 oil and gas wells completed in l 978. The area also lies in a band of near surface lignite deposits, with leasing activity un- derway throughout the region. Two known power plants are now under construc- tion and others are proposed within 50 miles of Bryan - College Station. Also, considering the ample water resources, the region is ideal for continued development. Its location within a triangle formed by three majorTexas markets makes it a natural site for manufacturing activities. TRANSPORTATION Southern Pacific and Missouri Pacific provide main line rail service. Seven truck lines offer daily freight service. Three bus lines serve the area, and Rio Airline provides 18 in -bound and I8 out- bound flights daily from Fa'terwood Airport con- necting with Dallas - Fort Worth and Houston Inter- continental Airports. Air freight service is also available. EDUCATION Bryan - College Station has excellent public school systems as well as two private acade- mies; Allen and St. Michael's, and one Parochial; St. Joseph. For higher education, Blinn College, and Texas A &M University, a land and sea grant institution and physical plant valued at $294 million. Construction and improved educational programs will continue to meet the demands of a progressive area. For public school information write to the Bryan Pub- lic School System, 2200 Villa Maria Road, Bryan, Texas 77801, and to A&M Consolidated School System, Jer- sey and Timber Streets, College Station, Texas 77840. ENTERTAINMENT & CULTURAL Through Texas A &M University and local arts and cultural organiza- tions, Bryan - College Station has entertainment for the discriminate taste. Annual musicals, popular enter- tainers, operatic, symphonic and other entertainment is presented at the B3°azos Center, Bryan Civic Audito- rium and Rudder Complex on the campus of Texas A&M University. HOUSING Housing development parallels the Bry- an - College Station growth. Many new subdivisions, town houses, apartments, and patio homes may be found along picturesque forests and creeks for quiet, natural, family living. GEOLOGICAL LOCATION & CLIMATE Bryan - College Station is located in East - Central Texas, in Brazos County. Mileage and directions from B-CS to other major cities are Dallas (north) 165 miles, Houston (south) 95 miles, Waco (northwest) 90 miles, Austin (west) 104 miles. Annual rainfall average 38.75 inches; Average temperature winter 50°, spring 69°, summer 82 °, fall 71 °. Elevation ranges from 200 to 400 feet above sea level. RECREATION The Texas World Speedway pro- vides the finest in all types of racing Brazos County Park, located on the East Loop of Highway 6, features 50 acres of nature trails and picnic facilities, rodeo arena and covered livestock show arena. Bryan - College Station park systems presently in- clude 40 parks, 16 of which are major parks with play- ground equipment, 5 swimming pools, 2 public golf courses, 19 tennis courts. The area also has 8 indoor theatres, 2 outdoor theatres, 2 lakes, bowling alleys, youth centers, hunting fishing organized programs such as softball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and a variety of summer youth programs. Texas A&M University, a member of the Southwest Conference, offers university athletics at its best. There is a private club with I &hole golf course, swimming pool and tennis courts. PRESENT INDUSTRIES A spectrum of industries highlight the Brazos County area. A number of indus- tries moving into the area are supplying a broad range of employment opportunities for the Bryan - College Station labor force. Products produced in the area include: livestock and camper trailers, laboratory animal cages, busi- ness forms, furniture, shoe soles, butterfly valves, oil- field equipment, and geophysical survey sensors. Em- ployment ranges from companies of less than ten employees to operations of more than 800 workers. EMPLOYMENT For employment information, please write to the Texas Employment Commission, 801 East 29th Street, Bryan, Texas 77801, telephone: 713/779-3743, and to the Personnel Office, Texas A &M University, College Station, Texas 77843, telephone 71 3/845-6141, or one of several private employment agencies. POPULATION 1950 1960 1970 1979 Est. Bryan 18,102 27,542 33.719 46,575 College Station 7,925 11,396 17,696 42,434 Brazos County 38,390 44,895 57,978 101,462 SOURCE. 1970 Census & U.S Dept. of Transportation Urban Transpor lotion Study LABOR (Brazos County) The total labor force is 37,470 with an unemployment rate of 35% (Jan. 1, 1979). FINANCIAL (January 1, 1979) Banks 6 with total deposits $280,903.00 savings & Loans 5 with total savings accounts S199,459,092 Brokerage Firms 3 GENERAL Medical 3 hospitals with 231 beds, 60 doctors,33 dentists, 3 nursing homes, 2 homes for retired. Special- ized medical care is provided by 6 clinics. Motels 16 motels with over 1,100 rooms. The Mem- orial Student Center, a student union type facility on the campus of Texas A&M University, contains 66 guest rooms. Churches 90 churches, all faiths. Schools Fifteen public elementary, three junior high and two senior high, one business college, one paro- chial school, two private academies, Blinn College and Texas A&M University. Newspapers, Radio, Television One daily news- paper, 20,800 circulation; one newspaper published once weekly, 25,000 circulation; one newspaper pub- lished four times weekly, 23,000 circulation; three AM, two FM radio stations, two community antenna sys- tems, and two TV stations. TAX AND INSURANCE RATES (1979) Bryan: $0.62 per $ 100 assessment 80% actual value. School $132 per 5100 assessment 80% actual value. County: $ 1.09 per $ 100 assessment 20% actual value. College Station: $0.56 per $ 100 assessment 80% actu- al value. School: $ 127 per $ 100 assessment 80% actual value Insurance Key Rate: College Station $0.26 Bryan $0.18 UTILITIES Electricity Gulf States — College Station City of Bryan — Bryan Gas Lone Star Gas Company Telephone General Telephone Company of the Southwest Water City of Bryan and College Station Sewage City of Bryan and College Station GOVERNMENT SERVICES College Station Council - City Manager form of gov- ernment. The city has an elected council composed of six members and an elected Mayor. 51 full-time police officers. Fire Department has 54 full -time men with two stations and 6 pieces of modern equipment and three ambulances. Bryan Council - City Manager form of government. The city has an elected council of six members. Mayor elected at large. 68 full -time policemen. Fire Depart- ment has a 60 man staff and 12 pieces of modern i 4U.pl1, ,. Err