BRAZOS COUNTY
County Offices
300 East 26th Street
Bryan 979-775-7400
www.brazoscountytx.gov
Chamber of Commerce
4001 East 29th Street
Bryan 979-260-5200
https://www.bcschamber.org/
Anchored by the Bryan-College Station metropolitan area, Brazos County is 100 miles east of Austin and 95 miles north of Houston. The county is the proud home of the prestigious Texas A&M University, well-known for its academic research and athletic excellence.
Services
Education has always been a top priority for residents of Brazos County, where public school districts are recognized for academic excellence and many students attend schools that have earned the highest rating of Exemplary. A number of outstanding private schools provide alternative learning environments or specialized focus. Founded in 1886, the Allen Academy is one of the foremost private college preparatory schools in the entire Southwest. Higher education dominates in this region, where the highly respected Texas A&M University has its main campus. The colleges of agriculture, business administration, engineering, geosciences, and veterinary medicine are among the largest in the nation. Of special note is the Bush School of Government and Public Service, listed by US News & World Report as one of America’s Best Graduate Schools. The 5,200-acre campus also encompasses a 434-acre research park and a $36.4 million Student Recreation Center. Brazos County is also home to Blinn College, the premier community college in Texas. Blinn College boasts the state’s highest transfer rate, the highest percentage of students who go on to earn a four-year degree, and more transfers to Texas A&M University than any other college.
Outstanding healthcare services and facilities are another hallmark of Brazos County, anchored by the leading institutions of College Station Medical Center and St. Joseph Regional Health Center. The former is the oldest healthcare facility in the Bryan/College Station area and the official provider of healthcare services to Texas A&M Athletics. Commonly called “The Med,” the hospital provides a full array of medical and surgical specialties including maternal and fetal medicine, cardiac care, and cancer care. The St. Joseph Health System based in Bryan serves the Brazos Valley with an integrated network of hospitals and clinics, including St. Joseph Regional Health Center. This modern, 210-bed facility provides comprehensive services for emergencies, inpatient surgery, outpatient surgery, and critical-care cases. Bryan is also home to the network’s assisted living facility for the frail elderly, St. Joseph Regional Cancer Center, the occupational health clinic, and the rehabilitation center. Scott & White College Station provides a multi-specialty healthcare facility designed for an optimal patient experience from birth through adulthood. In addition to a surgery center, the clinic offers diagnostics that range from advanced pathology and state-of-the-art radiology to on-site MRI and 64-slice CT Scan capabilities.
Lifestyle
Newcomers to Brazos County will find a unique environment that harmonizes the Texas countryside with some of the most celebrated educational and healthcare resources in the Southeast and even the nation. The powerful presence of Texas A&M University drives an exceptional quality of life, including the stellar attraction of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum on 90 acres. The museum’s founding in 1997 has been the most significant addition since the university’s founding, driving throngs of tourists toward Brazos County. Opportunities for cultural enrichment abound, from productions by celebrated national artists and groups to regional favorites like the Brazos Valley Chorale. Outstanding art galleries, fine museums, and celebrated historic sites complement a rich performing arts community. Elegant university venues and the Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater deliver national and international stars to the stage. Additional theatrical productions and concerts as well as special events are also held at the university’s Reed Arena and Special Events Center. Crowning one of the largest horticulture departments in the nation is crowned by the presence of the Texas A&M Benz Gallery of Floral Art. The Brazos Center and the Brazos County Exposition Center are regional, multi-use facilities, the latter hosting equestrian and livestock events, rodeos, concerts, and other main stage shows.
Families will appreciate the Brazos Valley Museum of National History with live animal displays and year-round children’s activities. The Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley is the place for hands-on learning experiences, while Brazos County Arboretum in Bee Creek Park preserves wetlands and the wonders of nature. The collegiate sports scene is wildly popular, although residents have abundant opportunities to engage in active sports of their own. Lake Somerville State Park and Trailway offers a multitude of recreational opportunities, presenting more than 20 miles of panoramic trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding as well as opportunities to fish, swim, boat, and water ski. Lush parks, swimming pools, golf courses, tennis courts, sports fields and courts, private fitness centers, private sports clubs, and developed recreational programs appeal to a cross-section of interests and age groups. Attractive neighborhoods and a wide range of housing in equally diverse settings ensure that Brazos County has the right ingredients for a truly exceptional quality of life.
Bryan
City Offices
979-209-5000
https://www.bryantx.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
979-260-5200
https://www.bcschamber.org/
Taking for its slogan, “The Good Life, Texas Style,” the city of Bryan claims a rich history that dates back to its incorporation in 1851. The city’s colorful heritage is reflected today in historical buildings and the charming atmosphere of the revitalized historic downtown district, including nearby homes and schools east and west of Texas Avenue. Bryan boasts the oldest existing Carnegie Library in Texas, built in 1903 and reopened in 1999 as the Carnegie Center of Brazos Valley History. The Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History is another local point of pride. The city is also home to the fastest-growing and most awarded winery in Texas, opening its historic building for tastings and vineyard tours. Just minutes from the city, Lake Bryan offers a premier destination for boating, water sports, mountain biking, wind-surfing, or just relaxing. The surrounding park includes a 180-acre island where the waterfront picnic area and camp sites are shaded by 100-year old oak trees.
College Station
City Offices
979-764-3500
https://www.cstx.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
979-260-5200
https://www.bcschamber.org/
Nestled in the heart of the Research Valley, attractive College Station was originally planned as a model community by college professors when the college could no longer accommodate their living needs on campus. The city grew phenomenally in the 1960s when the college opened its doors to women and became the now-famous Texas A&M University. Just 100 miles from Houston and Austin, College Station is served by well-maintained highways and a nearby regional airport. The city is now the largest municipality in its metropolitan area and home to the third largest public university in the nation—a Big XII Conference school and major research institution. The university’s powerful presence introduces a richly diverse social and cultural atmosphere that gives the area much of its vibrancy, tradition, and spirit. More than 1,100 acres of beautifully maintained public parks and sports facilities enhance the quality of life with abundant recreational and outdoor opportunities. Nearby lakes for water sports and boating are complemented by local golf courses, scenic nature trails, challenging bike paths, and sports leagues of every kind.
