The main center of activity for Brazos County Government is the Brazos County Courthouse, located at the intersection of Texas Avenue and the William Joel Bryan Parkway in Bryan. 

Town named for

William Joel Bryan

(1814-1903)

            Native of Missouri, member of prominent family who were Texas statesman planters, developers, grandson of Moses Austin, who obtained from Mexico charter for American colony in Texas, but died before making settlement.  Nephew of Stephen F. Austin, “Father of Texas”, who actually established the colony.

            Came to Texas with his mother, Emily Austin Bryan Perry, in 1831.  During Texas revolution, fought in battle of Bexar, 1835.  For 71 years was a planter on land near Peach Point, where the bachelor Stephen F. Austin had a room reserved for him in Perry Home.

            As eldest nephew, inherited family leadership when Stephen F. Austin died in 1836.  Backed his brothers careers, especially in the case of Guy M. Bryan, U.S. Congressman 1858-1860, and for many years a leader in Texas government.

            During the civil war, cared for business interests of his 4 sons in the confederate army.  At is own expense fed confederate troops stationed near his plantation to defend the Texas coast.

            Backed construction of deep water harbor a mouth of the Brazos.  During building of Houston & Texas Central Railroad, donated site for Bryan, which in 1866 became county seat of Brazos County.

(1965)

Brazos County

Brazos County, part of Stephen F. Austin’s colony, was created from Washington County in 1841.  It was first named Navasota County, with Boonville as the county seat.  In 1842 the name was changed to Brazos County.  Through the civil war, Millican, located at the end of the railroad from Houston, was a major town.  When the railroad was continued through the county, Bryan became the county seat in 1866.  The agricultural and mechanical college of Texas (Texas A&M) opened in 1876 and College Station grew around it.  Incorporated in 1938