College Station, Texas

College Station, Texas
City

College Station is the home of Texas A&M University.

Location in the state of Texas
Coordinates: 30°36′05″N 96°18′52″W / 30.60139°N 96.31444°W / 30.60139; -96.31444Coordinates: 30°36′05″N 96°18′52″W / 30.60139°N 96.31444°W / 30.60139; -96.31444
Country United States United States
State Texas Texas
County Brazos
Government
 • Type Council-Manager
 • Mayor Karl Mooney
 • City Council
 • City Manager Kelly Templin
Area
 • City 49.6 sq mi (128.5 km2)
 • Land 49.5 sq mi (128.1 km2)
 • Water 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)
Elevation 338 ft (103 m)
Population (2017)
 • City 110,095
 • Density 1,978/sq mi (763.7/km2)
 • Metro 236,819 (US: 189th)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes 77840-77845
Area code(s) 979
FIPS code 48-15976
GNIS feature ID 1354786[1]
Website www.cstx.gov

College Station is a city in Brazos County, Texas, situated in East-Central Texas in the heart of the Brazos Valley, in the center of the region known as Texas Triangle. It is 90 miles (140 kilometers) northwest of Houston and 87 miles (140 km) northeast of Austin. As of the 2010 census, College Station had a population of 93,857,[2] which had increased to an estimated population of 110,095 as of May 2017.[3] College Station and Bryan together make up the Bryan-College Station metropolitan area, the 15th-largest metropolitan area in Texas with 228,660 people as of the 2010 census.

College Station (oftentimes called "CStat" by residents) is home to the main campus of Texas A&M University, the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The city owes both its name and existence to the university's location along a railroad. Texas A&M's triple designation as a Land-, Sea-, and Space-Grant institution reflects the broad scope of the research endeavors it brings to the city, with ongoing projects funded by agencies such as NASA, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Office of Naval Research.

Due largely to the presence of Texas A&M University, College Station was named by Money magazine in 2006 as the most educated city in Texas, and the 11th-most educated city in the United States.[4]

History

The origins of College Station date from 1860, when the Houston and Texas Central Railway began to build through the region.[5] Eleven years later, the site was chosen as the location for the proposed Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, a land-grant school.[5] In 1876, as the nation celebrated its centennial, the school (renamed Texas A&M University in 1963) opened its doors as the first public institution of higher education in the state of Texas.[5]

The population of College Station grew slowly, reaching 350 in 1884 and 391 at the turn of the century.[5] However, during this time, transportation improvements took place in the town. In 1900, the I&GN Railroad was extended to College Station[6] (the line was abandoned by the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company in 1965),[7] and 10 years later, electric interurban service was established between Texas A&M and the neighboring town of Bryan.[5] The interurban was replaced by a city bus system in the 1920s.[5]

In 1930, the community to the north of College Station, known as North Oakwood, was incorporated as part of Bryan.[5] College Station did not incorporate until 1938 with John H. Binney as the first mayor.[5] Within a year, the city established a zoning commission, and by 1940, the population had reached 2,184.[5]

The city grew under the leadership of Ernest Langford, called by some the "Father of College Station", who began a 26-year stretch as mayor in 1942. Early in his first term, the city adopted a council-manager system of city government.[5]

Population growth accelerated following World War II as the nonstudent population reached 7,898 in 1950, 11,396 in 1960, 17,676 in 1970, 30,449 in 1980, 52,456 in 1990, and 67,890 in 2000.[5] The population for the Bryan-College Station metropolitan area will range from an estimated 250,846 to 271,773 by 2030.[8]

In the 1990s, College Station and Texas A&M University drew national attention when the George Bush Presidential Library opened in 1997 and, more tragically, when 12 people were killed and 27 injured when the Aggie Bonfire collapsed while being constructed in 1999.

Geography

College Station is located south of the center of Brazos County at 30°36′5″N 96°18′52″W / 30.60139°N 96.31444°W / 30.60139; -96.31444 (30.601433, -96.314464).[9] It is bordered by the city of Bryan to the northwest.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 49.6 sq mi (128.5 km2), of which 49.4 sq mi (128.0 km2) is land and 0.19 sq mi (0.5 km2), or 0.35%, is covered by water.[2]

Climate

The local climate is subtropical and temperate and winters are mild with periods of low temperatures usually lasting less than two months. Snow and ice are extremely rare. Summers are warm and hot with occasional showers being the only real variation in weather.

Climate data for College Station, Texas
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 86
(30)		 99
(37)		 94
(34)		 96
(36)		 100
(38)		 106
(41)		 109
(43)		 109
(43)		 106
(41)		 98
(37)		 89
(32)		 86
(30)		 109
(43)
Average high °F (°C) 61.0
(16.1)		 64.8
(18.2)		 71.7
(22.1)		 78.9
(26.1)		 85.8
(29.9)		 91.7
(33.2)		 94.8
(34.9)		 96.2
(35.7)		 90.5
(32.5)		 81.4
(27.4)		 71.0
(21.7)		 62.3
(16.8)		 79.18
(26.22)
Average low °F (°C) 41.2
(5.1)		 44.4
(6.9)		 51.0
(10.6)		 58.1
(14.5)		 66.6
(19.2)		 72.7
(22.6)		 74.6
(23.7)		 74.5
(23.6)		 69.4
(20.8)		 60.3
(15.7)		 50.5
(10.3)		 42.2
(5.7)		 58.79
(14.89)
Record low °F (°C) 7
(−14)		 14
(−10)		 17
(−8)		 28
(−2)		 42
(6)		 53
(12)		 58
(14)		 60
(16)		 44
(7)		 29
(−2)		 19
(−7)		 2
(−17)		 2
(−17)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.24
(82.3)		 2.95
(74.9)		 3.17
(80.5)		 2.66
(67.6)		 4.33
(110)		 4.45
(113)		 2.14
(54.4)		 2.68
(68.1)		 3.18
(80.8)		 4.91
(124.7)		 3.22
(81.8)		 3.23
(82)		 40.16
(1,020.1)
Source #1: weather.com[10]
Source #2: NOAA NOWData

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19402,184—
19507,925262.9%
196011,39643.8%
197017,67655.1%
198037,272110.9%
199052,45640.7%
200067,89029.4%
201093,85738.2%
Est. 2016112,141[11]19.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
2013 Estimate[13]

As of the census of 2000, 67,890 people, 24,691 households, and 10,370 families resided in the city. Of the 24,691 households, 21.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.2% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 58.0% were not families. About 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city, the population was distributed as 14.4% under the age of 18, 51.2% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 9.4% from 45 to 64, and 3.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,180, and for a family was $53,147. Males had a median income of $38,216 versus $26,592 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,170. About 15.4% of families and 37.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The city of College Station has a council-manager form of government. Voters elect the members of a city council, who pass laws and make policy. The council hires a professional city manager who is responsible for day-to-day operations of the city and its public services.[14]

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Bryan District Parole Office in College Station.[15]

The United States Postal Service operates the College Station and Northgate College Station post offices.[16][17]

Districts

Northgate

Northgate is a mixed-use district north of Texas A&M University that features a combination of businesses, restaurants, apartments, churches, and entertainment. It is a vibrant part of the city known for its eclectic mix of restaurants and bars.[18][19] A large portion of the stores, bars, and restaurants in Northgate are frequented and patronized by Texas A&M students, and the establishments employ A&M students, as well.[19] In total, the district spans about 145 acres (0.59 km2), bounded by Wellborn Road to the west, South College Avenue to the east, the College Station city limits to the north, and University Drive to the south. The district is the home of the Dixie Chicken and of the first Texas location for the regional fast-food chain Freebirds World Burrito.

Northgate's roots started in the 1930s as the city began enjoying rapid population growth from the influx of Texas A&M University students, professors, and their families. Realizing that proximity to the campus would be a boon for revenues, the first business district was established in College Station near the campus, taking its name for the closest on-campus landmark: the north gate. When the city was incorporated in 1938, its first City Hall was opened in the new district. In 1994, restoration efforts began to revitalize the ailing area. A four-day music festival, "North By Northgate", was introduced in 1998 and has become an annual tradition, renamed the "Northgate Music Festival" in 2002. In 2006, the city council incorporated Northgate as a special tax zone to finance additional improvements and expansions.[20]

Live music is a major draw to the Northgate area, with venues such as Church Street BBQ and Hurricane Harry's consistently providing evening concerts. Many well-known musicians, especially in the Texas country music scene, have gotten their starts playing on the porches and stages found in the Northgate area. Notable names include Robert Earl Keen, Grammy award-winner Lyle Lovett, Dub Miller, and Roger Creager. The district is bisected to the north by Church Street, made famous by the Robert Earl Keen and Lyle Lovett duet "The Front Porch Song".

Wolf Pen Creek District

View of the Lofts at Wolf Pen Creek in College Station

Wolf Pen Creek District is a large commercial development adjacent to Post Oak Mall and between two of the city's main commercial thoroughfares: Earl Rudder Freeway and Texas Avenue. The area consists of a greenway with trails, a $1.5 million amphitheater and entertainment area, a small lake, the Spirit Ice Arena, and is the home of the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley. The amphitheater has hosted a variety of musical events, including the annual Starlight Music Series, a concert series that starts in late spring and runs through late summer. Wolf Pen often has sidewalk for a scenic run that when completed is about 1 mi (2 km).

Wellborn District

Wellborn became a community in 1867 as a construction camp on the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. The town's name has been attributed to a well at the construction camp, a foreman named E.W. Wellborn, or a landowner named W.W. Willburn. Also in 1867, a post office opened in the community under the name Wellborn Station. In 1870, the name was shortened to Wellborn.[21] On April 14, 2011, the City Council of College Station voted 5-2 to annex Wellborn, thus making the community the Wellborn district. Wellborn is often mispronounced as well-born but is pronounced by locals as Well-burn.[22]

Business parks

Transportation

Mass transit

Major roads

Railroads

Airport

Easterwood Airport, owned by Texas A&M, is located three miles (5 km) southwest of College Station and has flights to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

Economy

As of May 2008, the local unemployment hovered around 3 to 4%, among the lowest in Texas. This rate is largely attributed to the significant role the university plays in the local economy.[23][24] However, underemployment is an ongoing issue.[25]

Major employers

Headquarters

Until its 2007 acquisition by Tavistock Group, Freebirds World Burrito had its corporate headquarters in College Station.[26][27]

Post Oak Mall

Post Oak Mall was the city's first mall and is currently the largest mall in the Brazos Valley. The 82-acre (330,000 m2) mall is home to 125 stores; its opening on February 17, 1982, helped create the impetus for growing economic and commercial developments for College Station.[28] It is currently the largest taxpayer in College Station and the second-largest in the Brazos Valley, though the anchor stores are free-standing units that are privately owned and taxed separate from the mall proper.[29] Over 75% of retail sales in the Brazos Valley come from sales at the mall's stores.[28]

Sports facilities

Media and journalism

Television stations

Local channels are NBC affiliate KAGS-LD, CBS affiliate KBTX, ABC affiliate KRHD-CD, Fox affiliate KYLE-TV, and PBS affiliate KAMU, which is owned by Texas A&M University.

Radio stations

College Station is part of the Bryan-College Station Arbitron market #238.

Area newspapers

Area magazines

Healthcare

Education

Local colleges and universities

Local school districts

A&M Consolidated High School

Tallest buildings

Surrounding cities

Nearest cities

Nearest major cities

Notable people

The following people have lived or are currently living in College Station:

Points of interest

References

  1. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): College Station city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012: Texas". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Top 25 most educated cities". Money Magazine. 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Odintz, Mark. "College Station, Texas". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
  6. ↑ "A Guide to Historic Brazos County" (PDF). Brazos Heritage Society. 2003. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-06-26. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
  7. ↑ Werner, George C. "International-Great Northern Railroad". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Craig, Edith; Thomas, Beth; Lacy, Blake; Merten, Kory (2008). "Real Estate Market Overview 2008 College Station — Bryan" (PDF). Texas A&M University Real Estate Center. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
  9. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  10. ↑ "Monthly Averages for College Station, TX". Weather.com. The Weather Channel. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  12. ↑ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  14. ↑ http://cstx.gov/index.aspx?page=2021
  15. ↑ "Parole Division Region I Archived September 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 15, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Post Office Location - COLLEGE STATION Archived 2010-05-19 at the Wayback Machine.." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 15, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Post Office Location - NORTHGATE COLLEGE STATION Archived 2010-05-19 at the Wayback Machine.." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 15, 2010.
  18. ↑ Jones, Finn-Olaf (2006-09-22). "College Station, Tex.". New York Times. p. 1F.
  19. 1 2 "Retail and Entertainment District: Northgate". City of College Station. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  20. ↑ Avison, April (2006-06-23). "College Station creates Northgate tax zone". The Bryan-College Station Eagle.
  21. ↑ "Wellborn, Texas". The Handbook of Texas online. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  22. ↑ http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/CS_City_Council_Votes_to_Annex_Wellborn_119890359.html
  23. ↑ "Texas Employers Add 8,700 Jobs in May" (PDF). Texas Workforce Commission. 2008-06-20. p. 2. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  24. ↑ Nauman, Brett (2005-05-15). "New equation gives more realistic look at local jobless rate". The Bryan-College Station Eagle. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  25. ↑ "College Station Demographic Report" (PDF). City of College Station. p. 2. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  26. ↑ "Tavistock Restaurants swoops in on Freebirds". Austin Business Journal. July 23, 2007. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
  27. ↑ "Contact Us". Freebirds World Burrito. February 7, 2003. Archived from the original on February 7, 2003. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
  28. 1 2 Hensley, Laura (2007-02-16). "Post Oak Mall to celebrate 25 years". The Bryan-College Station Eagle. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  29. ↑ Levey, Kelli (2004-04-04). "Post Oak Mall works to retain costumers". The Bryan-College Station Eagle. Archived from the original on 2007-09-01. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  30. ↑ http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/texas-aggies/20140709-stunning-transformation-of-kyle-field-to-give-fans-taste-of-what-s-to-come-in-aggieland.ece
  31. ↑ "RISE at Northgate". Retrieved 2012-12-05.
  32. ↑ "Oceanography & Meteorology Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  33. ↑ "Albritton Bell Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  34. ↑ "J. Earl Rudder Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  35. ↑ "Hilton College Station & Conference Center". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  36. ↑ "Adam Corporation Headquarters". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  37. ↑ "Petroleum Engineering Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  38. ↑ "CE/TTI Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  39. ↑ "Board of Regents Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  40. ↑ "Jack E. Brown Chemical Engineering Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  41. ↑ "Harrington Education Center". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  42. ↑ "Harvey R. Bum Bright 43 Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  43. ↑ "Photo: Construction progressing on McFerrin Athletic Center". The Bryan-College Station Eagle. 2007-04-13. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  44. ↑ "The Texas A&M University System". Emporis.com. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  45. ↑ "Garland Erastus Bayliss". Bryan-College Station Eagle. May 28, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  46. ↑ Janet Phelps (2008-04-16). "Anti-abortion group will meet pope in Washington". The Bryan College Station Eagle. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  47. ↑ Matthew Watkins (2008-05-04). "CS man has fantasy gig at ESPN". The Bryan College Station Eagle. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  48. ↑ "A Guide to the Robert Calvert Papers, 1970-1995". lib.utexas.edu. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  49. ↑ "Office of the president, History of the office".
  50. ↑ "Hervey, James "Dick"". Bryan-College Station Eagle. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  51. ↑ "Kyle Kacal's Biography". votesmart.org. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  52. ↑ Sam Peshek (May 1, 2015). "Longtime Texas A&M history professor receives surprise send-off during final lecture". Bryan-College Station Eagle. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  53. ↑ "Nobel Prize Winner to Join Texas A&M Physics Faculty". Texas A&M University College of Science. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  54. ↑ "David M. Lee". The Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  55. ↑ "Martin Melosi". vi.uh.edu. Archived from the original on June 19, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
  56. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0755603/
  57. ↑ Joe Southern (2008-01-04). "A changing of the guard". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
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