Brady, Texas
Encyclopedia
Brady is a city in McCulloch County
, Texas
, United States
. Brady refers to itself as "The Heart of Texas", as it is the closest city to the geographical center of the state. The population was 5,523 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of McCulloch County
.
, Brady has a total area of 11.5 square miles (29.8 km²), of which, 9.2 square miles (23.8 km²) of it is land and 2.3 square miles (6 km²) of it (20.16%) is water.
of 2000, there were 5,523 people, 2,181 households, and 1,448 families residing in the city. The population density
was 601.1 people per square mile (232.0/km²). There were 2,603 housing units at an average density of 283.3 per square mile (109.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.6% [(US Census 2010)], 2.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, .1% from other races
, and .6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.7% of the population.
There were 2,181 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples
living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,961, and the median income for a family was $28,701. Males had a median income of $25,498 versus $17,289 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,607. About 18.7% of families and 23.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.
schools. There are approximately 1,300 students attending Brady ISD. Brady Elementary consists of grades K-5 and the principal is Kelley Hirt. Brady Middle School consists of grades 6-8. Brady High School consists of grades 9-12 with Hector Martinez as principal. Other central office staff includes Dr. Jeffrey L. Brasher as Superintendent.
Brady High School is a TEA Recognized campus. BHS boasts two 2006 Conference 3A State Champions:
Lincoln-Douglas Debate--- Robert Leatherwood Due to population drop over the years Brady is now a 2A classified school.
camp in McCulloch County
, near Brady, on a former prisoner of war
camp leased from the Federal Government of the United States
. In 1950 the state replaced the Brady facility with the Crockett State School
.
McCulloch County, Texas
McCulloch County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. The geographical center of Texas lies within the county. In 2000, its population was 8,205. Its county seat is Brady. McCulloch is named for Benjamin McCulloch, a famous Texas Ranger and Confederate...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Brady refers to itself as "The Heart of Texas", as it is the closest city to the geographical center of the state. The population was 5,523 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of McCulloch County
McCulloch County, Texas
McCulloch County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. The geographical center of Texas lies within the county. In 2000, its population was 8,205. Its county seat is Brady. McCulloch is named for Benjamin McCulloch, a famous Texas Ranger and Confederate...
.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, Brady has a total area of 11.5 square miles (29.8 km²), of which, 9.2 square miles (23.8 km²) of it is land and 2.3 square miles (6 km²) of it (20.16%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,523 people, 2,181 households, and 1,448 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 601.1 people per square mile (232.0/km²). There were 2,603 housing units at an average density of 283.3 per square mile (109.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.6% [(US Census 2010)], 2.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, .1% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and .6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.7% of the population.
There were 2,181 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,961, and the median income for a family was $28,701. Males had a median income of $25,498 versus $17,289 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $12,607. About 18.7% of families and 23.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- John Willoughby "Johnny" Jones (October 26, 1934—December 12, 2008) was a prominent Brady banker and rancher and a former regent of his alma materAlma materAlma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
of LubbockLubbock, TexasLubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
. Born in Brady to the late John G. Jones and the former Oma Willoughby, he graduated in 1952 from Brady High School. He completed his bachelor of scienceBachelor of ScienceA Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in animal husbandryAnimal husbandryAnimal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
from TTU in 1956. He procured a master of scienceMaster of ScienceA Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in 1957 from Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
at College StationCollege Station, TexasCollege Station is a city in Brazos County, Texas, situated in East Central Texas in the heart of the Brazos Valley. The city is located within the most populated region of Texas, near three of the 10 largest cities in the United States - Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio...
. He graduated in 1970 from the Southwestern School of Banking at Southern Methodist UniversitySouthern Methodist UniversitySouthern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
in DallasDallas, TexasDallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. On February 4, 1956, he married the former Doris Ellis in SweetwaterSweetwater, TexasSweetwater is the county seat of Nolan County, Texas, United States. The population was 11,415 at the 2000 census.-History:Sweetwater received a U.S. post office in 1879. The Texas and Pacific Railway started service in 1881, with the first train arriving on March 12 of that year, beginning...
in Nolan County.
- From 1957-1967, he was a fieldman and then research director for the Texas and American HerefordHerefordHereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
associations. He returned to Brady to enter the ranching business. In 1968, he began his long tenure at Commercial National Bank, having become president, CEO, and chairman of the board until his retirement in 2006. He was affiliated with both the Texas and American Bankers' associations. Jones chaired the First United Methodist Church board in Brady, the McCulloch County Easter SealsEaster SealsEaster Seals is an international charitable organization devoted to providing opportunities for children with physical disabilities. See*Easter Seals *Easter Seals *Easter Seals...
drive, and the Lower Colorado River AuthorityLower Colorado River AuthorityThe Lower Colorado River Authority or LCRA is a nonprofit public utility that was created in November 1934 by the Texas Legislature. LCRA's mission is to protect people, property and the environment by providing public services for more than one million people in Central and Southeast Texas...
. He was a director of the National Cattleman's Association and a former president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers AssociationTexas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers AssociationTexas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association was created in 1877, when 40 Texas cattlemen joined together out of their common interest to end unbridled livestock theft and formed what was to become Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association....
in Fort WorthFort Worth, TexasFort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. He was a former member of the Brady Independent School District trustees and the McCulloch Chamber of CommerceChamber of commerceA chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, which presented him with its "Lifetime Achievement Award". - Jones died in San AngeloSan Angelo, TexasSan Angelo is a city in the state of Texas. Located in West Central Texas it is the county seat of Tom Green County. As of 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total population of 93,200...
at the Sagecrest Alzheimer'sAlzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
Care Center. Memorial services were held on December 17 at First Methodist. In addition to his wife, he was survived by two sons, Mark and Clay Jones, three grandchildren, and a brother, William L. "Billy" Jones, all of Brady.
- James Earl RudderJames Earl RudderJames Earl Rudder was a United States Army Major General, Texas Land Commissioner, and President of Texas A&M University.-Early life:...
taught and coached football at Brady High School in 1933.
- Dan Collins TaylorDan Taylor (rodeo)Dan Collins Taylor was an American cowboy and rodeo performer and promoter.-Rodeo career:Taylor was born to third-generation ranchers Babb Taylor and Kathleen Taylor in rural Doole near Brady in McCulloch County in central Texas...
from rural DooleDoole, TexasDoole is an unincorporated community in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 74 in 1990....
near Brady was a rodeo performer and promoter.
Education
Children in Brady attend Brady ISDBrady Independent School District
Brady Independent School District is a public school district based in Brady, Texas .In addition to Brady, the district also serves the town of Melvin...
schools. There are approximately 1,300 students attending Brady ISD. Brady Elementary consists of grades K-5 and the principal is Kelley Hirt. Brady Middle School consists of grades 6-8. Brady High School consists of grades 9-12 with Hector Martinez as principal. Other central office staff includes Dr. Jeffrey L. Brasher as Superintendent.
Brady High School is a TEA Recognized campus. BHS boasts two 2006 Conference 3A State Champions:
Lincoln-Douglas Debate--- Robert Leatherwood Due to population drop over the years Brady is now a 2A classified school.
Government and infrastructure
In 1947 the State of Texas opened the Brady State School for Negro Girls in a former prisoner of warPrisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camp in McCulloch County
McCulloch County, Texas
McCulloch County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. The geographical center of Texas lies within the county. In 2000, its population was 8,205. Its county seat is Brady. McCulloch is named for Benjamin McCulloch, a famous Texas Ranger and Confederate...
, near Brady, on a former prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camp leased from the Federal Government of the United States
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
. In 1950 the state replaced the Brady facility with the Crockett State School
Crockett State School
The Crockett State School was a Texas Youth Commission juvenile correctional facility in Crockett, Texas. The students at the state school had committed various crimes, including property crimes and crimes against persons...
.