Bryson, Texas
Encyclopedia
Bryson is a city
in Jack County
, Texas
, in the United States
. As of the 2000 census, the city population
was 528.
along U.S. Highway 380
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (6.77%) is water.
The Chicago, Rock Island and Texas Railway, a subsidiary of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
, reached Bryson in the fall of 1902. Although oil had been discovered in Jack County as early as 1898, it wasn't until the mid-1920s that Bryson became an oil processing center for local producers. The resulting population boom led to the community being known as Jack County's "second city" (after Jacksboro
).
Bryson was incorporated in 1929 and had a population of 641 in the 1930 census
. A 1938 oil boom in Bryson saw the population explode with many people forced to live in tents. In 1940, the census dropped back to 806. As oil production declined, so did the population. The low point occurred in 1970, when only 455 people lived within the city limits. During the latter half of the 20th century, Bryson slowly grew to over 500 residents. In 1988, there were seven businesses serving the community. There were reportedly twenty-two businesses in Bryson as of 2004.
of 2000, there were 528 people, 222 households, and 146 families residing in the city. The population density
was 426.0 people per square mile (164.4/km²). There were 261 housing units at an average density of 210.6 per square mile (81.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.75% White, 0.76% African American, 2.27% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.19% from other races
, and 2.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.70% of the population.
There were 222 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,071, and the median income for a family was $30,588. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $20,114 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,264. About 12.3% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 26.5% of those age 65 or over.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Jack County
Jack County, Texas
*Bryson*Jacksboro*Jermyn *Joplin *Perrin *Gibtown-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Jack County, Texas-External links:*...
, 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...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 census, the city population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
was 528.
Geography
Bryson is located at 33°9′38"N 98°23′16"W (33.160523, -98.387805). It is situated approximately fourteen miles southwest of JacksboroJacksboro, Texas
Jacksboro is a city in Jack County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,533 at the 2000 census. Jacksboro is located at the junction of U.S...
along U.S. Highway 380
U.S. Route 380
U.S. Route 380 is an east–west United States highway. The highway's eastern terminus is in Greenville, Texas at an intersection with Interstate 30, of which the easternmost 3–4 miles are co-located with US 69 in a loop around the west and south sides of Greenville. Its western terminus is at...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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...
, the city has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (6.77%) is water.
History
The community was first settled in the late 19th century. Originally known as Mount Hecla, a post office opened under that name in 1878. Henry Bryson built the area's first residence, a log cabin, that same year. The community was later renamed after him. This change was officially recognized in 1884, when the local post office took the name Bryson. Mr. Bryson went on the serve as County Commissioner. Early pioneer family names of Bryson were Blount, Chambers, Clayton, Cook, Crumpton, Cullers, Enlow, Epperson, Henderson, Keyser, Kuykendall, McCloud, Moore, Raley, Shanafelt and Vanhooser.The Chicago, Rock Island and Texas Railway, a subsidiary of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.-Incorporation:...
, reached Bryson in the fall of 1902. Although oil had been discovered in Jack County as early as 1898, it wasn't until the mid-1920s that Bryson became an oil processing center for local producers. The resulting population boom led to the community being known as Jack County's "second city" (after Jacksboro
Jacksboro, Texas
Jacksboro is a city in Jack County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,533 at the 2000 census. Jacksboro is located at the junction of U.S...
).
Bryson was incorporated in 1929 and had a population of 641 in the 1930 census
United States Census, 1930
The Fifteenth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau one month from April 1, 1930, determined the resident population of the United States to be 122,775,046, an increase of 13.7 percent over the 106,021,537 persons enumerated during the 1920 Census.-Census questions:The 1930 Census...
. A 1938 oil boom in Bryson saw the population explode with many people forced to live in tents. In 1940, the census dropped back to 806. As oil production declined, so did the population. The low point occurred in 1970, when only 455 people lived within the city limits. During the latter half of the 20th century, Bryson slowly grew to over 500 residents. In 1988, there were seven businesses serving the community. There were reportedly twenty-two businesses in Bryson as of 2004.
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 528 people, 222 households, and 146 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 426.0 people per square mile (164.4/km²). There were 261 housing units at an average density of 210.6 per square mile (81.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.75% White, 0.76% African American, 2.27% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.19% 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 2.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.70% of the population.
There were 222 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% 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, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,071, and the median income for a family was $30,588. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $20,114 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 $13,264. About 12.3% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 26.5% of those age 65 or over.