History and community are the pillars of Brazoria
A city resting in the Cradle of Texas, Brazoria is a community tied to the founding of the Lone Star State. It was established in 1828, less than 10 years after Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred sailed up the Brazos River to establish a colony. Today, this rural enclave is home to fewer than 3,000 people, who enjoy a tight-knit atmosphere, long-running community events and outdoor adventures along the Gulf Coast. “There are very strong community ties. People have lived here for generations,” says Tammie Bell, a Brazoria County native and owner of TBT Real Estate. “It’s good for commuters looking to live in a small town. If you commute into Houston, it’s about an hour.” Bell adds that Brazoria County has a diverse economy with jobs available in multiple industries, from manufacturing and education to criminal justice and agriculture.
Bungalows and ranch-style homes close to the Brazos River
Most single-family homes in Brazoria rest on small blocks branching off the city’s main road, State Highway 36. Midcentury Ranch-style homes and 1940s bungalows are most common, sitting close together on lots a little under a quarter of an acre. Red Oak Circle and West Red Oak Street feature brick Traditional homes from the 1990s. “There’s a mixture of older homes, newer homes, larger homes along the river and homes that are on acreage,” Bell says. The median price for a single-family home is around $260,000, well below the national median. Properties sell after about 86 days on the market on average, nearly double the national average.
Brazoria’s longtime festival of no name
From a Fourth of July celebration complete with a fireworks show to the Santa Anna Ball, which serves as a historic reenactment of the original ball in 1834, Brazoria’s community calendar illustrates its small-town spirit. The city’s biggest event is the No Name Festival. Held annually for the last 40 years, the two-day event at the Brazoria Heritage Foundation Civic Center features typical street festival activities like shopping at craft vendors and enjoying carnival rides. But it also has a hot pepper eating contest, several cooking competitions and a cornhole tournament.
Local businesses in town, name-brand shopping nearby in Lake Jackson
State Highway 36 serves as the city’s commercial corridor, where mom-and-pop boutiques sit beside western-themed bars and music halls. Local restaurants serving American fare, Texas-style barbecue and Mexican cuisine range from casual sit-down spots to roadside food trucks. The family-owned Stewart's Food Store has served the city since the 1970s. Dollar General, Buc-ee’s and O’Reilly Auto Parts represent the handful of national brands in town. Brazos Mall offers dozens of name-brand and department stores and an AMC movie theater, less than 8 miles away in Lake Jackson.
From city park playgrounds to Gulf Coast adventures
A few parks dot Brazoria. Mature trees shade the playgrounds at Lions Den Park and Wilson City Park, the latter of which also features a picnic shelter and open green space. Badge Field hosts the city’s Little League program and girls' softball association. Spanish moss shrouds centuries-old oak trees at Masonic Oak Park, a reservation-only green space tied to the founding of the state’s first Masonic Lodge. The Brazos and San Bernard Rivers offer fishing and watersports. The sandy shoreline at Surfside Beach along the Gulf of Mexico is about 20 miles away. Birdwatching and hiking are popular activities at San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, a sanctuary for migrating birds and wintering waterfowl. More trails are available at the Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area.
Four public schools serve Brazoria
The Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District earns a B overall rating from Niche. The small district has fewer than 3,000 students and five schools. Wild Peach Elementary receives a C-plus rating and offers prekindergarten through first grade. Students can move on to the B-minus-rated Barrow Elementary for second through sixth grade. West Brazos Junior High and Columbia High both earn B-minus ratings. A new education facility recently opened on the Columbia High campus. The building features two gyms and spaces for fine arts and career and technical education programs.
Commuting across Brazoria County
State Highway 36 curves through the middle of the city, connecting the community to Freeport to the southeast and Rosenberg to the northeast. Farm Road 521 links with nearby highways heading north to Houston, about 55 miles away. Along with hosting George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston offers museums, live entertainment, NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center and Texas Medical Center, which is the largest medical complex in the world. The Gulf Coast Transit District offers Brazoria veterans door-to-door transportation to the Michael E. DeBakey VA Hospital.
