We The People: This Day in History, November 29
Bryan, founded as a Railroad Town, becomes a Brazos Valley Hub
Updated: Nov. 29, 2025 at 8:11 AM CST
BRYAN, Texas (KWTX) - On November 29, 1867, the city of Bryan, Texas, was founded.
Stephen F. Austin’s colony settled the surrounding area in the 1820s.
In 1859, William Joel Bryan donated land to the Houston and Texas Central Railroad for a new townsite, which was eventually named after Bryan.
The city would build its first courthouse in 1871 and would go on to be officially incorporated that same year.
Today, Bryan is home to over 86,000 people and is a hub in the Brazos Valley for defense electronics, manufacturing, and agricultural businesses.
Copyright 2025 KWTX. All rights reserved.
