Originally designated as the federally recognized Brazos Valley Economic Development District in 1966, the council officially reorganized as the Brazos Valley Development Council in 1967 as the result of state legislation. The legislation created 24 statewide planning regions each comprised of a voluntary association of local governments. The regions’ boundaries were based upon a number of characteristics including geographic features, economic market areas, labor markets, commuting patterns, and even media coverage areas.
These regional planning organizations, defined by the Texas Legislature as “councils of governments,” are charged with addressing regional issues and opportunities and are reviewed biennially by the Governor of Texas. In 1997, the council’s Board of Directors voted to change the organization’s name to the Brazos Valley Council of Governments in order to more appropriately emphasize the cooperative spirit of the local governments and to reflect the legislative terminology.
Brazos County, named after the Brazos River which forms its western border, is centrally located within the Brazos Valley. The City of Bryan is the county seat of Brazos County. The county was originally one of Texas' poorer county, but has seen incredible financial success due to the creation of Texas A&M University.
Burleson County is located on the western side of the Brazos Valley Region. As of the 2020 Census, the county has a population of 17,640 and is projected to maintain that population. The county was named after Edward Burleson, who was a general and statesman of the Texas Revolution.
Grimes County has a population of 29,268 and is located in the southeastern corner of the Brazos Valley. The seat of the county is Anderson. The county's westernmost border is formed from the Navasota and Brazos Rivers.
Leon County is located in the northeast corner of the Brazos Valley and has a population of 15,719. The original county seat of Leon was the City of Leona until it was moved to Centerville in 1851. The county was named in honor of Martin de Leon,
Madison County is located on the eastern side of the Brazos Valley and has a population of 13,455 according to the 2020 Census. The county is of Madison is the City of Madisonville. Madison County is named after James Madison, the 4th President of the United States.
Robertson County is located in the northwestern corner of the Brazos Valley and has a population of 16,757. The City of Franklin is the county seat of Robertson County. The county itself is named after Sterling C. Robertson, who was an early settler of Texas that signed the Texas Declaration of Independence.
Washington County is located in the southwestern corner of the Brazos County and has a population of 35,805 according to the 2020 Census. The City of Brenham is the county seat of Washington County. Washington County was originally a municipality of Mexico prior to its reorganization as a Texas County. The county is named for President George Washington. The county is home to Washington on the Brazos, which is the site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence
Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact us below:
| Phone | (979) 595-2800 |
|---|---|
| info@bvcog.org | |
| Website | bvcog.org |
| In writing | 3991 East 29th, Bryan, Texas 77802 |
