Brenham is also known for its annual German heritage festival that takes place each May called Maifest, similar to Volksfest.

The Brenham area was part of the Old Three Hundred, the first authorized colonization of Texas by Anglo-Americans led by Stephen F. Austin.

With the exception of the Civil War years, the German-born population of Brenham increased throughout the second half of the 19th century.

Jewish immigrants to Brenham established one of Texas' first Orthodox synagogues in 1885,[9] which was relocated to Austin in 2015.

[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.8 square miles (22.7 km2), all land.

The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year.

The Köppen climate classification describes the weather as humid subtropical, Cfa.

[11] As of the 2020 United States census, 17,639 people, 6,197 households, and 3,606 families were residing in the city.

[19] The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services operates the Brenham State Supported Living Center (formerly Brenham State School), the largest facility in Texas for providing housing and care to intellectually disabled persons.

The Blue Bell spur was formerly part of a separate Southern Pacific line between Austin and Houston, though it now terminates within Brenham on both ends.