Bertram, Texas

Bertram is a city located in Burnet County, Texas, United States. As of 2024, the city had an estimated population of 2,020 people. This number shows growth from the 2020 census, when the population was recorded as 1,616. Bertram is part of the larger Texas landscape, contributing to the state's diverse communities.

Geography

Bertram is a city found in eastern Burnet County, about 10 miles (16 km) east of the city of Burnet, which is the county's main town.

The city covers an area of 1.5 square miles (4.0 km²), and almost all of this area is land.

The weather in Bertram usually has hot and sticky summers, with winters that are mild to cold. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate.

History

Bertram is located where Farm Roads 243 and 1174 meet State Highway 29, about 10 miles east of Burnet in Burnet County. The town began in 1882 when people moved from San Gabriel (near the San Gabriel River) to a new railroad line built by the Austin and Northwestern Railroad. They named the town after Rudolph Bertram, a merchant from Austin who helped build the railroad.

In the early days, Bertram had a post office, stores, and workshops. Later, it became a place where farmers sent cotton, cattle, and wool. Even today, a local baseball field honors John Owen "Chief" Wilson, a famous baseball player who once lived in Bertram.

Demographics

2020 census

According to the 2020 census, Bertram had a population of 1,616 people. The median age was 39.1 years, with 23.6% of residents under 18 and 17.5% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 93.0 males. There were 478 families living in the city.

All residents lived in rural areas. There were 570 households, with 39.5% having children under 18. Most households, 51.8%, were married couples, while 17.0% had a male householder without a spouse or partner, and 24.6% had a female householder without a spouse or partner. About 20.2% of households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.

There were 624 housing units, with 8.7% being vacant. Of the occupied units, 73.3% were owner-occupied and 26.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%, and the rental vacancy rate was 8.4%.

2000 census

In the year 2000, Bertram had a population of 1,122 people, with 387 households and 280 families. The population density was 1,031.3 people per square mile. The racial makeup was mostly White at 88.24%, with smaller percentages of African American, Native American, Pacific Islander, and people from other races or multiple races. Hispanics or Latinos made up 21.21% of the population.

Of the 387 households, 36.2% had children under 18. Most households, 62.0%, were married couples living together. About 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were not families. Around 25.6% of households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.69, and the average family size was 3.24.

The age distribution was 24.6% under 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% aged 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median household income was $36,250, and the median family income was $42,031. Males earned a median income of $29,688, while females earned $20,179. The per capita income was $14,132. About 7.0% of families and 8.3% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under 18 and 22.0% of those aged 65 or older.

Culture

Bertram holds a special event called the Oatmeal Festival every year during the Labor Day weekend. This fun celebration started in 1978 as a playful way to copy the many chili cook-offs in Central Texas. It was organized by Ken Odiorne, who used to live in the Oatmeal community, and had help from National Oats, the company that makes 3 Minute Oats.

The festival raises money for important things in the community, like building a pavilion and a community center. Each year, scholarships are awarded to local high school graduates, and funds also support events such as the Easter Egg Hunt, Santa's Workshop, and the Burnet County Livestock Show.

Education

Bertram’s schools are part of the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District. In 2007, Bertram Elementary School was honored as a National Blue Ribbon School.