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KENNEY, TEXAS


Austin County, Central Texas S

30° 2' 52" N, 96° 19' 37" W 30.047778, -96.326944

FM 2754 and Highway 36
8 miles N of Bellville the county seat
11 miles S of Brenham
Population 200 (estimated)

Kenney Area Hotels
Brenham Hotels

Kenney TX Main Street
Downtown Kenney
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011

History in a Pecan Shell

Settlement here began in the late 1820s, with German immigrants buying land from the original Anglo landowners starting in the 1840s and continuing into the late 1800s.

The community formed around a station of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad in 1880. A post office was granted that same year.

The community (first named Thompson, Texas) was equidistant from the county seats of Bellville (Austin County) and and Brenham (Washington County). J.F. Thompson was the town’s namesake and first postmaster. In the mid 1880s the first name change occurred. This was done to honor evangelist John Wesley Kenney. First it was Kenneyville (1884) and by 1892 it became simply Kenney. History hasn’t recorded Mr. Thompson’s feelings on the change of name.

By 1885 the population was a mere 150 but the community had a gin and gristmill.

This dropped to kust 75 residents by 1890 (probably due to the ease of travel to the larger towns). By 1904 the number of residents had grown to just over 200 where it has stayed (more or less) ever since.

A historical marker commemorates John Wesley Kenney.


Kenney, Texas post office
Post Office in Kenney
TE photo, August 2002
More Texas Post Offices


Kenney TX antiques
Post Office today
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Kenney Store, Kenney Texas
The Kenney Store
TE photo, August 2002


Kenney TX - Kenney Store
The Kenney Store today
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011
More Texas Stores


John Wesley Kenney historical marker
Historical marker for the town's namesake
TE photo, August 2002

More People

Historical Marker

John Wesley Kenney

(1799-1865)
One of great pioneer Methodist ministers of Texas. Pennsylvania-born, he began preaching at age 19. In 1833 he came to Texas and soon settled in this county. Unkempt in appearance, Kenney redeemed his eccentricity with an eloquent style of preaching. In Texas -- then part of Mexico and Catholic by law -- he helped found Methodist societies and, in 1834, served a vast circuit covering all of present state west of Trinity River. In 1836 he took part in Texas War for Independence. His lifetime saw Methodism become one of the major denominations in state.


A dog in Kenney Texas
Canine residence of Kenney
TE photo, Dec. 2002
See Texas Animals


Kenney TX
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011

Take a road trip

Central Texas South

Kenney, Texas Nearby Towns:
Bellville the county seat
Brenham
Sealy
See Austin County

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