Company Profile
BlueForge Alliance
Company Overview
MISSION STATEMENT
"On behalf of the citizens of College Station, home of Texas A&M University, the city council will promote and advance the community's quality of life."
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SMALL-TOWN FEEL, BIG-CITY FEATURES
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Since officially becoming a city in 1938, College Station has grown from a tiny town of just 2,000 people to a diverse community of more than 100,000. Despite its exponential growth, College Station has found a way to maintain a small-town feel while offering abundant entertainment and recreational opportunities in a safe and wholesome environment.
College Station is located in the heart of central Texas within a three-hour drive of five of the nation’s 20 largest cities. It is the largest city in the metropolitan area and boasts the fifth lowest property tax rate in the state among similar-sized communities. A network of well-maintained highways and a regional airport served by major airlines provides convenient access from just about anywhere. College Station is one of only two cities in the country with nationally accredited departments in parks, public works, water, police and police communications, and in 2011 was ranked as the No. 4 best-performing small metro in the U.S.
Company History
The City of College Station is a young municipality, with its beginnings in the founding of Texas A&M College. Texas' first state institution of higher education, the College was inaugurated in 1876.
Because of the school's isolation, school administrators provided facilities for those who were associated with the college. The campus became the focal point of community development. The area was designated "College Station, Texas" by the Postal Service in 1877. The name was derived from the train station located to the west of the campus.
Growth of both the community and college influenced residents' desire to create a municipal government. The City of College Station was incorporated in 1938. The incorporation was a result of a petition by 23 men representing on- and off-campus interests to the Board of Directors of Texas A&M College. The Board of Directors had no objection to the annexation and suggested that a belt around the campus be included in the proposed city.
Citizens voted 217 to 39 on October 19, 1938, to incorporate the City of College Station. The first City Council meeting was held on February 25, 1939, in the administration building on Texas A&M campus.
The Council became interested in adopting a governmental structure similar to the council-manager form of government. At the time of incorporation, state law did not allow a general law city to hire a city manager. As a result, College Station employed a business manager until 1943 when state law was changed to permit general law cities to make use of the council-manager form of government. College Station become the first general law city in the State of Texas to employ a city manager. In 1952, once College Station's population exceeded 5,000, College Station voters approved a home rule charter that provided for the council-manager form of government.
Notable Products / Brands
Municipal Government
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
•No. 4, Fastest-Growing College Towns - SelfStorage (2015)
•No. 2, Fastest-Growing City in U.S. - NerdWallet (2014)
•No. 2, Fastest-Growing College Towns – SpareFoot (2013)
•No. 2, Best Small Cities for Business and Careers – Forbes (2014)
•No. 7, Most Improved Cities Since the Recession – NerdWallet (2014)
•No. 8, Best-Performing Small Metros in U.S. – Milken Institute (2014)
•No. 8, Best Small Cities for Job Growth – Forbes (2014)
•No. 9, Best Small Cities for Jobs – Forbes (2014)
•No. 7, Texas Cities on the Rise – NerdWallet (2014)
•No. 11, America's Most Internet-Connected Cities – Governing (2014)
•No. 22, Best Small Cities for Business Costs – Forbes (2014)
•No. 2, Best Towns in Texas – Niche.com (2015)
•No. 2, Best Texas Towns for Millennials – Niche.com (2015)
•No. 3, Texas Towns with the Best Public Schools – Niche.com (2015)
•No. 4, Texas Towns with the Most Things to Do – Niche.com (2015)
•America’s Friendliest Small Town – Rand McNally/USA Today (2012)