Kenney (also Kinney) is an unincorporated community in northern Austin County, Texas, United States. According to the

Handbook of Texas The ''Handbook of Texas'' is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). History The original ''Handbook'' was the brainchild of TSHA President Wal ...

, the community had a population of 200 in 2000. It is located within the Greater Houston metropolitan area.

History

The area around Kenney was first settled in the 1820s with German immigrants arriving in the 1830s through 1900, but the community itself was not started until 1880 when a station on the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway between

Brenham Brenham ( ) is a city in east-central Texas in Washington County, United States, with a population of 17,369 according to the 2020 U.S. census. It is the county seat of Washington County. Washington County is known as the "Birthplace of Texas, ...

and Bellville and a post office was established. The community was originally named Thompson for its first postmaster JE Thompson. After four years under that name, the community was renamed Kenneyville in 1884 in honor of evangelist John Wesley Kenney; the name was shortened to Kenney in 1892. The community thrived in 1885 with a steam-powered gristmill and

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, three churches, several businesses, and 150 residents. Its population shrank to 75 in 1890. The community's first hotel was established by William Schill and a general store was managed by John Chernosky. Its population went up to 202 in 1904. The

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organized a chapter here in 1917 and included 76 black residents on its 178-member roster. It lost two people in 1936 but had 12 businesses in operation. It had a church in the late 1980s. Its population remained at 200 from 1990 through 2000.Kenney, Texas

Handbook of Texas Online The ''Handbook of Texas'' is a comprehensive encyclopedia An encyclopedia (American English) or encyclopædia (British English) is a reference work or compendium providing summaries of knowledge either general or special to a particular ...

, 2008-01-17. Accessed 2008-08-11. Although Kenney is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 77452.

Geography

Kenney is located at the intersection of Farm to Market Road 2754 and Texas State Highway 36 on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, north of Bellville and south of

in far northern Austin County.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen Climate System describes the weather as humid subtropical, and uses the abbreviation ''Cfa''.Climate Summary for Kenney, Texas
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Education

A school was established at Kenney in 1885. It then had two schools in the late 1980s. Today, the community is served by the Bellville Independent School District.

Notable people

* Nolan Luhn, wide receiver for the

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...

* Red Lynn, former MLB pitcher

Gallery

File:Kenney TX US Post Office.JPG, US Post Office is located on Loop 497 in Kenney. File:Kenney TX Historic Marker.JPG, Historical marker gives a short biography of the town's namesake, Methodist preacher John Wesley Kenney. File:Kenney TX Downtown.JPG, Looking southeast at some businesses on Loop 497. BNSF Railway is at left. File:Kenney Store WS (1 of 1).jpg, Old Kenney Store.

References

{{authority control Unincorporated communities in Austin County, Texas Unincorporated communities in Texas