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Lake Brownwood is located in Brown County, Texas in Northwest Central Texas--near the geographical center of the state. It is a reservoir lake of approximately 7,300 acres. It was originally created for flood control but now is extensively used for swimming, fishing, boating and skiing.

Flood Control
After a devastating flood in 1900, Brown County residents, and especially citizens of the City of Brownwood, became interested in ways to control the periodic surges of Pecan Bayou and its tributary, Jim Ned Creek which feed into the Colorado River. They also needed to regulate the availability of water for domestic, agricultural and ranching use. This effort became increasingly critical as the population of the county and Brownwood grew. Results of a 1926 election showed overwhelming support for the organization of the Brown County Water Improvement District and the construction of a dam.

Dam Construction
Beginning in 1926, the Brown County Water Improvement District acquired seven tracts of land for the purpose of damming and impounding the waters of Pecan Bayou at its confluence with Jim Ned Creek. Construction commenced and the dam was completed in early 1932. Skeptics predicted it would be years before the lake would fill with water. In July of the same year, a record-breaking flood swept down Pecan Bayou, and the lake filled to a level covering more than 7,000 acres practically overnight.

Water Supply
Since construction of the dam, the reservoir has provided a constant supply of drinking water and irrigation water, tamed the uneven and sometimes destructive flow of Pecan Bayou, and provided recreational opportunities.

Lake Brownwood State Park
In 1933, the Texas State Parks Board (now known as Texas Parks and Wildlife Department) acquired the park's 538 acres by deed from the Brown County Water Improvement District for the purpose of establishing Lake Brownwood State Park along the western banks of the lake.