May, TX Properties | Nikki Duncan

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May is a small unincorporated community and census-designated place in northeastern Brown County, Texas, set in the rolling ranch country of the Cross Timbers region. The community sits at the junction of U.S. Highway 183 and Farm-to-Market Road 1689, about twenty miles north of Brownwood, the county seat, and roughly thirty miles south of the Interstate 20 corridor towns of Cisco and Eastland. May developed as an agricultural settlement, its fortunes tied to the farms, ranches, and small businesses that served the surrounding countryside. In 1912, the Brownwood North and South Railroad connected Brownwood with May, giving the community a rail link for a time; the short-lived line lost money and was abandoned in 1927. By the 1940s, May had grown to roughly five hundred residents with several churches, a school, and more than a dozen businesses. The community was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1981, and its United Methodist Church received a historical marker two decades later. Today May remains a quiet rural crossroads of roughly 280 residents. It is unincorporated, governed by Brown County, and retains the unhurried character of a West Texas farming town. The landscape around the community is defined by mesquite-dotted pastures, working cattle operations, and the shallow draws that feed Pecan Bayou to the south. Agriculture and ranching remain central to the area's identity. The community is served by its own small school district, May ISD, which enrolls about 260 students from the surrounding area. Residents travel to Brownwood for shopping, healthcare, and employment, while Lake Brownwood and the state park of the same name provide nearby recreation. For homebuyers, May offers an authentic small-town Texas setting with wide-open spaces, agricultural land, and a close-knit community, all within an easy drive of Brownwood's services and the broader Abilene and Fort Worth regions beyond.

Population 280

County Brown County

Active Listings 108

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is May in?

May is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in northeastern Brown County, Texas. It sits at the junction of U.S. Highway 183 and Farm-to-Market Road 1689, about twenty miles north of the county seat of Brownwood.

What school district serves May?

May is served by May Independent School District, a small rural district based in the community. The district enrolls roughly 260 students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade and draws from the surrounding northeastern Brown County countryside.

How far is May from Brownwood?

May is approximately twenty miles north of Brownwood via U.S. Highway 183. The community also sits about twenty-eight miles south of Cisco and thirty-six miles south of Eastland, both of which lie along the Interstate 20 corridor.

Is May an incorporated city?

No. May is an unincorporated community and census-designated place rather than an incorporated city. It is governed by Brown County and is known for its farming heritage and rural, small-town character.

What is there to do near May?

Lake Brownwood, a roughly 7,300-acre reservoir on Pecan Bayou, lies south of May and offers boating and fishing. Lake Brownwood State Park, developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, provides camping, hiking, and swimming within a short drive.

City Guide

About May

Real Estate & Housing

May's housing reflects its rural setting: a mix of modest older farmhouses, ranch-style homes, and scattered acreage properties across the surrounding countryside. Many parcels are large enough for outbuildings, livestock, or agricultural use, and the community's unincorporated status keeps regulation light. Buyers are typically drawn by space, privacy, and value rather than by subdivision amenities. Those seeking newer or denser development generally look to Brownwood, Early, or other nearby towns.

Neighborhoods

Lifestyle in May

Life in May is unhurried and rooted in the land. The community revolves around its school, churches, and the daily rhythms of farming and ranching, with neighbors who tend to know one another and a social calendar built around local events rather than city amenities. Residents drive to Brownwood for shopping, dining, and healthcare, while the open countryside provides room for gardens, livestock, and quiet evenings. It suits those who want an authentic small-town Texas lifestyle with easy access to a regional hub.

Schools & Education

May is served by May Independent School District, a small rural district based in the community that enrolls roughly 260 students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district's campus sits within the community and draws students from the surrounding northeastern Brown County countryside, with a small portion of the district extending into Comanche County. Families seeking additional options can find larger districts and private schools in Brownwood, about twenty miles to the south.

Getting Around

May sits at the junction of U.S. Highway 183, which runs north-south through central Texas, and Farm-to-Market Road 1689. The community is about twenty miles north of Brownwood via U.S. 183, and roughly thirty miles south of Cisco and Eastland on the Interstate 20 corridor, which provides the main route to Abilene to the west and the Dallas-Fort Worth region to the east. The area's lightly traveled rural highways make for straightforward, low-congestion driving.

Parks & Recreation

Lake Brownwood, a roughly 7,300-acre reservoir formed by damming Pecan Bayou in the early 1930s, lies south of May and anchors the area's outdoor recreation with boating, fishing, and water sports. Lake Brownwood State Park, developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps beginning in 1934, offers camping, hiking, swimming, and lakeside picnic areas. The surrounding Cross Timbers countryside provides additional opportunities for hunting, birding, and quiet country drives.

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