Bryne was founded as Thime Station, reflecting its location along the J�ren Line between Stavanger and Egersund. The small village was one of many popping up around the new stations on the railroad finalized in 1878. A new chapel was soon built (Saron, 1878), as well as a store, a wool processing facility and a dairy farm.
Several industries related to agriculture also emerged, producing ploughs, mowers and harvesting equipment. Many years later, the first excavator in Europe with complete hydraulic transmission of power, the Br�yt (Trademark), was introduced by the two brothers Kristian and Ingebret S�yland (1949). Also the company Tralfa developed the world's first spray paint robot, today run by ABB.
Gradually, Bryne developed into a regional education center, with a dairy school established in 1906, the National Grammar School (Rogaland Landsgymnas) in 1924 and later also a vocational school. In 1921 the name of Thime Station was changed to Bryne by referendum. Bryne has since grown rapidly to become J�ren's most densely populated rural area and a regional trade center. City status was declared on 1 January, 2001, the 49th largest settlement in Norway at the time
