History of New Braunfels

Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels, Germany purchased the lot that would later become our town of New Braunfels in 1845. Almost 300 foreigners from Germany sailed to meet Prince Carl that same year, and our town was born.

New Braunfels was founded on the site where two rivers meet. http://goo.gl/maps/CUJNz

In New Braunfels and the surrounding areas, there were Lipan, Tonkawa, Karankawa, Waco, and occasional visits from the Comanche Indians.  Today, arrow heads and other Indian artifacts can be found along the rivers and in farming fields.

By the late 1800's the town was linked by train to Austin and San Antonio. Factories along the rivers were shipping cotton and wool products. http://goo.gl/maps/bI3hc

The Neu Braunfelser Zeitung, issued its first newspaper edition in 1852, and was published continuously in German until 1957.  Since 1957, only the English version of the newspaper, the New Braunfels Herald Zeitung, has been published.

The population in 1880 was 2,000.  In 1990, it had grown to 27,000.  Today we are a bustling town of 60,000 residents, many of whom commute to Austin and San Antonio for work.

How does the history of your area compare to ours?  Do you have any questions about our community?