New Braunfels, Texas

Founded in 1845, New Braunfels was built along the banks of the Guadalupe and Comal rivers by a small group of German settlers. By 2018, 74,587 residents called it home, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. New Braunfels is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas known for its German Texan heritage. It is the seat of Comal County. The city covers 44.9 square miles and has a 2019 census-estimated population of 90,209. A suburb just north of San Antonio, and part of the Greater San Antonio metropolitan area, it was the third-fastest-growing city in the United States from 2010-2020. New Braunfels was established in 1845 by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels, Commissioner General of the Mainzer Adelsverein, also known as the Noblemen’s Society. Prince Carl named the settlement in honor of his home of Solms-Braunfels, Germany. The Adelsverein organized hundreds of people in Germany to settle in Texas. Immigrants from Germany began arriving at Galveston in July 1844. Most then traveled by ship to Indianola in December 1844, and began the overland journey to the Fisher-Miller land grant purchased by Prince Carl. At the urging of John Coffee Hays, who realized the settlers would not have time to build homes and plant crops further inland before winter, and as the German settlers were traveling inland along the Guadalupe River, they stopped near the Comal Springs. Today, New Braunfels’ strategic location, growing population and varied industries make it a city where new businesses are blossoming. Part of the development and growth of the city have been its many businesses and organizations that work to improve the local economy. Many of the early businesses still exist, such as Naegelin’s, Henne Hardware and Farmer’s Mutual Insurance.