Get to know New Braunfels, TX

The city of New Braunfels lies 32 miles northeast of San Antonio.  It was founded in 1845 by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels, the Commissioner General of the Adelsverein, or Noblemen’s Society.  The settlement was named after Prince Solm’s home in Germany, Solms-Braunfels.  The settlement was started for the hundreds of Germany immigrants the Noblemen’s Society had organized to settle in Texas.  Shortly after the founding of New Braunfels, Prince Solms became disillusioned in running the settlement and John O. Meusebach arrived and took over.  He helped to put the colony’s finances in order and invited Americans to settle with the German immigrants.  After a heated confrontation with more than one hundred settlers, Meusebach decided to return to Germany, but not before he had stabilized the community and advised the establishment of neighboring communities.  The city is home to Greune Historical District, a Nationally Registered Historic District.  Each year New Braunfels hosts the German sausage festival Wurstfest, which is held in November.  The top employers in New Braunfels include the Comal Independent School District and the resort company Shlitterbahn.

Quick Facts

Population: 61,712

Median Household Income: $59,083

Median Property Value: $167,400