German immigrants shaped the Hill Country towns surrounding Bexar County

German settlers began moving to the Texas Hill Country in 1844. A German noble group, the Mainzer Adelsverein, organized the move. Thousands of people came. New Braunfels was founded in 1845. It sits in what is now Comal County, just northeast of Bexar County. Fredericksburg in Gillespie County came next. Both towns grew fast. They became centers of German life in Texas.

The Germans brought their own music. It mixed with Mexican norteño styles. That mix helped create conjunto music, one of the most Texan sounds there is. San Antonio is where these traditions blended. German breweries, bakeries, and sausage makers also shaped the city's food.

Boerne, in nearby Kendall County, still shows its German roots. So do other small Hill Country towns near Bexar County. You can see it in their buildings and festivals. For the history of German settlement in Texas, see the Handbook of Texas at tshaonline.org.