German Settlers Shaped the County's Early Character

Starting in the mid-1840s, German families came to Texas through the port of Indianola. They traveled toward the Hill Country and many settled in Guadalupe County along the way. By the 1880s, Germans made up more than 40 percent of the county's population.

These settlers brought new farming methods with them. They built churches and schools and helped grow the county's farm economy. You can still see their influence today in family surnames, church names, and place names across the county. This German heritage is a big part of what makes Guadalupe County's history stand out.