Niederwald

Niederwald, fifteen miles northeast of San Marcos in eastern Hays County, was founded by German pioneers after the Civil War. The name, which means "brushwood," referred to a growth of mesquite in the shallow valley where the Germans settled alongside the old Austin–San Antonio road. Niederwald had one of the original public schools in the county, New Hope (1877), and between 1902 and 1904, a post office. A church was established in 1906 and served the community at least through the 1940s. From about 100 in 1930 the population slowly declined, to less than eighty by 1970. Though in the early 1950s Niederwald had several cooperatives–including a community building, a general store, a credit union, a gin, and a newspaper-the town did not report any rated businesses from the early 1960s through 1990. In 1990 Niederwald was an incorporated community with 233 residents and the town had spread into Caldwell County. The population was 584 in 2000.

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Daniel P. Greene | © TSHA

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Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.

Belongs to

Niederwald is part of or belongs to the following places:

Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

Niederwald is classified as a Town

Location

Latitude: 29.99419180
Longitude: -97.77574800

Has Post Office

No

Is Incorporated

Yes

Population Count, 2021 View more »

671