Waelder, Town of

In 1876, when the Galveston, Harrisburg, & San Antonio Railroad built through Gonzales County, this town was laid out to serve as a shipping point for the surrounding agricultural and ranching area. Hopkinsville, a thriving community five miles north, moved here to become the nucleus of Waelder. Because of valuable services rendered to railroad interests in the early days, the G. H. & S. A. named the new town for the company attorney, Frederick Jacob Waelder (1820-1887). Born in Germany, Waelder spent most of his life in Texas, where he was a lawyer, representative in the State Legislature (1855-1859), and briefly an officer in the Confederate Army. He was also a leader of the German - Texas colonists in numerous undertakings. The town of Waelder, which grew to be the second largest in the county by 1900, can trace the history of its populace back to the three waves of German immigrants who settled in Texas from 1831 to 1900. Highly regarded by their neighbors, German citizens were considered frugal and industrious. Joining with Latin- Americans and "old south" Anglo-Americans, the two other largest ethnic groups in Texas, they have left a distinctive mark on the culture of the state.

Waelder, Town of is a historical marker in Waelder, Gonzales County, dedicated in 1968. It is one of 94 historical markers documented in Gonzales County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 186 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.6928, -97.2987 near Waelder. The nearest cataloged historic site is Miller's Store (historical marker), about 0.1 miles away. Others within a short drive include Hopkinsville Lodge No. 183, A.F. & A.M., Waelder Cementerio Bautista, and Waelder Community.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5177005441. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.