Fredericksburg, Texas
Encyclopedia
Fredericksburg is the seat of Gillespie County
, in the U.S. state
of Texas
. As of the 2010 Census estimate, the city had a population of 10, 530
Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 and named after Prince Frederick of Prussia
. Old-time German residents often referred to Fredericksburg as Fritztown, a nickname that is still used in some businesses. The town is also notable as the home of Texas German
, a dialect spoken by the first generations of German settlers who initially refused to learn English. Fredericksburg shares many cultural characteristics with New Braunfels, which had been established by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels
the previous year. Fredericksburg is the birthplace of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz
. It is the sister city of Montabaur
, Germany. On October 14, 1970, the Fredericksburg Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas.
. A 920 feet (280.4 m) long railroad trestle was built, and still exists as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Old Tunnel bat habitat at 10619 Old San Antonio Rd, with provided picnic and restroom facilities for visitors. The cost of the tunnel sent the railroad into receivership on October 28, 1914. It was sold under foreclosure on December 31, 1917 to Martin Carle who deeded the property to the Fredericksburg and Northern Railway Company which had been chartered on December 26 of that year. The train operated until July 27, 1942.
Capital of Texas. and Benjamin Lester Enderle is known as the Father of the Hill Country Peach Industry. He was Gillespie County Surveyor and a math and science teacher at Fredericksburg High School when he planted five peach trees and began selling the fruit in 1921. Enderle worked to develop the Hale, Burbank, Elberta, and Stark varieties. He began marketing them through the H-E-B
grocery chain, and eventually had 5,000 producing peach trees on 150 acre (0.607029 km²). Growers claim the taste is due to the area having the right combination of elevation, sandy soil and climate to produce flavorful clingstone and freestone peaches. The fruit ripens May–August, and consumers can either buy pre-picked fruit, or pick their own.
Herb farms, grape culture, lavender
production and wildflower seeds have become burgeoning businesses in Fredericksburg. Combinations of agribusiness with day spas, wedding facilities, or bed and breakfast accommodations is not unusual. There is even a Texas Hill Country Lavender Trail.
Lady Bird Johnson's passion for Texas wildflowers not only lives on in the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
in Austin, but she also sparked off a high demand for seed. The 200 acre (0.809372 km²) Wildseed Farms
in Fredericksburg was founded by John R. Thomas in 1983 as a result of that high demand, and produces 88 varieties of wildflower seeds. It is the largest family-owned wildflower seed farm in the United States and host of an annual Wildflower Celebration.
In 1994, the Seventy-third Texas Legislature
passed H.B. No. 1425, allowing brewpub operations within the state of Texas. Fredericksburg Brewing Company began operations shortly thereafter.
A number of vineyards and related industry have also arisen in the post-LBJ era of Fredericksburg. The designated American Viticultural Area
s of Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country AVA
and the much larger Texas Hill Country AVA
both include Fredericksburg inside their boundaries. Fredericksburg is a common starting point or destination for tourists visiting wineries in the Texas Hill Country.
. The school's teams are called the "Battlin' Billies", with the mascot being a male angora goat. The "Billie" mascot originated because of the abundance of billy goats raised in this farming community, and because the image of a charging billy goat is well adapted to the game of football.
The first institute of higher learning in Fredericksburg was Fredericksburg College in 1876. The German Methodist Church of Fredericksburg founded the institution and offered courses in the arts, sciences and foreign language. Enrollment was about 150 students. W. J. R. Thoenssen was the first principal, succeeded by Charles F. Tansill. Finances caused the college to be closed in 1884. The property was sold to Fredericksburg Independent School District.
For higher education, Fredericksburg is home to Texas Tech University at Fredericksburg
.
It also has some private schools, such as:
Fredericksburg has a municipally operated library adjacent to the Gillespie County Courthouse.
medical care, preventative care and a Wellness Center.
. Transient and long-terminal hangar rentals are available.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17.2 km2), all of it land.
. The Rock is a huge, pink granite exfoliation dome, that rises 425 feet (129.5 m) above ground, 1825 feet (556.3 m) above sea level, and covers 640 acres (2.6 km²). It is one of the largest batholiths (underground rock formation uncovered by erosion) in the United States, and was declared a National Natural Landmark
in 1970. In 1994, the State of Texas opened it as Enchanted Rock State Natural Area after adding facilities. The same year, Enchanted Rock was added to the National Register of Historic Places
.
. Native Americans used the location to signal each other about intrusions into their territory. The area was part of settler Dr. John Christian Durst's 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) allotment. Durst found a timber cross on the mountain, indicating that Spanish missionaries had once used the site. Durst named the place "Kreuzberg," or Cross Mountain. In 1849, a priest named Father George Menzel erected a new cross. In 1946, St. Mary's Catholic Church erected a metal and concrete cross. The mountain has been used both for the Easter Fires pageant and for Easter sunrise services. Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
1976.
of 2000, there were 8,911 people, 3,784 households, and 2,433 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,342.1 people per square mile (518.2/km2). There were 4,183 housing units at an average density of 630.0 per square mile (243.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.08% White, 0.27% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.09% from other races
, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.00% of the population. English is spoken by 72.73% of the population, Spanish by 14.77%, and Texas German by 12.48%.
There were 3,784 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 20.8% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 30.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 81.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,276, and the median income for a family was $43,670. Males had a median income of $25,878 versus $22,171 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,788. About 7.5% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
to Arthur Stehling.
The license was transferred to Norbert Fritz and family.
} During the Civil War, young Louisa is the youngest daughter in a German household in Fredericksburg. One brother has been killed by Confederate vigiliantes James P. Waldrip and Die Haengebande, and the other brother is in a Union prison.
} Lawyer Beck Hardin returns to his hometown of Fredericksburg after the death of his wife, helping to solve an old crime.
Gillespie County, Texas
Gillespie County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 24,837. It is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Gillespie is named for Robert Addison Gillespie, who came to Texas in 1837. He was a Texas Ranger, an Indian fighter, a...
, in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. As of the 2010 Census estimate, the city had a population of 10, 530
Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 and named after Prince Frederick of Prussia
Prince Frederick of Prussia (1794–1863)
Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig of Prussia , known in English as Frederick, was a Prussian prince, general of the royal cavalry, and division commander.- Family :...
. Old-time German residents often referred to Fredericksburg as Fritztown, a nickname that is still used in some businesses. The town is also notable as the home of Texas German
Texas German
Texas German is a dialect of the German language that is spoken by descendants of German immigrants who settled in the Texas Hill Country region in the mid-19th century. These immigrants founded the towns of New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, Boerne, Schulenburg, Weimar, Walburg, and Comfort...
, a dialect spoken by the first generations of German settlers who initially refused to learn English. Fredericksburg shares many cultural characteristics with New Braunfels, which had been established by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels
Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels
Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels , was a German prince and military officer in both the Austrian army and in the cavalry of the Grand Duchy of Hesse. As Commissioner General of the Adelsverein, he spearheaded the establishment of colonies of German immigrants in Texas...
the previous year. Fredericksburg is the birthplace of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz
Chester Nimitz
Fleet Admiral Chester William Nimitz, GCB, USN was a five-star admiral in the United States Navy. He held the dual command of Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet , for U.S. naval forces and Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas , for U.S...
. It is the sister city of Montabaur
Montabaur
Montabaur is a town and the district seat of the Westerwaldkreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. At the same time, it is also the administrative centre of the Verbandsgemeinde of Montabaur – a kind of collective municipality – to which 24 other communities belong...
, Germany. On October 14, 1970, the Fredericksburg Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas.
Architecture
The Vereins Kirche, the Pioneer Museum Complex, Pioneer Memorial Library, and other architecture.Nimitz Hotel and National Museum of the Pacific War
Railway
On January 3, 1913, the San Antonio, Fredericksburg and Northern Railway Company was chartered to connect Fredericksburg with the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway Company near WaringWaring, Texas
Waring is an unincorporated community in northwestern Kendall County, Texas, United States. It lies along local roads and the Guadalupe River, northwest of the city of Boerne, the county seat of Kendall County. Its elevation is 1,345 feet...
. A 920 feet (280.4 m) long railroad trestle was built, and still exists as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department is a Texas state agency that oversees and protects wildlife and their habitats. In addition, the agency is responsible for managing the state's parks and historical areas...
Old Tunnel bat habitat at 10619 Old San Antonio Rd, with provided picnic and restroom facilities for visitors. The cost of the tunnel sent the railroad into receivership on October 28, 1914. It was sold under foreclosure on December 31, 1917 to Martin Carle who deeded the property to the Fredericksburg and Northern Railway Company which had been chartered on December 26 of that year. The train operated until July 27, 1942.
Agri-Tourism
The Fredericksburg-Stonewall area has become known as the PeachPeach
The peach tree is a deciduous tree growing to tall and 6 in. in diameter, belonging to the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. It bears an edible juicy fruit called a peach...
Capital of Texas. and Benjamin Lester Enderle is known as the Father of the Hill Country Peach Industry. He was Gillespie County Surveyor and a math and science teacher at Fredericksburg High School when he planted five peach trees and began selling the fruit in 1921. Enderle worked to develop the Hale, Burbank, Elberta, and Stark varieties. He began marketing them through the H-E-B
H-E-B
HEB Grocery Company, LP is a privately held San Antonio, Texas-based supermarket chain with more than 315 stores throughout Texas and northern Mexico. The company also operates Central Market, an upscale organic and fine foods retailer.H-E-B ranked No...
grocery chain, and eventually had 5,000 producing peach trees on 150 acre (0.607029 km²). Growers claim the taste is due to the area having the right combination of elevation, sandy soil and climate to produce flavorful clingstone and freestone peaches. The fruit ripens May–August, and consumers can either buy pre-picked fruit, or pick their own.
Herb farms, grape culture, lavender
Lavender
The lavenders are a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. An Old World genus, distributed from Macaronesia across Africa, the Mediterranean, South-West Asia, Arabia, Western Iran and South-East India...
production and wildflower seeds have become burgeoning businesses in Fredericksburg. Combinations of agribusiness with day spas, wedding facilities, or bed and breakfast accommodations is not unusual. There is even a Texas Hill Country Lavender Trail.
Lady Bird Johnson's passion for Texas wildflowers not only lives on in the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The center currently functions as an Organizational Research Unit of The University of Texas at Austin.The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a public botanical garden on La Crosse Avenue near the Mopac Expressway, 10 miles SW of downtown Austin, Texas and just inside the edge of the...
in Austin, but she also sparked off a high demand for seed. The 200 acre (0.809372 km²) Wildseed Farms
Wildseed Farms
Wildseed Farms is a wildflower farm near Fredericksburg, Texas, United States. It is the largest working wildflower farm in the country. The farm won the Garden Center 2001 Innovator award....
in Fredericksburg was founded by John R. Thomas in 1983 as a result of that high demand, and produces 88 varieties of wildflower seeds. It is the largest family-owned wildflower seed farm in the United States and host of an annual Wildflower Celebration.
In 1994, the Seventy-third Texas Legislature
Seventy-third Texas Legislature
The 73rd Texas Legislature met from January 12, 1993 to May 31, 1993. All members present during this session were elected in the 1992 general elections.-Senate:-House of Representatives:-Senate:* Lieutenant Governor: Bob Bullock, Democrat...
passed H.B. No. 1425, allowing brewpub operations within the state of Texas. Fredericksburg Brewing Company began operations shortly thereafter.
A number of vineyards and related industry have also arisen in the post-LBJ era of Fredericksburg. The designated American Viticultural Area
American Viticultural Area
An American Viticultural Area is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States distinguishable by geographic features, with boundaries defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau , United States Department of the Treasury....
s of Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country AVA
Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country AVA
The Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country AVA is an American Viticultural Area surrounding the town of Fredericksburg, Texas in the Texas Hill Country. Fredericksburg and the surrounding area were settled by German immigrants in the nineteenth century. These settlers were the first to...
and the much larger Texas Hill Country AVA
Texas Hill Country AVA
The Texas Hill Country AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in the Texas Hill Country north of San Antonio and west of Austin, Texas. The appellation is the second largest American Viticultural Area, and covers an area of over...
both include Fredericksburg inside their boundaries. Fredericksburg is a common starting point or destination for tourists visiting wineries in the Texas Hill Country.
Education
The city of Fredericksburg is served by the Fredericksburg Independent School DistrictFredericksburg Independent School District
Fredericksburg Independent School District is a public school district based in Fredericksburg, Texas .In addition to Fredericksburg, the district serves the unincorporated communities of Stonewall, Luckenbach, Willow City, and Albert...
. The school's teams are called the "Battlin' Billies", with the mascot being a male angora goat. The "Billie" mascot originated because of the abundance of billy goats raised in this farming community, and because the image of a charging billy goat is well adapted to the game of football.
The first institute of higher learning in Fredericksburg was Fredericksburg College in 1876. The German Methodist Church of Fredericksburg founded the institution and offered courses in the arts, sciences and foreign language. Enrollment was about 150 students. W. J. R. Thoenssen was the first principal, succeeded by Charles F. Tansill. Finances caused the college to be closed in 1884. The property was sold to Fredericksburg Independent School District.
For higher education, Fredericksburg is home to Texas Tech University at Fredericksburg
Texas Tech University at Fredericksburg
Texas Tech University at Fredericksburg is an official off campus teaching site of Texas Tech University located in Fredericksburg, Texas. The site was established in 2002 to extend Texas Tech's presence by hosting year-round academic programs in the Texas Hill Country.- Academic programs :Texas...
.
It also has some private schools, such as:
- Ambleside School of Fredericksburg
- Fredericksburg Christian School
- Heritage School
- St. Mary's Elementary and Junior High School
Fredericksburg has a municipally operated library adjacent to the Gillespie County Courthouse.
Friends of Gillespie County Country Schools
Headquartered in Fredericksburg, the Friends of Gillespie County Country Schools is a group of former students and members of the community, interested in preserving the traditions of the old country schools, the community clubs, and the history of Gillespie County for future generations.Hospitals
Hill Country Memorial Hospital on Highway 16 is an acute-care facility that offers state of the artState of the art
The state of the art is the highest level of development, as of a device, technique, or scientific field, achieved at a particular time. It also refers to the level of development reached at any particular time as a result of the latest methodologies employed.- Origin :The earliest use of the term...
medical care, preventative care and a Wellness Center.
Major roads
- U.S. Highway 290
- U.S. Highway 87
- Texas State Highway 16
- Ranch Road 1631
- Farm to Market Road 965
Airport
Gillespie County Airport (FAA locator T82) is located on State Highway 16 South, about 2 miles (3.2 km) from downtown Fredericksburg, and features a 5002 ft (1,524.6 m) long runway and a hotel and diner. The airport was established by Hans Hannemann and Red Schroeder. Prior to 1945, the facility had been owned by the United States Army Air CorpsUnited States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
. Transient and long-terminal hangar rentals are available.
Climate
Fredericksburg experiences a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and a generally mild winter. Temperatures range from 82 °F (27.8 C) in the summer to 49 °F (9.4 C) during winter.Geography
Fredericksburg is located at 30.274058°N 98.871822°W (30.274058, -98.871822). This is about 63 miles (101 km) north of San Antonio and 67 miles (108 km) west of Austin.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17.2 km2), all of it land.
Enchanted Rock
Fifteen miles north of Fredericksburg is the geographical landmark Enchanted RockEnchanted Rock
Enchanted Rock is an enormous pink granite pluton rock formation located in the Llano Uplift approximately north of Fredericksburg, Texas, USA and south of Llano, Texas. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, which includes Enchanted Rock and surrounding land, spans the border between Gillespie...
. The Rock is a huge, pink granite exfoliation dome, that rises 425 feet (129.5 m) above ground, 1825 feet (556.3 m) above sea level, and covers 640 acres (2.6 km²). It is one of the largest batholiths (underground rock formation uncovered by erosion) in the United States, and was declared a National Natural Landmark
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
in 1970. In 1994, the State of Texas opened it as Enchanted Rock State Natural Area after adding facilities. The same year, Enchanted Rock was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Balanced Rock
Balanced Rock was a famous local landmark that perched atop Bear Mountain ten miles (16 km) north of Fredericksburg. The natural wonder stone pillar, about the size of a small elephant, precariously balanced on its small tip. It fell prey to vandals who dynamited it off its base in April 1986.Cross Mountain
Elevation 1915 feet (583.7 m). The first known record of Cross Mountain was in 1847 by Dr. Ferdinand von RoemerFerdinand von Roemer
Carl Ferdinand von Roemer , German geologist, had originally been educated for the legal profession at Göttingen, but became interested in geology, and abandoning law in 1840, studied science at the University of Berlin, where he graduated Ph.D...
. Native Americans used the location to signal each other about intrusions into their territory. The area was part of settler Dr. John Christian Durst's 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) allotment. Durst found a timber cross on the mountain, indicating that Spanish missionaries had once used the site. Durst named the place "Kreuzberg," or Cross Mountain. In 1849, a priest named Father George Menzel erected a new cross. In 1946, St. Mary's Catholic Church erected a metal and concrete cross. The mountain has been used both for the Easter Fires pageant and for Easter sunrise services. Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark is a designation awarded by the Texas Historical Commission for historically and architecturally significant properties in the state of Texas....
1976.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,911 people, 3,784 households, and 2,433 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,342.1 people per square mile (518.2/km2). There were 4,183 housing units at an average density of 630.0 per square mile (243.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.08% White, 0.27% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.09% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.00% of the population. English is spoken by 72.73% of the population, Spanish by 14.77%, and Texas German by 12.48%.
There were 3,784 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 20.8% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 30.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 81.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,276, and the median income for a family was $43,670. Males had a median income of $25,878 versus $22,171 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $18,788. About 7.5% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The city of Fredericksburg is run under the Council-Manager form of government. As per the Home Rule Charter adopted May 1991, the governing body of Fredericksbug consists of a Mayor and four council members. Both the mayor and the council are elected in alternating years by the city at large for two-year terms with a limit of four consecutive terms.Council Members
- Tim Dooley
- Bjorn Kirchdorfer
- Kevin MacWithey (Mayor Pro Tem)
- Graham Pearson
Radio
AM Radio station KNAF went on the air in 1947. The original license was granted by the Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
to Arthur Stehling.
The license was transferred to Norbert Fritz and family.
Newspapers
The Fredericksburg Standard was originally titled Gillespie County News and founded in 1888. The name change happened in 1907. The paper was purchased by the Fredericksburg Publishing Company in 1915, which also published the German language newspaper Fredericksburg Wochenblatt. The Radio Post began publishing in 1922 and was purchased in 1984 by the Fredericksburg Publishing Company. The two newspapers merged into the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post.Fredericksburg in popular culture
- Film:
- Baghdad TexasBaghdad TexasBaghdad Texas is a comedy film directed by David H. Hickey and stars Al No'Mani, Robert Prentiss, Melinda Renna, Barry Tubb, Ryan Boggus and Shaneye Ferrell. The writers include Shaneye Ferrell, David H. Hickey and Al No'Mani. The movie was produced by Booka Michel...
(2009) filmed in Fredericksburg and KerrvilleKerrville, TexasKerrville is a city in Kerr County, Texas, United States. The population was 20,425 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the population was 22,826... - Seven Days in UtopiaSeven Days in UtopiaSeven Days in Utopia is the inspirational drama sport film directed by Matt Russell, starring Robert Duvall, Lucas Black, and Melissa Leo.The film is based on the 2009 book Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia by Dr. David Lamar Cook, a psychologist who received a Ph.D...
(2011) filmed at the Boot Ranch golf club just north of Fredericksburg as well as in Utopia, TexasUtopia, TexasUtopia is a census-designated place in Uvalde County, Texas, United States. The population was 241 at the 2000 census.-History:The citizens of the earlier settlement of Waresville renamed their city Utopia after finding 'Montana, Texas,' had already been taken. To this day the cemetery is named...
and featuring Academy Award Winner Robert DuvallRobert DuvallRobert Selden Duvall is an American actor and director. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and a BAFTA over the course of his career....
and Lucas BlackLucas BlackLucas York Black is an American film and television actor. He is known for his roles in the CBS television series American Gothic as well as roles in films such as Sling Blade, Jarhead, Friday Night Lights, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Legion, Get Low, and All the Pretty Horses.-Personal...
. Based on the book Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia, Grand Rapids : Zonderevan, 2009. ISBN 9780310318859
- Baghdad Texas
- Music:
- "Stoned" (1995) a song by Old 97'sOld 97'sThe Old 97's are an alternative country band from Dallas, Texas. Formed in 1993, they have since released nine studio albums, two full extended plays, shared split duty on another, and have one live album. Their most recent release is The Grand Theatre, Volume Two...
advises 'Take a Greyhound to Fredericksburg' - "Chester Nimitz Oriental Garden Waltz" (1988) a song by the Austin Lounge LizardsAustin Lounge LizardsThe Austin Lounge Lizards are a band from Austin, Texas formed in 1980. The band includes founding members Hank Card and Conrad Deisler, along with Darcie Deaville and Bruce Jones...
- "Stoned" (1995) a song by Old 97's
- Books:
} During the Civil War, young Louisa is the youngest daughter in a German household in Fredericksburg. One brother has been killed by Confederate vigiliantes James P. Waldrip and Die Haengebande, and the other brother is in a Union prison.
} Lawyer Beck Hardin returns to his hometown of Fredericksburg after the death of his wife, helping to solve an old crime.
Notable people
- Jacob BicklerJacob BicklerJacob Bickler was a scholar, educator and president of the Texas State Teacher's Association. He was founder of the boys' Texas German and English Academy and the co-educational Bickler Academy, both located in Austin, Texas...
(1849–1902) Educator, founder of two Austin academies, taught summer school in Frederickburg. - Jacob Friedrich Brodbeck (1821–1910) Educator, aviation pioneer
- Amanda Julia Estill (1882–1965) Educator, writer, and folklorist
- Matthew GainesMatthew GainesMatthew Gaines was a former slave, community leader, minister, and Republican Texas State Senator. He made valuable contributions towards the establishment of free public education in the state of Texas.- Former slave :...
(1840–1900) Slave, Baptist minister. After Emanciapation became a senator in the Texas State Legislature - General Michael W. Hagee (b. 1944) 33rd U.S. Marine Corps Commandant
- Max HirschMax HirschMaximilian J. "Max" Hirsch was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Born in Fredericksburg, Texas, Hirsch became one of the most successful trainers in Thoroughbred horse racing history. He spent part of his formative years working as a groom and jockey at Morris Ranch in...
(1880–1969) National Museum of Racing and Hall of FameNational Museum of Racing and Hall of FameThe National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
thoroughbred horse trainer. - Betty HolekampBetty HolekampBetty Holekamp was a German colonist and pioneer in Texas. She is recognized for several "firsts" as a Texas pioneer, such as being the first to sew an American flag upon Texas's acceptance into the Union, and thus is known as the Betsy Ross of Texas...
(1826–1902) German colonist and pioneer woman, called the Betsy RossBetsy RossBetsy Ross is widely credited with making the first American flag. There is, however, no credible historical evidence that the story is true.-Early life:...
of Texas. - 1st Lieutenant Louis John JordanLouis Jordan (American football)Louis John Jordan was an American football player. He played for the University of Texas from 1911 to 1914 and was the first Texas Longhorns player to be selected as an All-American. Jordan was killed by German artillery while serving in France during World War I...
(1890–1918) The first Texan officer killed in World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Battalion C, 149th Field Artillery, 42nd Division, was posthumously in 1924 awarded the Croix de GuerreCroix de guerreThe Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
. All-American football player with Texas Longhorns (1911–1914). The Louis Jordan Post of the American LegionAmerican LegionThe American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
in Fredericksburg is named in his honor. - Hugo Emil Klaerner (1908–1982) Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
pitcher - Guick Koock (b. 1944) Actor, humorist, folklorist, business person. Owner of Oma Koock's Restaurant (now Hondo's on Main). One-time owner of LuckenbachLuckenbach, TexasLuckenbach is an unincorporated community thirteen miles from Fredericksburg in southeastern Gillespie County, Texas, United States, part of the Texas Hill Country. It consists of between South Grape Creek and Snail Creek, just south of U.S. Highway 290 on the south side of Farm to Market Road...
- Jacob Kuechler (1823–1893) Surveyor, conscientious objector during the Civil War, and commissioner of the Texas General Land Office.
- Hermann LungkwitzHermann LungkwitzHermann Lungkwitz was a 19th Century German-born Texas romantic landscape artist and photographer whose work became the first pictoral record of the Texas Hill Country.-Early life:...
(1813–1891) Romantic landscape artist and photographer, noted for first pictorial records of the Texas Hill Country. - John O. MeusebachJohn O. MeusebachJohn O. Meusebach , born Baron Otfried Hans von Meusebach, was at first a Prussian bureaucrat, later an American farmer and politician who served in the Texas Senate, District 22.-Early years:John O...
(1812–1897) Founding father of Fredericksburg - Chester Emil Nagel (b. 1911) Architect
- Lieut. Phillip I. Neel (1979–2007) First Fredericksburg soldier to die in IraqIraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. - Charles Henry NimitzCharles Henry NimitzCharles Henry Nimitz was a German merchant seaman, as was his father before him. He was the grandfather of, and role model for, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz. In 1852, he built the Nimitz Hotel in Fredericksburg, Texas, United States. The hotel he built now houses the National Museum of the...
(1826–1911) Built the Nimitz Hotel in 1852. Grandfather of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz. Elected to the Texas Legislature in 1890. - Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz (1885–1966) Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Forces in World War II.
- Friedrich Richard PetriFriedrich Richard PetriFriedrich Richard Petri was a German-born Texas painter who works recorded life in the original German immigrant settlements, and portrayed native American tribes in family settings.-Early life:...
(1824–1857) Painter who depicted relationships between early German settlers and local native American tribes. - Colonel Alfred P. C. PetschAlfred P.C. PetschAlfred P. C. Petsch was a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives for the 85th District of Fredericksburg and Gillespie County. He was a retired Lieutenant Colonel who saw service in both World War I and World War II...
(1887–1981) Lawyer, legislator, civic leader, and philanthropist. Served in the Texas House of RepresentativesTexas House of RepresentativesThe Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
1925-1941. Veteran of both World War I and World War II. - County Judge Victor H. Sagebiel (1917–1977) United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran and civic leader. A fountain in the downtown plaza across from Pioneer Memorial Library honors him. - Frank Van der StuckenFrank Van der StuckenFrank Valentine Van der Stucken was an American composer and conductor, and founder of the Cincinnati Symphony in 1895.-Biography:...
(1858–1929) Music composer, conductor - Private Sammy J. Vollmar (1947–1967) United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
died June 1, 1967, becoming the first soldier from Gillespie County killed in the Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. - Hulda Saenger Walter (1867–1929) Poet, writer of German verse
See also
- Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country AVAFredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country AVAThe Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country AVA is an American Viticultural Area surrounding the town of Fredericksburg, Texas in the Texas Hill Country. Fredericksburg and the surrounding area were settled by German immigrants in the nineteenth century. These settlers were the first to...
- AdelsvereinAdelsvereinSociety for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas, better known as Adelsverein , organized on April 20, 1842, was a colonial attempt to establish a new Germany within the borders of Texas.-History:...
- Cherry Springs Dance HallCherry Springs Dance HallCherry Springs Dance Hall, is one of the oldest and most historic dance halls in Texas. It is located at 17662 North U.S. Highway 87, Cherry Springs, TX 78624. miles NW of Fredericksburg, Texas in Gillespie County's portion of the Texas Hill Country is the Texas farming community of Cherry Spring...
- Easter FireEaster FireEaster fires are typically bonfires lit before, during, or after Easter Sunday as part of secular and religious celebrations.-Easter Vigil:Fire can feature prominently during solemn Easter Vigil celebrations held after sunset on Holy Saturday...
- Enchanted RockEnchanted RockEnchanted Rock is an enormous pink granite pluton rock formation located in the Llano Uplift approximately north of Fredericksburg, Texas, USA and south of Llano, Texas. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, which includes Enchanted Rock and surrounding land, spans the border between Gillespie...
- German TexanGerman TexanGerman Texan is an ethnic category that includes residents of the state of Texas with German ancestry who identify with the term. This identification may include cultural agreements—German language, German cuisine, feasts, music, hard work, frugality, and close family ties. From their first...
- Loyal ValleyLoyal Valley, TexasLoyal Valley is an unincorporated farming and ranching community, established in 1858, and is north of Cherry Spring in the southeastern corner of Mason County, in the U.S. state of Texas. The community is located near Cold Spring Creek, which runs east for to its mouth on Marschall Creek in...
- Meusebach HomesiteHomesite of John O. MeusebachThe Homesite of John O. Meusebach is located at Loyal Valley in Mason County, Texas, north of Fredericksburg and southeast of the city of Mason, on U.S. Highway 87 to right-of-way at the intersection of US 87 and RM 2242. Meusebach moved to the property in 1869, after a tornado destroyed his...
- Sisterdale, TexasSisterdale, TexasSisterdale, Texas, is an unincorporated farming and ranching community, established in 1847 and located north of Boerne in Kendall County, in the U.S. state of Texas. The community is located in the valley of Sister Creek. The current 2010 population is 25...
- Texas Hill CountryTexas Hill CountryThe Texas Hill Country is a vernacular term applied to a region of Central Texas featuring tall rugged hills consisting of thin layers of soil atop limestone or granite. It also includes the Llano Uplift and the second largest granite monadnock in the United States, Enchanted Rock, which is located...
- Wildseed FarmsWildseed FarmsWildseed Farms is a wildflower farm near Fredericksburg, Texas, United States. It is the largest working wildflower farm in the country. The farm won the Garden Center 2001 Innovator award....
- Wrede SchoolWrede School, Gillespie County, TexasWrede School is located at 3929 S. State Highway 16, Fredericksburg, Gillespie County, Texas. It was first built in 1896. The school district was consolidated with Fredericksburg Independent School District in 1960. The schoolhouse now serves as a community center...