New Braunfels is a city near San Antonio, Texas. It's known for the Comal and Guadalupe rivers, which wind past leafy parks like Landa and Cypress Bend. Original 1800s German buildings like Gruene Hall are preserved in the Gruene Historic District. To the west, walkways snake through underground limestone caves at Natural Bridge Caverns. The Schlitterbahn water park has rides, slides and a wave pool. ― Google
ZIP Codes: 78130–78133
Weather: 6°C, Wind N at 8 km/h, 75% Humidity Weather data
Population: 98,857 (2021)
Neighborhoods: Gruene, Mission Hills Ranch, MORE
Area code: 830
Elevation: 630 ft (192 m)
Founded: 1845
New Braunfels, situated in both Comal and Guadalupe counties in Texas, USA, is the administrative center of Comal County. Spanning 44.9 square miles (116 km²), it had a population of 90,403 as of the 2020 Census. This suburb of San Antonio is part of the Greater San Antonio metropolitan area and was noted as the third-fastest-growing city in the US from 2010 to 2020. As of 2022, its population is estimated at 104,707 by the U.S. Census Bureau. The city is renowned for its German Texan heritage.
Established in 1845 by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels, New Braunfels was named after his German hometown. Prince Carl, the Commissioner General of the Mainzer Adelsverein (Noblemen's Society), initiated the settlement. The city began with German immigrants arriving in Texas in 1844, with many settling near the Comal Springs after purchasing land from Rafael Garza and Maria Antonio Veramendi Garza.
Initially, the settlers established a fort and divided the land, focusing on construction and agriculture. However, financial challenges arose due to inexperienced management and logistical issues. John O. Meusebach eventually replaced Prince Carl, reorganizing the colony's finances and establishing a more practical and inclusive approach.
New Braunfels thrived under Meusebach's guidance, leading to the foundation of additional settlements like Fredericksburg. By 1850, it became Texas's fourth-largest city. The local newspaper, the Zeitung, was founded in 1852, continuing today as the Herald-Zeitung.
Geographically, New Braunfels lies in southeastern Comal County, positioned between San Antonio, San Marcos, and Austin. The city covers a total area of 44.9 square miles, with a small percentage under water. It is located along the Balcones Fault, featuring the Comal River, one of the world's shortest rivers.
The Gruene Historical District, a nationally registered historic area, is also part of New Braunfels. Once a thriving cotton community, it now offers dining and entertainment options, including the famous Gruene Hall.
New Braunfels experiences a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and mild winters. It falls in the USDA hardiness zones 8b and 9a and is known for its susceptibility to flooding, as evidenced by the severe floods in 1998 and 2002.
