Fredericksburg (german: Friedrichsberg) is the seat of Gillespie County, in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

. As of the 2010 Census, this 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. It is approximately eighty miles west from Greater Austin. This city 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 New Braunfels ( ) is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas known for its German Texan heritage. It is the seat of Comal County. The city covers and had a population of 90,403 as of the 2020 Census. A suburb just north ...

, which had been established by

Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels Prince Carl (Karl) of Solms-Braunfels (27 July 1812 – 13 November 1875), 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 spearhe ...

the previous year. Fredericksburg is the birthplace of Fleet Admiral

Chester Nimitz Chester William Nimitz (; February 24, 1885 – February 20, 1966) was a fleet admiral in the United States Navy. He played a major role in the naval history of World War II as Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet, and Commander in C ...

. It is the sister city of

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 w ...

, Germany. On October 14, 1970, the Fredericksburg Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas.

Geography

Fredericksburg is located east of the center of Gillespie County at (30.274058, −98.871822). It is north of

San Antonio ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_t ...

and west of Austin. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...

, the city has a total area of , of which are land and , or 0.55%, is covered by water.

Enchanted Rock

Enchanted Rock Enchanted Rock is a pink granite mountain located in the Llano Uplift about north of Fredericksburg, Texas and south of Llano, Texas, United States. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, which includes Enchanted Rock and surrounding land, spans t ...

is a geographical landmark north of Fredericksburg in Llano County. The rock is a huge, pink granite

exfoliation dome Granite domes are domical hills composed of granite with bare rock exposed over most of the surface. Generally, domical features such as these are known as bornhardts. Bornhardts can form in any type of plutonic rock but are typically composed o ...

that rises above the surrounding land, has a summit elevation of above sea level, and covers . Enchanted Rock offers 8.4 miles of hiking trails, camping, picnicking, rock climbing, and other outdoor activities. It is one of the largest batholiths (underground rock formation uncovered by erosion) in the United States, and was declared a

National Natural Landmark The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only national natural areas program that identifies and recognizes the best ...

in 1970. In 1994, the

State of Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

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 The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock was a famous local landmark that perched atop Bear Mountain north of Fredericksburg. The natural wonder stone pillar, precariously balanced on its small tip. It fell prey to vandals, who dynamited it off its base in April 1986.

Cross Mountain

The first known record of Cross Mountain (elevation ) was in 1847 by Dr. Ferdinand von Roemer. 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 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, 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. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 1976.

History

Architecture

The Vereins Kirche, the Pioneer Museum Complex, Pioneer Memorial Library, and other architecture.

Churches and religion

Nimitz Hotel and National Museum of the Pacific War

Railway

On January 3, 1913, The San Antonio, Fredericksburg and Northern Railway was chartered to connect Fredericksburg with the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway near Waring. In 1913 a long railroad tunnel was built. 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, which had been chartered on December 26 of that year. The train operated until July 27, 1942. Since the shutdown of the railway the tunnel has become a bat cave, hosting over 3 million

Mexican free-tailed bat The Mexican free-tailed bat or Brazilian free-tailed bat (''Tadarida brasiliensis'') is a medium-sized bat native to the Americas, so named because its tail can be almost half its total length and is not attached to its uropatagium. It has been ...

s. In 2012 it became Old Tunnel State Park, with provides picnic and restroom facilities for visitors.

Agritourism

The Fredericksburg-Stonewall area has become known as the

Peach The peach (''Prunus persica'') is a deciduous tree first domesticated and cultivated in Zhejiang province of Eastern China. It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and others (the glossy-skinned, non-f ...

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 Grocery Company, LP, is an American privately held supermarket chain based in San Antonio, Texas, with more than 340 stores throughout the U.S. state of Texas, as well as in northeast Mexico. The company also operates Central Market, an ...

grocery chain, and eventually had 5,000 producing peach trees on . 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 picked fruit, or pick their own. Main Street at Fredericksburg

Herb farms, grape culture,

lavender ''Lavandula'' (common name lavender) is a genus of 47 known species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Old World and is found in Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, and from Europe across to northern and easte ...

production, and wildflower seeds have become burgeoning businesses in Fredericksburg. Combinations of agribusiness with day spas, wedding facilities, or bed-and-breakfast accommodations are not unusual. Even a Texas Hill Country Lavender Trail has been designated. Lady Bird Johnson's passion for Texas wildflowers not only lives on in the

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin is the state botanical garden and arboretum of Texas. The center features more than 900 species of native Texas plants in both garden and natural settings and is hom ...

in Austin, but also sparked a high demand for seed. The 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 Craft beer is a beer that has been made by craft breweries. They produce smaller amounts of beer, typically less than large breweries, and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as having an emphasis ...

operations within Texas. Fredericksburg Brewing Company began operations shortly thereafter. A number of vineyards and related industries have also arisen in the post-LBJ era of Fredericksburg. The designated American Viticultural Areas 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.

Education

The city of Fredericksburg is served by the Fredericksburg Independent School District. The school's teams are called the "Battlin' Billies". 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 languages. 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: * Ambleside School of Fredericksburg * Fredericksburg Christian School * Heritage Family 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 medical care, preventive care, and a wellness center. It is consistently ranked in the top 100 hospitals in the nation.

Transportation

Major roads

U.S. Highway 290 U.S. Route 290 (US 290) is an east–west U.S. Highway located entirely within the state of Texas. Its western terminus is at Interstate 10 southeast of Segovia, and its eastern terminus is at Interstate 610 in northwest Houston. It is the m ...

* 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 from downtown Fredericksburg, and features a 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 Corps The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical r ...

. Transient and long-term hangar rentals are available.

Climate

Fredericksburg experiences a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and generally mild winters. Average temperatures range from in the summer to during winter.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, there were 10,875 people, 4,796 households, and 2,823 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2000, 8,911 people, 3,784 households, and 2,433 families resided in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was 1,342.1 people per square mile (518.2/km²). The 4,183 housing units averaged 630.0 per square mile (243.2/km²). The

racial makeup A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...

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. Hispanics or Latinos 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%. In terms of ancestry, 39.7% were of German, 12.5% were of

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

, 10.8% were of

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

, 4.9% were of American, 3.2% were of Scotch-Irish, 2.3% were of Scottish, 2.3% were of

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

. Of the 3,784 households, 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 not families. About 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 distributed as 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 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 (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $18,788. About 7.5% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, 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.

Mayor

Jeryl Hoover

Council Members

* Bobby Watson * Emily Eppright Kirchner * Tony Klein * TBD

Media communications

Radio

AM Radio station KNAF went on the air in 1947. The original license was granted by the

Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains jurisdicti ...

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''.

In popular culture

* Film: ** '' Baghdad Texas'' (2009) filmed in Fredericksburg and Kerrville, Texas ** '' Seven Days in Utopia'' (2011) filmed at the Boot Ranch golf club just north of Fredericksburg, as well as in Utopia, Texas, and featuring Academy Award-winner

Robert Duvall Robert Selden Duvall (; born January 5, 1931) is an American actor and filmmaker. His career spans more than seven decades and he is considered one of the greatest American actors of all time. He is the recipient of an Academy Award, four Gold ...

and

Lucas Black Lucas York Black (born November 29, 1982) is an American film and television actor. He is best known as the main character Sean Boswell in '' The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift'' (2006), of which he would later reprise the character in '' Fur ...

. It was based on the book
''Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia''
Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009. . * Music: ** "Stoned" (1995) a song by

Old 97's Old 97's is an American rock band from Dallas, Texas. Formed in 1992, they have since released twelve studio albums, two full extended plays, shared split duty on another, and have one live album. Their most recent release is ''Twelfth''. The ...

advises 'Take a Greyhound to Fredericksburg' ** "Chester Nimitz Oriental Garden Waltz" (1988) a song by the

Austin Lounge Lizards The Austin Lounge Lizards are a musical group from Austin, Texas, formed in 1980. The band includes founding members Hank Card and Conrad Deisler, along with Tim Wilson and Kirk Williams. The third founding member, Tom Pittman, retired from the ...

** Grammy-winning blues artist

Johnny Nicholas Johnny Nicholas (born 1948) is an American blues musician. He is most noted for being a member of the Grammy Award winning group, Asleep at the Wheel. Biography Nicholas grew up in Rhode Island, United States, where he formed his first band, ...

runs the Hill Top Cafe on US87 near Fredericksburg in a 1930s former gas station * Books: **Early 1932 saw author Robert E. Howard taking one of his frequent trips around Texas. He traveled through the southern part of the state with his main occupation being, in his own words, "the wholesale consumption of tortillas, enchiladas and cheap Spanish wine." In Fredericksburg, while overlooking sullen hills through a misty rain, he conceived of the prehistoric fantasy land of Cimmeria, the bitter hard northern region home to fearsome barbarians. In February, while in

Mission Mission (from Latin ''missio'' "the act of sending out") may refer to: Organised activities Religion *Christian mission, an organized effort to spread Christianity *Mission (LDS Church), an administrative area of The Church of Jesus Christ of ...

, he wrote the poem '' Cimmeria''. It was also during this trip that Howard first conceived of the character of

Conan the Barbarian Conan the Barbarian (also known as Conan the Cimmerian) is a fictional sword and sorcery hero who originated in pulp magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, films (including '' Conan the Barbarian'' and '' Conan the Destroyer'') ...

. ** During the Civil War, young Louisa is the youngest daughter in a German household in Fredericksburg. One brother has been killed by Confederate vigilantes 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. * Comedy: **

Bill Hicks William Melvin Hicks (December 16, 1961 – February 26, 1994) was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist, and musician. His material—encompassing a wide range of social issues including religion, politics, and philosophy—wa ...

referenced Fredericksburg in the bit "Gifts of Forgiveness" which was included on his 1997 posthumously released comedy album Rant In E-Minor * Radio: **

Walter de Paduwa Walter de Paduwa (aka Dr Boogie, born 1 February 1953) is a Belgian radio DJ, musician and rock'n'roll historian best known for his association with Canned Heat. Rock career Walter de Paduwa was active in the Belgian rock scene of the early 1970s ...

on his Dr Boogie radio show of 11/11/2016 described (in French) his 1990s visit to Fredericksburg eating sauerkraut at 35 degrees, and seeing the Nimitz statue but summing up with the somewhat sweeping advice ''N'allez jamais a Fredericksburg. Il n'y a RIEN a voir a Frederiksburg'' (Never go to Fredericksburg. There is NOTHING to see at Fredericksburg).Recording of the 11/11/2016 De Boogie show, with comments about Fredericksberg after 23" as part of the introduction to a Johnny Nicholas track

Notable people

Gallery

View of Enchanted Rock from base camp.jpg, View of Enchanted Rock from base camp Strolling down Enchanted Rock trail, TX IMG 0426.JPG, Couple strolling down Enchanted rock Downtown Fredericksburg, TX IMG_0406.JPG, Fredericksburg is known for its many downtown shops. Fredericksburg Vereins Kirche.JPG, The Vereins-Kirche, c. 1847 Fort martin scott 2008.jpg, Fort Martin Scott, c. 1848 Admiral Nimitz Museum.jpg, Admiral Nimitz Museum, c. 1852 Fredericksburg memorial library 2008.jpg, Pioneer Memorial Library (Gillespie County Courthouse), c. 1882 242 E Main Fredericksburg.jpg, White Elephant Saloon, c. 1888 Bank of Fredericksburg.jpg, Bank of Fredericksburg, c. 1889 Haussegen Platz Log Haus bed and breakfast Fredericksburg, Texas.jpg, Haussegen Platz Log Haus bed and breakfast StMarysFBG.jpg, St. Marys Catholic Church, c. 1906 Zion Lutheran Church.jpg, Zion Lutheran Church, c. 1854 (oldest Lutheran Church in the Texas Hill Country) Fredericksburg peace pipe statue.jpg, Bronze statue "Lasting Friendship" in Fredericksburg park commemorating the peace treaty between local settlers and the Comanche. Fredericksburg July 2017 5 (Marktplatz).jpg, Marktplatz Amish Furniture store, Fredericksburg, TX IMG_0404.JPG, Amish Furniture and Market in Fredericksburg John O. Meusebach statue.jpg, John O. Meusebach who led the German settlers to Fredericksburg

Notes

References

* * * *

External links

Old Tunnel Bat Habitat TPWD

City of Fredericksburg website
*
Official Tourism Website
of the Fredericksburg, TX Convention & Visitors Bureau
Old Tunnel State Park / Texas Parks and Wildlife
{{Authority control Cities in Texas Cities in Gillespie County, Texas County seats in Texas German-American culture in Texas German-American history Populated places established in 1846 1846 establishments in Texas