Waelder in Gonzales County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Town of Waelder
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, March 1, 2026
1. The Town of Waelder Marker
In 1875 and 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
this page online
Erected 1968 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 5441.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.
Location. 29° 41.579′ N, 97° 17.939′ W. Marker is in Waelder, Texas, in Gonzales County. It is at the intersection of North Railroad Street (U.S. 90) and South Avenue E (State Highway 97), on the right when traveling east on North Railroad Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Waelder TX 78959, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Hill Country. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, 1994
2. The Town of Waelder, Texas
Regarding The Town of Waelder. Regrettably, this marker fails to mention the community's "third" other largest ethnic group, the Afro-Americans from the "Old South" whose historical presence in Waelder was likewise significant and whose mark on the culture of Texas was comparably distinctive.
Also see . . .
1. Waelder, Texas. Wikipedia (Submitted on September 7, 2014.)
2. City of Waelder, Texas. (Submitted on September 7, 2014.)
Photographed by Jim Evans
3. The Town of Waelder Marker
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, March 1, 2026
4. The Town of Waelder Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 9, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,494 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 2, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. 2. submitted on April 9, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 3. submitted on September 6, 2014, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. 4. submitted on March 2, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
