Schulenburg, Texas

Schulenburg is a city in Fayette County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,750 at the 2010 census. Known for its German culture, Schulenburg is home of the Texas Polka Music Museum.

History

In 1831, the Mexican government granted 4,428 acres (1,792 ha) of land to Kesiah Crier. Crier's family and the James Lyons family were the first white settlers in the area. The town of Schulenburg developed from two nearby communities: Lyons, founded in 1842, and High Hill, settled in 1842 and later named in 1858. In 1873, the Galveston, Harris and San Antonio Railroad bought land in the area, then built a depot on the portion formerly owned by Louis Schulenburg, naming it after him. The first train arrived on New Year's Eve of 1873, and the town was formally incorporated on May 24, 1875.

Many of the early settlers to Schulenburg and the surrounding area were of German, Austrian and Czechoslovakian descent, and the area still shows evidence of their culture. Local bakeries are noted for their kolaches. Other immigrants of Jewish descent also made Schulenburg their home and many of them became merchants.