Clear Springs is a historic settlement in Guadalupe County,

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

, United States. It is part of the

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= U.S. state, State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , s ...

Metropolitan Statistical Area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...

. It shares its name with the nearby

Clear Springs Air Force Base Clear Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field is a former United States Air Force facility located East of New Braunfels, Texas near Clear Springs. History Originally opened as Clear Springs Auxiliary Field #5 when it was leased in 1940, before being ...

History

German settlers first immigrated to the area in the 1840s. Clear Springs was named for the natural springs water source for the settlement, which is now covered by

Lake Dunlap Lake Dunlap is a reservoir on the Guadalupe River near the town of New Braunfels in Guadalupe County, Texas, United States. The reservoir was formed in 1931 by the construction of a dam to provide hydroelectric power to the area. Management of ...

. The location on which Clear Springs sits had been surveyed by

James Bowie James Bowie ( ) ( – March 6, 1836) was a 19th-century American pioneer, slave smuggler and trader, and soldier who played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution. He was among the Americans who died at the Battle of the Alamo. Stories of h ...

. In 1873, a

cotton gin A cotton gin—meaning "cotton engine"—is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, enabling much greater productivity than manual cotton separation.. Reprinted by McGraw-Hill, New York and London, 1926 (); a ...

and general store were built for the processing, storage, and sale of cotton and goods. Wagon loads of cotton were brought from the region to the gin be to be weighed, sold and processed. The community had a post office in 1874 and called the location Bernhardsville. In 1875, the name was officially changed to Clear Springs. In the 1890s, Clear Springs hosted the general store, cotton gin, and a population of 100. The post office was closed in 1906; however, the residents stayed on to support the community. In later years, the store was incorporated into a dance hall and saloon. The dance hall became a local favorite, as it was the only establishment of the kind for several miles. Clear Springs had two businesses and a school in 1946. The school was consolidated with the New Braunfels school district in the 1950s. In 1990, several businesses as well as a church served a population of 60. The historical Clear Springs Hall and Store now houses Clear Springs Restaurant. This establishment has tried to preserve the German small town heritage and historical atmosphere of the structure itself. Clear Springs is located just off SH 46, at the intersection of SH 46 and FM 758, nine miles northwest of Seguin in northwestern Guadalupe County.Vivian Elizabeth Smyrl, "CLEAR SPRINGS, TX (GUADALUPE COUNTY)," Handbook of Texas Onlin

accessed July 20, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.

Geography

Clear Springs is located at (29.6760591, -98.0597292. This is about east of Downtown

and south of Austin, Texas, Austin.

References

External links

{{Guadalupe County, Texas Populated places in Guadalupe County, Texas Greater San Antonio