Spring Branch is a city located in
Comal County
Comal County ( ) is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 161,501. Comal County is known for its rich German-Texan and European history. Its county seat is New Braunfels.
...
,
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 ...
, United States. It has approximately 250 residents.
The community voted to
incorporate
Incorporation may refer to:
* Incorporation (business), the creation of a corporation
* Incorporation of a place, creation of municipal corporation such as a city or county
* Incorporation (academic), awarding a degree based on the student having ...
in an election held on November 3, 2015 and Spring Branch officially became a city on November 19, 2015.
Originally settled by Germans in the 19th century, Spring Branch is named for a spring fed creek that flows into the
Guadalupe River.
Geography
Spring Branch is located in western Comal County along
U.S. Highway 281, north of
Bulverde, west of
Canyon Lake and the surrounding
unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...
of the same name. New Braunfels is approximately southeast of Spring Branch. The city covers 1.9 square miles.
History
A significant portion of Spring Branch that borders the
Guadalupe River was first settled by German native Adam Becker (1815–1901). Becker journeyed to Texas in 1845 to join
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 ...
in establishing a colony on behalf of the
Adelsverein
The ''Mainzer Adelsverein at Biebrich am Rhein'' (''Verein zum Schutze Deutscher Einwanderer in Texas'', "Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas"), better known as the ''Mainzer Adelsverein'' (, "Nobility Society of Mainz"), orga ...
, also known as the German Emigration Company. Becker contributed to the building of
Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg (german: Friedrichsberg) is the seat of Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. 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. ...
, and assisted with other aspects of the colony. He married Elizabeth Monken and by 1852 had established his homestead on what is now Phantom Rider Trail in Spring Branch. On his homestead, he raised cattle. The house he built for his family, which was privately restored in the first decade of the 21st century, was constructed of locally quarried stone and hand-hewn cypress from the banks of the nearby
Guadalupe River. Adam Becker became a United States citizen in 1860 and upon his death in 1901 was buried in the cemetery on his homestead.
Incorporation
The movement to incorporate Spring Branch was initiated over concerns that the area could possibly be annexed into the growing city of Bulverde, which lies to the south. Voters in Bulverde adopted a home rule charter in May 2015 that would allow the city to involuntarily annex bordering properties, including portions of the Spring Branch community.
Supporters of the measure also cited local control and preservating the character of the community as further reasons to incorporate. Opponents questioned the economic viability of incorporating a small community with a limited tax base to fund and provide city services. Others expressed the desire to remain unincorporated, but would also prefer having their own city to becoming part of Bulverde.
The petition to place the issue on the ballot was approved by the Comal County Commissioners Court on August 20, 2015. On November 3, 2015, a total of 80 votes were cast, 51 (63.75%) in favor of incorporation and 29 (36.25%) against. Voters also elected a mayor and two commissioners. On November 12, the County Commissioners certified the election results and an official Order of Incorporation was issued by Judge Sherman Krause on November 19.
The elected mayor, James Mayer, and commissioners Brad Hockman and Danny Moore were sworn in on December 11, 2015.
Education
The
Comal Independent School District
Comal Independent School District is a public school district based in New Braunfels, Texas (USA).
The district covers in five central Texas counties - Comal, Bexar, Hays, Kendall, and Guadalupe. Incorporated communities in the district inc ...
serves students living in Spring Branch.
[Location Map]
" City of Spring Branch. Retrieved on August 27, 2016
Text description of map
/ref>
Zoned campuses for areas west of U.S. Highway 281 includ
Arlon Seay Elementary School
(grades K–5) an
Spring Branch Middle School
(grades 6–8), and Smithson Valley High School
Smithson Valley High School is a public high school located in unincorporated Comal County, Texas, United States and classified as a 5A school by the UIL. It is part of the Comal Independent School District and is one of seven high schools in ...
(grades 9–12).[Elementary School Attendance Zones]
Archive
. Comal Independent School District
Comal Independent School District is a public school district based in New Braunfels, Texas (USA).
The district covers in five central Texas counties - Comal, Bexar, Hays, Kendall, and Guadalupe. Incorporated communities in the district inc ...
. Retrieved on August 28, 2016. Zones
Arlon Seay
Archive
Bill Brown
Archive
[Middle School Attendance Zones]
Archive
. Comal Independent School District
Comal Independent School District is a public school district based in New Braunfels, Texas (USA).
The district covers in five central Texas counties - Comal, Bexar, Hays, Kendall, and Guadalupe. Incorporated communities in the district inc ...
. Retrieved on August 28, 2016
Spring Branch Middle zone
Archive
Smithson Valley Middle zone
Archive
[High School Attendance Zones]
Archive
. Comal Independent School District
Comal Independent School District is a public school district based in New Braunfels, Texas (USA).
The district covers in five central Texas counties - Comal, Bexar, Hays, Kendall, and Guadalupe. Incorporated communities in the district inc ...
. Retrieved on August 28, 2016
Smithson Valley HS zone
Archive
Zoned campuses for areas east of U.S. Highway 281 includ
Bill Brown Elementary School
(grades K–5)
Smithson Valley Middle School
(grades 6–8), and Smithson Valley High School
Smithson Valley High School is a public high school located in unincorporated Comal County, Texas, United States and classified as a 5A school by the UIL. It is part of the Comal Independent School District and is one of seven high schools in ...
(grades 9–12).
Bracken Christian School
a private Pre-K–12, non-denominational campus is also located near Spring Branch.
References
The middle school for those students who live to the east of 281 is Mountain Valley Middle School. These students will attend Canyon Lake High School.
External links
City of Spring Branch
– Official website
Bulverde/Spring Branch Area Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control
Cities in Comal County, Texas
Populated places established in 1852
Greater San Antonio
Cities in Texas
Populated places on the Guadalupe River (Texas)
1852 establishments in Texas