Fredericksburg () is a city in and the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

of Gillespie County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 Census, this city had a population of 10,875. 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 located 70 miles northwest of

San Antonio San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...

, and approximately 80 miles west of

Austin Austin refers to: Common meanings * Austin, Texas, United States, a city * Austin (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin (surname), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin Motor Company, a British car manufac ...

. This city is also notable as the home of

Texas German Texas German (, ) is a group of German dialects, German language dialects spoken by descendants of mid-19th century German settlers, Texas Germans. They settled the Texas German Country, running from Houston to the Texas Hill Country, Hills Reg ...

, a dialect spoken by the first generations of

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

settlers who initially refused to learn English. Fredericksburg shares many cultural characteristics with New Braunfels, which had been established by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels the previous year. Fredericksburg is the birthplace of Fleet Admiral

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

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

History

Geography

Fredericksburg is located east of the center of Gillespie County north of

and west of

. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

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

Enchanted Rock

Enchanted Rock is a geographical landmark north of Fredericksburg in Llano County. The rock is a huge, pink granite exfoliation dome that rises above the surrounding land, has a summit elevation of above sea level, and covers . Enchanted Rock offers 8.4 mi of hiking trails, camping, picnicking, rock climbing, and other outdoor activities. It is one of the largest

batholith A batholith () is a large mass of intrusive rock, intrusive igneous rock (also called plutonic rock), larger than in area, that forms from cooled magma deep in the Earth's crust. Batholiths are almost always made mostly of felsic or intermediate ...

s (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 e ...

in 1970. In 1994, the

State of Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

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 Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

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 Ferdinand von Roemer. Native Americans used the location to signal each other about intrusions into their territory. The area was part of settler 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.

Climate

Fredericksburg experiences a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

, with hot summers and generally mild winters. Average temperatures range from in the summer to during winter.

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 North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean, so named because its tail can be almost half its total length and is not a ...

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 Agriculture, cultivated in China. It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and the glossy-skinned, non-fuzzy varieties called necta ...

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 company, privately held supermarket chain based in San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, with more than 435 stores throughout Texas and Mexico. The company also operates Central Market (Texas) ...

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 perennial flowering plants in the sage family, Lamiaceae. It is native plant, native to the Old World, primarily found across the drier, warmer regions of the Mediterranean ...

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 University of Texas at Austin, 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 ...

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 beer manufactured by craft breweries, which typically produce smaller amounts of beer than larger "macro" breweries and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as emphasising enthusiasm, ne ...

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 Area An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States, providing an official appellation for the mutual benefit of winery, wineries and consumers. Winemakers frequently want their consumers to know abo ...

s 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 * Heritage 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 87 * U.S. Route 290 * Texas State Highway 16 * Ranch to Market 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 ri ...

. Transient and long-term hangar rentals are available.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,875 people, 4,796 households, and 2,823 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2000, 8,911 people, 3,784 households, and 2,433 families resided in the city. The population density was . The 4,183 housing units averaged 630 per square mile (243.2/km²). The racial makeup 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

, 12.5% were of Irish, 10.8% were of English, 4.9% were of American, 3.2% were of Scotch-Irish, 2.3% were of

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

, 2.3% were of Dutch. Of the 3,784 households, 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

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 average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

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 ...

, 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 Fredericksburg 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.

Media

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 government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, internet, wi-fi, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains j ...

to Arthur Stehling. The license was transferred to Norbert Fritz and family.

Newspapers

The ''Fredericksburg Standard'' was originally titled ''Gillespie County News'' and was 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. With a career spanning seven decades, he is regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time. He has received an Academy Awards, Academy Award, a British Academy Film Awards ...

and Lucas Black. 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 music, rock band from Dallas, Texas, Dallas, Texas. Formed in 1992, they have released thirteen studio albums, two full extended plays, shared split duty on another, and they have one live album. Their most recent r ...

advises 'Take a Greyhound to Fredericksburg' ** "Chester Nimitz Oriental Garden Waltz" (1988) a song by the Austin Lounge Lizards ** Grammy-winning blues artist Johnny Nicholas runs the Hill Top Cafe on US87 near Fredericksburg in a 1930s former gas station * Books: **Early 1932 saw author

Robert E. Howard Robert Ervin Howard (January 22, 1906 – June 11, 1936) was an American writer who wrote pulp magazine, pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. He created the character Conan the Barbarian and is regarded as the father of the sword and sor ...

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, 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 created by American author Robert E. Howard (1906–1936) and who debuted in 1932 and went on to appear in a series of fantasy stories published in ''We ...

. ** 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 and satirist. His material— encompassing a wide range of social issues including religion, politics, and philosophy— was controversial and ofte ...

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 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

City of Fredericksburg website
*
Official Tourism Website
of the Fredericksburg, TX Convention & Visitors Bureau {{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