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FALLS CITY, TEXAS

Karnes County, South Texas

28°59'N 98°1'W (28.9807, –98.0196)

US Highway 181
44 Miles SE of San Antonio
10 Miles NW of Karnes City the county seat
17 Miles SE of Floresville
One Mile SE of the Wilson County Line
ZIP code 78113
Area code 830
Population: 514 (2020)
611 (2010) 591 (2000) 478 (1990)

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Falls City TX main street building
Falls City building
Photo courtesy Sarah Reveley, 2006

History in a Pecan Shell

The town was formed by populations drawn from the previously settled (1850s) towns of Marcelina and Home Valley when the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway built a switch here in 1886.

The railroad named the switch after San Antonian George W. Brackenridge who was a major shareholder in the SAAP line. A depot was built and the following year a post office named Skiles opened nearly a mile from the tracks and across the river.

In late 1893, it was relocated closer to the depot and when Skiles and Brackenridge merged, neither fought for their name but compromised on naming the new post office after nearby waterfalls.

By the mid 1890s the town was thriving with all essential businesses in place. Besides the aforementioned communities of Marcelina and Home Valley, Falls City also drew population from nearby Polish towns of Panna Maria and Cestohowa.

This infusion changed the demographics of the town and Falls City became predominantly Polish-American. In 1902 the Holy Trinity Catholic Church was built and a Catholic school opened in 1911. This was replaced by a larger school in the early 1930s. Falls City incorporated in the fall of 1946.

Oil was discovered near the community and shortly thereafter (1958) uranium was discovered. The town was split on whether or not to continue mining. Businessmen were pro while the farmers were con. The conflict continued for years, but by the mid-1990s the matter appears to have been resolved. The population of 478 people has increased slightly to the 591 reported for the 2000 census.


Falls City TX bank building

Falls City bank building
Photo courtesy Sarah Reveley, 2006
More Texas Banks



Falls City TX bank vault
Bank vault
Photo courtesy Sarah Reveley, 2006
More Texas Banks


Falls City TX mansion
Photo courtesy Sarah Reveley, 2006


Falls City TX - Pawelek House.Jacinto Guevara painting of  typical South Texas house
Pawelek House.
An impressionistic view of a typical south Texas home that stood in Falls City.
[Urban Landscapes of Jacinto Guevara]

Copyright Jacinto Guevara

Take a road trip

South Texas

Falls City, Texas Nearby Towns:
Karnes City the county seat
Floresville
San Antonio
See Karnes County | Wilson County

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