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NEW ULM
, TEXASAustin County,
Central Texas S
FM 1094 and 109
19 miles S of Brenham
22 miles SW of Bellville
16 miles NE of Columbus
on FM 109
23 miles NW of Sealy on FM 1094
Population:
650
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Cultivated
flowers in New Ulm
Photo courtesy Cissy CeCe wong |
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History in
a Pecan Shell
New Ulm is one
of the premier German settlements in Texas. There's a lot
of history for such a small and tranquil place. Richard King
of the King Ranch passed through New Ulm and tried his hand at cigar
manufacturing before heading south and in the 1920s a New Ulm store
was burgled by none other than one of the Newton Boys, although
we can't remember which one.
Like many towns in Austin, and Fayette Counties, the original settlers
were Anglo-American settlers who sold out to eager German buyers
who arrived literally by the boatload in the 1840s and 50s. The
original name of Duff's Settlement was replaced with the
much more Germanic name with the founding of the post office in
1852.
As early as
the 1850s New Ulm had six general stores, five blacksmiths, and
three breweries. Tobacco was a major cash crop and cigars
were manufactured in homes and at least one factory. The arrival
of the railroad (Missouri, Kansas and Texas) in 1892 just
increased New Ulm's already prosperous economy.
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More
of New Ulm's flowers
Photo courtesy Cissy Wong |
There
were 500 people in New Ulm in 1930 and while we await the new census
figures, New Ulm is currently at its record population of 650.
There were enough surviving 19th century buildings to get New
Ulm featured in Texas Public Buildings of the 19th Century by Williard
B. Robinson, a favorite reference of ours.
The TE Grand Tour of Austin County includes New Ulm, Cat
Spring, Frelsburg,
and Industry.
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save
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Hotels
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Texas Forum
Anyone
wishing to share stories, memories or historic photos of New Ulm,
Texas, please contact
us.
© John Troesser |
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