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Bandera Texas HistoryExperience the good old wild West |
 History and facts about Bandera County TX |
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Bandera County starts 25 mi northwest of San Antonio. It belongs to the Edwards Plateau region of southwest Texas. North of Bandera County is Kerr County and Kendall county. East lies Bexar County, South are Medina County and Uvalde County. West of Bandera County Real County is located. Bandera County is 792 square miles of rolling hills, scenic open land, magnificent cypress and cedar trees, lakes and rivers, with elevations that range from 1,200 to 2,300 feet. The western part of the county is drained by the Sabinal River and the eastern part by the Medina River. The Medina River runs from the northwest corner of Bandera County southeast into Medina Lake.  At the southeast corner of the county is Medina Lake on the county line between Bandera and Medina counties. There are two State natural areas and one private 128 acre Nature preserve. Lost Maples State Natural Area in the western edge of the county and Hill Country State National Area on the southern border of Bandera County and Medina County. A Nature Preserve with guided tours is located in Pipe Creek, south of Bandera.  The major towns and business centers in Bandera County are Medina Pipe Creek Lakehills Tarpley Vanderpool and the largest, Bandera. Bandera is the county seat. The area of Bandera County was inhabited by humans for several thousand years. Archeological artifacts show that humans arrived around 9,000 years ago and settled in rock shelters. Lipan Apaches and, later, Comanches occupied the area.  First Europeans came from Spain in the eighteenth century. Bandera is Spanish for *flag*. The story we were told is that there were many clashes between the native Indians and the settlers. Most of them won by the settlers fighting together with soldiers. Several flags were put at Bandera Pass to warn the native Americans that they are not allowed to enter this area. The town of Bandera was surveyed and platted In 1853 by James and DeMontel. DeMontel was born in Koenigsberg, Prussia, as Scheidemontel, attended the University of Heidelberg, later changed his name to DeMontel. Later A. Milstead, Thomas Odem, P. D. Saner with their families settled along the river. Century old Cypress trees were cut down to make cypress shingles. To get the work done faster a horse-powered sawmill was used. The shingles were sold to San Antonio and to the US government who need a lot of shingles for new forts and military outposts in the West. 1854 a new settlement was founded by a group of Mormons. About 250 Mormons settled a few miles below the town called the "Mormon Camp". You cannot find this place anymore, because Medina Lake covers this area. The Mormons were good craftsman making furniture, tables, and chairs. 16 Polish families arrived 1855 in Bandera and were hired by James and DeMontel's sawmill. In the same year, the German August Klappenbach opened the first store and post office in Bandera. On January 25, 1856, the legislature marked off Bandera County from portions of Bexar County - the new county was formally organized on March 10, 1856, in the 17th Judicial District. Also in 1856, the first U.S. Cavalry troops arrived at Camp Verde, ten miles north of Bandera in Kerr County to protect the pioneers from Indian attacks. Bandera, the city, although established in 1853, the beautiful Bandera County Courthouse was built in 1890-91.  Bandera Courthouse - renovated Bandera did not become an incorporated city until 1964 and is still the only incorporated city in Bandera County. Bandera is known as the 'Cowboy Capital of the World' and is very proud of its Texas heritage.  Medina, established in 1880, is an unincorporated town 14 miles north of Bandera. Medina claims the distinct title of 'Apple Capital of Texas' was hosting the Texas International Apple Festival. Lakehills is an unincorporated area in southeast Bandera County established in 1854. Bandera has only one Nature Center located in Pipe Creek Texas.  Bear Springs Blossom Nature Conservation protects Nature + humans 引述大自然  - - -
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Greenhouse GasesGlobal warming - - Climate Change  Biodiversity   ButterfliesMonarch butterfly - Wildflowers
Why trees areso important! Philosophy - Sapere Aude! - Famous Men
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