Bracken, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bracken, Texas
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 Bracken, Texas
Location in Texas
Bracken, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Comal |
| Elevation | 801 ft (244 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 830 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1331170 |
Bracken is a small, unincorporated community in Comal County, Texas, United States. This means it's a town that isn't officially a city with its own local government. In 2000, about 76 people lived there. Bracken is part of the larger Greater San Antonio area.
History of Bracken
Bracken got its name from William Bracken, who bought land here in 1849. Before that, the town was called Davenport. It was named after James G. Davenport, who settled there in 1868.
As the community grew, people built stores and a cotton gin. Residents wanted a post office. In 1883, the name was changed to Bracken because there was already another Davenport post office in Texas. The post office in Bracken closed in 1940, and at that time, about 50 people lived there. The population stayed around 75 to 76 people through the 1970s, 1990, and 2000.
William Bracken bought a large piece of land, about 1,114 acres (4.5 square kilometers). This land was given to him by Governor Peter Hansborough Bell. When the railroad was finished in 1890, a train station was built. Soon, the town had many saloons, which were places where people gathered for drinks and fun. The town grew to 13 blocks by the early 1900s.
Other businesses also opened, like a blacksmith (who worked with metal), a cotton gin (which separated cotton fibers), and a lumberyard. These businesses helped the town's economy grow because of the busy railroad. A dance hall was a popular place for entertainment. Later, in 1915, a bowling alley opened.
However, the town faced a big challenge after 1920. A new law called Prohibition made alcohol illegal in the United States. This caused many businesses to leave Bracken, and the general store even burned down. The town became much smaller and less busy.
Where is Bracken?
Bracken is located in southern Comal County, Texas. It is about 13.5 miles (21.7 kilometers) southwest of New Braunfels. The town is situated on the eastern side of Cibolo Creek, a local stream. It is also part of the beautiful Texas Hill Country, an area known for its rolling hills. Bracken is found along the old Farm to Market Road 1337 and Farm to Market Road 2252. These roads were built to help farmers get their goods to markets.
Near the town is Bracken Cave. This cave is famous for being home to the largest group of Mexican free-tailed bats in the world. During their spring migration, about 20 million bats live there! This makes it the largest known gathering of mammals anywhere. These bats have been using the cave for about 10,000 years. They are very helpful to local farms because they eat a lot of insects.
Schools in Bracken
After World War II, the Davenport School, which taught children in Bracken, joined with schools from nearby Solms and Danville. Together, they formed the Comal Elementary School.
Today, students in Bracken are part of the Comal Independent School District. Children living in the area usually go to Garden Ridge Elementary School, Danville Middle School, and Davenport High School.
