Cestohowa, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cestohowa
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Sign at boundary of Cestohowa
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 Cestohowa
Location in Texas
Cestohowa
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Karnes |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 110 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
78113
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Cestohowa is a small, unincorporated community in Karnes County, Texas, United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a group of homes and buildings that doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. In 2000, about 110 people lived there. This community has a special history, deeply connected to Polish settlers who came to Texas.
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Where is Cestohowa?
Cestohowa is located in northern Karnes County, Texas. It's about five miles north of another historic Polish settlement called Panna Maria. The community is also about 50 miles southeast of the big city of San Antonio. You can find it along a road called FM 3191.
The Story of Cestohowa
Cestohowa has a long history, even before the Polish settlers arrived. In 1734, the Spanish built a fort nearby. It was called the Presidio Fuerte de Santa Cruz del Cibolo. This fort helped protect the area.
Polish Settlers Arrive
The community's story is closely linked to Panna Maria. Panna Maria is important because it was the very first Polish settlement in the United States. In 1873, about 40 families from Silesia (a region in Poland) moved from Panna Maria to start a new settlement. They named it Cestohowa.
Why the Name Cestohowa?
The name "Cestohowa" comes from a city in Poland called Częstochowa. This Polish city is famous for a special painting. It's called the painting of Our Lady of Częstochowa. This painting is very important to Roman Catholics. The settlers chose the name to honor their homeland and their faith.
Building the Community
The settlers worked hard to build their new home.
- A church was built in Cestohowa between 1877 and 1878.
- The community had its own post office from 1883 until 1918.
- A public school opened in 1937. It took over a church school that was already there. The public school operated until the 1970s.
Today, about 110 people still live in the Cestohowa community.
Education in Cestohowa
Students living in Cestohowa attend public schools. Their education is provided by the Falls City Independent School District.
