Kendall County, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kendall County
U.S. county
The Kendall County Courthouse in Boerne
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1862
Named for	George Wilkins Kendall
Seat	Boerne
Largest city	Boerne
Area
• Total	663 sq mi (1,720 km2)
• Land	662 sq mi (1,710 km2)
• Water	0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.09%
Population  (2020)
• Total	44,279
• Density	66.79/sq mi (25.786/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	21st

Kendall County is a county located in the Edwards Plateau area of Texas. In 2020, about 44,279 people lived there. Its main town, or county seat, is Boerne. The county is named after George Wilkins Kendall, who was a journalist and war reporter.

Kendall County is part of the larger San Antonio–New Braunfels city area.

In 2006, Progressive Farmer magazine said Kendall County was the fifth "Best Place to Live in Rural America." It is also one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. Between 2015 and 2016, its population grew by more than 5%.

History of Kendall County

Early Days (Before 1850)

• In the early days, Native American tribes like the Kiowa, Comanche, and Lipan Apache lived in this area.
• In the 1700s, the Lipan Apaches found Cascade Caverns.
• In 1842, a group in Germany called the Adelsverein was formed. They wanted to help Germans move to Texas.
• The Fisher-Miller Land Grant was set up to give land to 600 families and single men from Germany and other European countries.
• In 1845, many German immigrants arrived in Indianola. They faced very tough conditions with little food or shelter. Many became sick or starved.
• Some of these settlers later founded towns. In 1847, Sisterdale was established.
• In 1849, a group of "Freethinkers" from Llano County settled a place called Tusculum. They didn't want any churches built there. This town was later renamed Boerne, after a German writer named Ludwig Börne.

Mid-1800s to Late 1800s

• In the 1850s, George W. Kendall brought sheep ranching to the county.
• In 1854, German immigrants in Texas held a big meeting. They decided on important ideas like equal pay for everyone, direct election of the U.S. President, and ending slavery. They also wanted free schools and a clear separation between church and state.
• The town of Comfort was founded by German immigrants who were against slavery.
• In 1860, the Boerne Village Band was formed. It is still playing music today!
• During the American Civil War, many people in Kendall County, especially Germans, supported the Union (the North). They formed a secret group called the Union League to support President Lincoln.
• In 1862, Kendall County was officially created from parts of Kerr and Blanco counties. It was named after George Wilkins Kendall. Boerne became the county seat.
• Some people in the county did not want to fight in the war. They tried to escape to Mexico. Sadly, some were killed in a tragic event called the Nueces massacre.
• In 1866, the Treue der Union Monument was built in Comfort. It honors the German Texans who died supporting the Union. It is special because it is one of the few places outside national cemeteries where the U.S. flag can fly at half-mast forever.
• The first Kendall County courthouse was built in 1870. It was made of limestone.
• In 1887, a railway line connected Boerne to San Antonio, making travel and trade easier.

1900s to Today

• By 1900, Kendall County had many farms. Raising livestock was a very important business.
• In 1905, people in Boerne started gathering to share farming tips and news. This led to the annual Kendall County Fair.
• The Kendall County Fair Association was officially formed in 1913. It still organizes the fair today, which is one of the few county fairs in Texas funded by private groups.
• In 1918, a special "Bat Roost house" was built in Comfort. It was designed to attract bats to help control mosquitoes and stop the spread of diseases like malaria.
• During the Great Depression in the 1930s, more people became tenant farmers, meaning they rented land to farm.
• Cascade Caverns became a popular tourist attraction in the 1930s.
• During World War II, military bases near San Antonio provided many jobs for people in Kendall County.
• In 1983, Guadalupe River State Park opened, offering outdoor fun for everyone.
• In 1990, on Earth Day, the Cibolo Nature Center opened. It helps people learn about nature.
• In 1998, the current Kendall County courthouse was built in Boerne.
• In 2015, Kendall County declared a State of Emergency because of heavy flooding in May.

Geography

Kendall County covers about 663 square miles. Most of this area is land, with only a small amount of water.

Major Roads

Historic Roads

• Old Spanish Trail (auto trail)
• Glacier To Gulf Highway

Neighboring Counties

• Gillespie County (north)
• Blanco County (northeast)
• Comal County (southeast)
• Bexar County (south)
• Bandera County (southwest)
• Kerr County (west)

Waterways

Caves

People of Kendall County

In 2010, there were 33,410 people living in Kendall County. The population density was about 36 people per square mile. Most people were White (92.86%). About 17.89% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in the county was 39 years old. About 27% of the population was under 18.

Communities

Cities

• Boerne (county seat)
• Fair Oaks Ranch (partly in Bexar and Comal counties)

Census-designated place

• Comfort

Other Towns and Areas

Old or "Ghost" Towns

Education

Students in Kendall County attend schools in several different school districts:

• Blanco Independent School District
• Boerne Independent School District
• Comal Independent School District
• Comfort Independent School District
• Fredericksburg Independent School District

All of Kendall County is also served by the Alamo Community College District, which offers college courses.

The Darmstadt Society of Forty

The Adelsverein group worked with another group called the Darmstadt Society of Forty. They planned to help 200 families settle in Texas. They were given money, animals, and supplies. They tried to start several colonies, including Tusculum in Kendall County. However, most of these colonies did not last long because the funding ran out and there were disagreements. Only one of their towns, Castell, still exists today.

Images for kids

• 

  The official seal of Kendall County, Texas.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Kendall (Texas) para niños