Find German restaurants, stores and events in Texas.
Germans and Texas
Texas is one of the few states where you are still able to find communities that speak a dialect of German today. Although Texas German varies quite drastically from Standard German, it is still considered the first language of over 6,000 inhabitants in Texas. The two cities with the highest percentage of German Texans are Fredericksburg and New Braunfels, which are both located in the central part of the state. What’s fascinating about these German communities is that they are not comprised of recent immigrants. Germans actually began migrating to Texas as early as the 1830s and remarkably were able to pass down their mother tongue through several generations.
Although linguists sadly expect Texas German to die out within the upcoming decades, if you visit a Texan German community today, you’re likely to still find a speaker of the dialect. However, speaking with descendants of German settlers is not the only way to experience German heritage in Texas. At the Pioneer Museum in Fredericksburg, visitors have the opportunity to experience what life was like for the first German settlers that arrived in the state. However, for those that are more interested in German festivals than museums, Texas also has plenty to offer. Each November, New Braunfels hosts a 10-day Wurstfest to preserve the community’s German heritage. You’ll also find an array of Oktoberfests scattered throughout the state from San Antonio to Houston. The German heritage in Texas has been retained through many generations and while the Texas German dialect is endangered, the love of German culture doesn’t appear to be going anywhere soon.
