Willkommen, Y’all: A History of Germans in Texas

Civil war flag of the confederate states. Stars and bars on a white flag

German immigrants have had a profound impact on Texas culture. Germans began immigrating to Texas before statehood in 1846. They brought their culture to the new land and it can still be seen today in buildings, furniture, even food and drinks that seem inherently Texan. German ancestry rivals that of Mexican heritage in sheer population. The first German immigrants provided enough incentive to their families still in Germany to make the great leap to Texas, forever changing Texas heritage history.