Bandera, Texas 

Bandera’s history stretches back thousands of years, first home to the Lipan Apache and Comanche tribes. A defining moment came in 1841 when the Texas Rangers defeated the Comanche at Bandera Pass. By the 1850s, the town of Bandera was founded, Polish immigrants built St. Stanislaus Church, and the county was officially established.

Through the late 1800s, Bandera grew on ranching—first cattle, then sheep and Angora goats that thrived in the Hill Country. The community built lasting landmarks like the Jureczki House and the stone courthouse and jail, which still stand as reminders of its pioneer days.

In the 20th century, Bandera embraced tourism as ranches opened to visitors, the Frontier Times Museum welcomed guests, and dance halls brought country legends to town. Today, with its rich cowboy heritage and nearby state natural areas, Bandera proudly carries the title “Cowboy Capital of the World.

Bulverde, Texas 

In 1850, German settlers arrived and founded what was first called Pieper’s Settlement, named after August Pieper, who built a stone barn and well that still stand today as landmarks of the town’s origins. 

 Over the next decades, the settlement evolved: a post office was established in 1879 (named after Luciano Bulverda), and agriculture thrived amid shifting frontier economies 

Fast forward to modern times, Bulverde officially incorporated between 1996 and 1999, via a series of 22 elections among merging communities. Residents adopted a home‑rule charter in 2015 to guide the city’s future growth  Today, known as the “Front Porch of the Texas Hill Country,” Bulverde balances small‑town charm with its growing ties to the broader San Antonio metro region.