Bracken, Texas
Encyclopedia
Bracken is an unincorporated community
in Comal County
, Texas
, United States
. It lies along the eastern bank of Cibolo Creek
, southwest of New Braunfels
. The community is found in close proximity to Garden Ridge
, and is included in the Greater San Antonio
area.
.
Bracken Cave
is found near the town and is notable for housing the largest collection of Mexican free-tailed bat
s in the world, numbering 20 million in habitation during spring migration. As a result, the cave also holds the record for the largest known concentration of mammal
s in the world. These bats have ventured to the cave for 10,000 years, helping the local agrarian economy by controlling the insect population.
Peter Hansborough Bell
. Originally the town was known as Davenport, named for James G. Davenport, a landowner who settled in the area in 1868. The Davenport family cemetery still stands on the western bank of Cibolo Creek. To account for the growth of the city as construction began on the International and Great Northern Railroad, the establishment of a post office was requested in 1883. However, a Davenport Post Office already existed elsewhere in Texas, forcing the town to change its name to Bracken, after the early settler. Eventually, the town was given a Post Office.
Following the completion of the railroad in 1890, a depot was built as well as a ticket stand. Soon, saloons lined the town's seven blocks, which expanded to thirteen near the turn of the century. Stores and other businesses including a blacksmith
, cotton gin
and lumberyard sprung up as well, contributing to the booming railroad economy. A dance hall, notorious for fights, was the center of entertainment until 1915, when a bowling alley was opened.
After the passage of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution implementing Prohibition
, the town suffered a steep decline. Businesses, including the railroad, left town and the general store burned to the ground. Prior to World War II
, the Post Office was closed. In 1970, the town's population stood at 75, and remained the same for the next twenty years. In 2000, it had increased to 76 individuals.
. Following World War II, Davenport School, which educated the town's children, was consolidated with schools in Solms and Danville to create Comal Elementary School.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Comal County
Comal County, Texas
Comal County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 108,472. Its seat is New Braunfels.Comal County is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History Timeline:...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It lies along the eastern bank of Cibolo Creek
Cibolo Creek
Cibolo Creek is a stream in South Central Texas, United States that runs approximately from its source at Turkey Knob near Boerne, Texas, to its confluence with the San Antonio River in Karnes County...
, southwest of New Braunfels
New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas that is a principal city of the metropolitan area. Braunfels means "brown rock" in German; the city is named for Braunfels, in Germany. The city's population was 57,740 as of the 2010 census, up 58% from the 2000...
. The community is found in close proximity to Garden Ridge
Garden Ridge, Texas
Garden Ridge is a city in Comal County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,882 at the 2000 census. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Garden Ridge is located at , 19 miles northeast of San Antonio....
, and is included in the Greater San Antonio
Greater San Antonio
Greater San Antonio is a 8-county metropolitan area defined by the Office of Management and Budget. It is located in the South Central region of Texas. The MSA of Greater San Antonio is colloquially referred to as the "San Antonio-New Braunfels" metropolitan area as of the 2010 census.The official...
area.
Geography
Bracken is located at 29.6099493°N 98.3211244°W, 801 feet (244.1 m) above sea level. It is considered a part of the Texas Hill CountryTexas Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is a vernacular term applied to a region of Central Texas featuring tall rugged hills consisting of thin layers of soil atop limestone or granite. It also includes the Llano Uplift and the second largest granite monadnock in the United States, Enchanted Rock, which is located...
.
Bracken Cave
Bracken Cave
Bracken Cave is the largest known habitat for Mexican Free-tailed Bats. It is located in southern Comal County, Texas, outside the city of San Antonio. Bracken Cave houses a colony of over 20 million bats, making it the largest known concentration of mammals, except for humans...
is found near the town and is notable for housing the largest collection of Mexican free-tailed bat
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
The Mexican free-tailed bat , also known as the Brazilian free-tailed bat, is a medium-sized bat that is native to the Americas and is widely regarded as one of the most abundant mammals in North America...
s in the world, numbering 20 million in habitation during spring migration. As a result, the cave also holds the record for the largest known concentration of mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s in the world. These bats have ventured to the cave for 10,000 years, helping the local agrarian economy by controlling the insect population.
History
William Bracken, for whom the town was named, purchased 1114 acres (4.5 km²) of land in the area in 1849 after receiving a grant from GovernorGovernor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
Peter Hansborough Bell
Peter Hansborough Bell
Peter Hansborough Bell was an American military officer and politician who served as the third Governor of Texas and represented the state for two terms in the United States House of Representatives.-Background:Bell was born March 11, 1810 in Culpeper County, Virginia...
. Originally the town was known as Davenport, named for James G. Davenport, a landowner who settled in the area in 1868. The Davenport family cemetery still stands on the western bank of Cibolo Creek. To account for the growth of the city as construction began on the International and Great Northern Railroad, the establishment of a post office was requested in 1883. However, a Davenport Post Office already existed elsewhere in Texas, forcing the town to change its name to Bracken, after the early settler. Eventually, the town was given a Post Office.
Following the completion of the railroad in 1890, a depot was built as well as a ticket stand. Soon, saloons lined the town's seven blocks, which expanded to thirteen near the turn of the century. Stores and other businesses including a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
, cotton gin
Cotton gin
A cotton gin is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, a job formerly performed painstakingly by hand...
and lumberyard sprung up as well, contributing to the booming railroad economy. A dance hall, notorious for fights, was the center of entertainment until 1915, when a bowling alley was opened.
After the passage of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution implementing Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, the town suffered a steep decline. Businesses, including the railroad, left town and the general store burned to the ground. Prior to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Post Office was closed. In 1970, the town's population stood at 75, and remained the same for the next twenty years. In 2000, it had increased to 76 individuals.
Education
The residents of Bracken belong to the Comal Independent School DistrictComal Independent School District
Comal Independent School District is a public school district based in New Braunfels, Texas .The district covers in five central Texas counties - Comal, Bexar, Hays, Kendall, and Guadalupe. Incorporated communities in the district include Bulverde, Garden Ridge, and portions of New Braunfels...
. Following World War II, Davenport School, which educated the town's children, was consolidated with schools in Solms and Danville to create Comal Elementary School.