Niederwald, TX

Straddling the line between Hays and Caldwell counties along State Highway 21, Niederwald gives residents a relaxed, spread-out rural feel while keeping them close to the rest of Central Texas. German settlers founded the farming community in the 1890s, naming it after the low mesquite woods scattered across the valley. Today, the town is largely residential, drawing people who want room to breathe, starry night skies, and larger home lots. It is an easygoing countryside spot where you can keep horses or tend a garden, all while staying within a convenient drive of Austin, San Marcos, and Lockhart.