Waelder, TX

Waelder started out as an 1870s railroad depot in Gonzales County, drawing in families and businesses from the surrounding countryside. Today, it’s a quiet rural town of just under 1,000 residents, situated along Highway 90 about halfway between San Antonio and Houston. Interstate 10 runs a couple of miles to the south, keeping heavy through traffic away from local streets while giving residents an easy connection across Central Texas.

ATTRDarrylpearson / CC BY-SA 4.0

Daily life in Waelder revolves around the local school campus and a few key employers. Waelder ISD serves as the main gathering place for athletics and student events throughout the year. Right on Main Street, J Bar B Foods operates a major processing facility, making smoked sausage and brisket for Texas grocery stores like H-E-B. It is a slow-paced, close-knit community where open farmland and ranch country surround everyday life.