Schertz, Texas

Schertz is a city in Guadalupe, Bexar, and Comal counties in the U.S. state of Texas, within the San Antonio–New Braunfels metropolitan area. The population was 42,002 at the 2020 census, up from 31,465 at the 2010 census. Schertz was settled by Alsatian emigrants in the 1800s.

History
Schertz is the third-largest city in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area and the largest city of the Randolph Metrocom, which consists of cities surrounding Randolph Air Force Base. The Metrocom is located on San Antonio's far northeast side. In addition to Schertz, other Randolph Metrocom communities include Live Oak, Kirby, Converse, Marion, Cibolo, Universal City, Windcrest, Garden Ridge, and Selma. These towns are located in Comal, Bexar, and Guadalupe counties and combined have a total of 355,000 residents and growing rapidly.

Since the late 1990s, Schertz experienced substantial growth. In five years, from 2000–2005, the city's population jumped from 18,694 to 26,463. In 2006 alone, the population rose from 26,463 to 34,000.

The first settlers came to Schertz around 1843. Some of the families on the immediate land surrounding Schertz were the Boettigers, Schertzs, Schneiders, Seilers, Maskes, and Mergeles. Members of the Schertz family still reside in the city. The first name of Schertz was "Cibolo Pit", then "Cut Off", thus named because when Cibolo Creek flooded, the settlement was cut off.

The first settlers planted wheat, oats, and corn, which did not need special equipment to harvest and process. In later years, cotton was planted, and proved to be a productive cash crop. In 1870, the first gin was built by the Schertz family. It was powered by mules and then later by steam. This gin was located where the post office is at the present time. The second cotton gin built by Weyel and Kallies was between First and Second streets. In later years, there also was a corn sheller and lumber yard. The first school, built in 1890, was across Cibolo Creek where the Randolph Stables are now located. In 1917 a new two-story brick school was built, later torn down to make room for the O'Henry School. The land for the school was donated by Adolph Schertz.

In 1876, one of the largest boosts to Schertz came when the Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio Railroad was built through the town. This gave the people a chance to travel to San Antonio by rail instead of wagon or buggy, besides goods being shipped in and out. The first post office was established in 1882. At that time Schertz was still known as Cut Off. In 1899 it officially became Schertz. Sebastian Schertz owned and operated a general store when the railroad was constructed.

A big and very active shooting club was located on the site that is now the City Park. There was an annual shooting tournament called Koenig Schiessen or "King Shoot". This was a two-day affair with people coming from San Antonio by train. The last night, a big dance was held to close the event for that year. A piece of live coal, blown from a switch engine that was carrying gravel cars to or from the rock crusher, is believed to have blown on the shingle roof of the dance hall, setting it on fire and completely destroying it. It was later rebuilt, but eventually the club disbanded. The rockcrusher was at one time located in Cibolo Creek across from the public utilities of the city of Schertz. This was destroyed in 1913 when Cibolo Creek had its biggest recorded flood.

The first church in Schertz is the present day United Methodist Church on First Street. One of the oldest business buildings, the red brick building on Main Street, was built by Willie Schertz. It is now a plumbing and hardware store and Masonic meeting place. It was the first mercantile store. On the site of the present-day Schertz Bank, a two-story hotel, a five-room hospital and drug store complex was built in 1909. The hotel was built by Henry Ebert. Dr. Watson was the resident doctor. This doctor used two methods of transportation to see his patients, a horse-drawn hack for good roads and horseback for emergencies in bad weather and long distances. In 1917 another red brick hospital on Main Street was built by Dr. C.M. Cotham and Miss Cora Karbach, a nurse. It served the surrounding communities for many years and is now an old apartment house. The first bank was chartered in 1913, and one of the first bankers was Mr. Glass. He organized the National Home Guard during World War I, which drilled at night in the second story of the building that at the present time is the Masonic Lodge meeting place.

Randolph Field (now Randolph Air Force Base) was a boon to Schertz in the late 1920s. Farm land was bought as the Air Corps needed 2000 acre for the air academy (the "West Point of the Air"), which opened in 1930. There were three sites considered. The present site was chosen because there was less fog in the area and the fog lifted earlier in the day, which meant more flying time. All of this boosted the economy not only for Schertz and the surrounding communities but also for the areas of New Braunfels, Seguin, and San Antonio.

The V.F.W. of Schertz was chartered in 1946. The first fire protection was from the Randolph Field Fire Department. Schertz businesses and citizens organized a fire department, and the first business meeting of the Schertz Fire Department was February 8, 1956. Archie Woodward was the first fire chief. A combination fire station and city hall were built, and the Schertz library is now in this building. A new library has recently been built next to the previous library. Schertz was incorporated as a city by the state of Texas in 1958.

Geography
The original center of Schertz is located in western Guadalupe County at 29.55583°N, -98.27278°W. City Hall, located at 1400 Schertz Parkway, is also in Guadalupe County. Large tracts of the city now extend north into Comal County and south into Bexar County. Cibolo Creek, forming the boundary between Guadalupe and Bexar counties, runs through the city just south of the historic downtown. Schertz is bordered by Cibolo to the east, a narrow strip of San Antonio to the south along Interstate 10, Converse and Randolph AFB to the southwest, Universal City and Selma to the west, Garden Ridge to the north, and New Braunfels to the northeast.

Interstate 35 runs through the northern part of the city, with access from exits 174 through 180. I-35 runs 19 mi southeast to downtown San Antonio and 6 mi from the northeastern city limits to the center of New Braunfels.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Schertz has a total area of 74.0 sqkm, of which 73.6 sqkm is land and 0.5 sqkm, or 0.63%, is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 42,002 people, 14,853 households, and 11,570 families residing in the city.

As of 2010, there were 31,465 people, 6,604 households, and 5,283 families residing in the city. The population density was 755.9 PD/sqmi. There were 7,009 housing units at an average density of 283.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 82.0% White, 6.6% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 5.5% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.5% of the population.

There were 6,604 households, out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $55,156, and the median income for a family was $59,745. Males had a median income of $38,655 versus $28,203 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,938. About 4.2% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

A large number of Schertz's population is connected with the military due to the presence of adjacent Randolph Air Force Base and nearby Fort Sam Houston and Lackland Air Force Base, which can result in some degree of population turnover due to the transient nature of military service.

Arts and culture

 * The Wilenchik Walk for Life is an annual community fundraising event in March benefiting the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio's Cancer Therapy and Research Center. This is a 5K walk and fun run.
 * Absolute Jazz is the city's annual one-day jazz festival.
 * In May, Homes for Pets holds its annual Doggie Dash at Pickrell Park, a 5K fun run, and a 3K walk.
 * Schertz EMS Week is held in May throughout its service area with activities ranging from a golf tournament to the EMS Extravaganza at the Forum Shopping Center. Money raised helps fund community outreach programs as well as the Bobby Dilworth Scholarship Fund.
 * The Schertz Police Department holds its annual Police Memorial Day in May.
 * The Schertz Sweetheart Pageant is held in May to select the city's ambassadors to area parades and festivals.
 * The Schertz Fourth of July Jubilee, one of the largest parades and festivals in Central and South Texas, salutes the men and women who serve in the United States Armed Forces.
 * The annual SchertzFest in late September features performers, food, beverages, and more in a salute to the founding of the City of Schertz.
 * Schertz City departments, businesses, and civic and community groups participate in the annual Trunk or Treat celebration at Pickrell Park on October 31. This event is organized by Schertz Fire Rescue and provides a safe, enjoyable environment for children as an alternative to traditional trick-or-treating.
 * The winter holiday season includes the Senior Arts and Crafts Bazaar in November, and the Festival of Angels in December.

Government
The City of Schertz is a member of the Alamo Area Council of Governments.

Education
Area school systems that cover the city include:


 * Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District
 * Comal Independent School District (all parts of Schertz in Comal County)
 * Schools serving this portion include Garden Ridge Elementary School in Garden Ridge, Canyon Middle School in New Braunfels, and Canyon High School in New Braunfels.
 * East Central Independent School District
 * Judson Independent School District
 * Randolph Field Independent School District

Private schools:
 * John Paul II Catholic High School

Notable people

 * Steve Earle, alternative country rocker, grew up in Schertz
 * Colton Haynes, actor and model, graduated from high school in Schertz
 * Robert Reid, NBA player, graduated from Clemens HS in 1973
 * Sherman Corbett, MLB player and UTSA Roadrunners baseball head coach, graduated from Clemens HS
 * A. J. Johnson, NFL player, graduated from Clemens HS in 1985
 * Sean Porter, NFL player, graduated from Clemens HS in 2009

Awards and recognition

 * 2007
 * #1 Best Place to Live in Texas; #40 Best Place to Live in the US (CNNMoney.com)
 * 2009
 * #39 Best Place to Live in the US (CNNMoney.com)
 * 2013
 * #28 of 50 top safest cities in Texas (Safewise)
 * 2015
 * #36 of 50 top safest cities in Texas (Safewise)
 * 2018
 * #69 top safest cities in Texas (Alarms.org (The National Council for Home Safety and Security))

In film
In recent years, Schertz has become a prime location for filming movies in the San Antonio area. In March 2007, the Cevallos Brothers filmed a portion of the movie The Ace in the Hole on location in Schertz. In 2005, the indie film Klay World: Off The Table was filmed by Robert Benfer in various desolate areas around Schertz. Avenue of the Strongest: A September 11 Memorial Exhibit was also filmed in Schertz.