Vanderpool is a small unincorporated community in Bandera County, in the U.S. state of Texas, in the Texas Hill Country, which is part of the Edwards Plateau.[1] According to the Handbook of Texas, Vanderpool had a population of 22 in 1990. It is considered part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Vanderpool, Texas
Unincorporated community
Vanderpool Show map of Texas Vanderpool Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 29°44′43″N 99°33′18″W
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Bandera
Elevation	1,578 ft (481 m)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code	830
GNIS feature ID	1379206[1]

History

On August 18, 1849, José Texaso was given a land grant by the Republic of Texas and was then patented by his assignee, John W. Smith. It was then sold to Victor Prosper Considerant, who then sold it to Henry Taylor and Gideon W. Thompson. Taylor had eventually owned several thousand acres of the community and sold it for the construction of churches and a cemetery. Its location within the Sabinal Valley was first settled in the 1850s but was briefly a ghost town after the Comanche Indian tribe raided the area in the 1860s. A post office was established at Vanderpool in 1886 and remained in operation until 1889, but then reopened in 1902. The town is named after the first postmaster, L.B. Vanderpool, and was previously known as Bugscuffle. The Upper Sabinal Missionary Baptist Church of Christ was organized sometime before 1888 and had 40 members until its disbanding in 1947. The Catholics of Vanderpool was organized in 1975 and had 14 families as part of its membership in 1989. An Apostolic Christian Church held services in the community center in the 1980s and was organized in 1923. Other Native American tribes who lived in the area were Apaches, Tonkawas, and Kickapoos. The Apache tribe had established villages in the area. A ranch named Bell Ranch, which changed its name to Rancho Las Campanas, was fenced and stocked with exotics. The community had one business and 22 residents in 1990, which went down to 20 in 2000.[2]

Although it is unincorporated, Vanderpool has a post office, with the ZIP code of 78885.[3]

The community is known as the "Crossroads of Western Bandera County". The last Indian raid recorded in the community was in 1881.[4]

Evangelical Christian camp Young Life operates Camp Lonehollow in Vanderpool.[5]

Geography

Vanderpool lies on Texas State Highway 187 and Farm to Market Road 337, 30 miles (48 km) west of Bandera, 10 mi (16 km) north of Utopia,[2] 19 mi (31 km) north of Sabinal, 17 mi (27 km) east of Leakey, 43 mi (69 km) southwest of Kerrville, and 80 mi (130 km) west of San Antonio in western Bandera County. It is located along the Sabinal River in the Sabinal Canyon as well.[4]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Vanderpool has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[6]

Education

The community's land grant sold by John W. Smith was used to build schools atop of. One school named Bugscuffle School was established in the area and had 53 students and one teacher in the 1887-1888 school year. It turned into an elementary school and served 36 students in 1923. It remained in operation until 1942.[2]

The Utopia Independent School District serves students in the area.

Attractions

Vanderpool is home to the Lone Star Motorcycle Museum, which features over 50 classic motorcycles from 1910 to the modern era.[7] Lost Maples State Park is located a few miles north of town.[8] Garner State Park is also an attraction near the community.[4] It is a popular birdwatching destination for Americans and foreign tourists, in which the Green kingfisher can be spotted in the area. Hunting, ranching and tourism are prime contributors to the regional economy.[2]

References