Panna Maria, Texas

Panna Maria (Polish for Virgin Mary) is a small unincorporated community in Karnes County, Texas, United States. It is the oldest Polish settlement in the United States.

Panna Maria, Texas
Unincorporated community
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Panna Maria
Location in Texas and the United States
Panna Maria
Panna Maria (the United States)
Coordinates: 28°57′29″N 97°53′50″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyKarnes
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
78144
GNIS feature ID1364749[1]
Panna Maria Historic District
Area2,400 acres (970 ha)
Built1854 (1854)
Architectural styleGothic Revival, Polish Colonial
NRHP reference No.76002043[2]
Added to NRHPMay 13, 1976
Hand-painted welcome sign welcoming visitors to town

History

A Franciscan missionary, Father Leopold Moczygemba, started recruiting Upper Silesians in 1852, when Silesia belonged to the Kingdom of Prussia. The immigrants began arriving at Indianola in early December 1854. With carts to haul them inland being scarce, the immigrants walked to their land grants near San Antonio and the town was settled on Christmas Eve in 1854.

The town's identity as an insular Polish enclave was sealed by four factors:

  1. Bypassed by the railroads
  2. Union in sympathy (Settlers were also unionist and were occasionally massacred in Texas during this period)
  3. Polish Resurrectionist priests arrived from Europe
  4. A sisterhood of Polish teaching nuns was established

The Texas Silesian dialect continued to be spoken for several generations.

The Panna Maria Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Panna Maria". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
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