History
Karnes County Is Home to Panna Maria, Texas's First Polish Settlement
The small community of Panna Maria, founded in 1854, is documented as the first Polish colony in the United States.
In December 1854, a group of Polish immigrants arrived in what is now Karnes County. They came from Upper Silesia. A Franciscan priest named Leopold Moczygemba led the group. They settled near where the San Antonio River meets Cibolo Creek. They called the place Panna Maria. In Polish, that name means 'Virgin Mary.'
The Texas State Historical Association says Panna Maria is the first Polish colony in the United States.
Over time, the Polish community spread to nearby Czestochowa and Falls City. By 1860, about 21 percent of Karnes County residents were foreign-born. Panna Maria still has a Catholic church today. The community holds events tied to its Polish heritage. For more detail, see the Handbook of Texas Online, run by the Texas State Historical Association.
Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas — Karnes County