Boerne, in the Texas Hill Country, was originally settled more than 150 years ago by German immigrants who first entered the area near the cool waters of Cibolo Creek. The town was plotted in 1852 by Gustav Theissen and John James, who named it after the German publicist and author Ludwig Börne. Its history remains visible in old stone buildings with narrow windows, steep gables, and gardens, and its historic Main Street, a little over a mile long, is known as the Hill Country Mile. The city is presented as a place of strong cultural and ancestral heritage, with a charming downtown historic district and a central location that has made it an appealing leisure destination.