A few weeks back I made a trip home to South Texas to attend the funeral of a dear aunt, my dad's only sister, and along the way, we passed through many small towns including one that stuck in my mind. Although we didn't drive directly through this town, but the highway we used was a few short miles down the road from Panna Maria, Texas-- the first Polish settlement in the United States of America.
Several years after Texas became a state, a large group of Polish immigrants settled in an area that is now approximately 40 miles southeast of San Antonio off of State Highway 123. Many of the surrounding communities are made up of the descendents of the initial Polish settlers.
Believe or not, Panna Maria, Texas does indeed have its own website and one should visit it to brush up on its history. Better yet, if you find yourself in South Texas, take State Highway 123 south from San Marcos and you'll see signs pointing in Panna Maria's direction. You could also take US Highway 181 south from San Antonio towards Corpus Christi and you should come across highway signs prior to arriving in Karnes City pointing you towards Panna Maria.
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