Schulenburg developed from two communities: Lyons, established in 1842, one mile to the south of its present location, and High Hill, which was established about the same time three miles to the northwest. In 1873, the Galveston, Harris and San Antonio Railroad bought land in this area from Christian Baumgarten, Franz Stanzel, F. A. Stanzel and Louis Schulenburg. The railroad depot was built on Mr. Schulenburg’s land and the town was given his name. The arrival of the railroad changed Schulenburg from being strictly a farming community to one having a business center. Businesses, and much of the population from the outlying areas moved to Schulenburg to take advantage.