Smithson Valley Cemetery is a historic community cemetery located near Spring Branch in Comal County, Texas, and stands as a lasting tribute to the region’s early settlers and pioneer families. Officially listed as a Historic Texas Cemetery by the Texas Historical Commission in 2008, the site embodies more than a century of local history and heritage.

The cemetery dates back to the late 1800s, with documented burials beginning around 1876 and continuing into the present day. It contains approximately 75 marked graves, representing multiple generations of families who lived, worked, and built community in the rugged and scenic Hill Country.

Smithson Valley itself grew out of a 19th-century settlement named for Benjamin Franklin Smithson, an early settler who arrived in the area in the early 1850s. While Smithson and his wife chose to be buried in a family cemetery nearby, the valley that carries his name became home to a vibrant community of German immigrants and other pioneers.

In its heyday, Smithson Valley was a bustling rural center with a post office (opened 1857), school (established 1875), cotton gin, store, blacksmith shop, dance hall, bowling alley, and saloon — all serving local ranchers and farmers. Over time, most of these institutions disappeared, but the cemetery remains a key historical landmark preserving the stories and legacies of those who helped shape the area.

The graves in Smithson Valley Cemetery reflect both the cultural heritage and life experiences of Comal County’s early residents, with many German-Texan surnames and grave markers reflecting the customs, artistry, and familial connections of the period. Today, the cemetery offers visitors a place for reflection, genealogical research, and connection to the deep roots of Central Texas history.