Luling, pronounced as /ˈluːlɪŋ/, is a city located in Texas within Caldwell and Guadalupe counties. It sits alongside the San Marcos River.
In 1922, a pivotal moment in Luling’s history occurred when Edgar B. Davis discovered oil. Davis, who had put up everything he owned to fund drilling in the area, hit pay dirt on August 9th when the Rafael Rios No. 1 well produced 150 barrels per day at a depth of 2,161 feet. To settle his debts, Davis agreed to sell 2 million barrels to Atlantic Oil and Magnolia Oil at $0.50 per barrel, and an additional 2 million barrels to Magnolia at $0.75 per barrel.
Caldwell County’s southern region is home to Luling, a city situated 47 miles (76 km) from Austin. The city’s boundaries stretch southward along Texas State Highway 80, crossing the San Marcos River into Guadalupe County, and extending to Interstate 10 Exit 628. This proximity to I-10 provides convenient access to San Antonio, 57 miles (92 km) westward, and Houston, 141 miles (227 km) eastward.
Luling experiences a subtropical climate with sweltering summers and mild winters, falling under the Cfa category of the Köppen Climate Classification system.
In the city, there were 5,599 individuals, 2,070 homes, and 1,570 families living there according to the 2020 US census.
Every year, during the final weekend of June, the charming town of Luling hosts the much-anticipated Watermelon Thump celebration. This joyous occasion brings together locals and attracts visitors from afar, promising a memorable time for all. One of the most popular activities at the ‘Thump’ is the entertaining watermelon seed spitting contest, which never fails to delight participants and spectators alike.
Rosenwald Primary in the Luling Independent School District offers classes for Head Start students, while Luling Primary caters to Pre-K to 1st-grade students. Leonard Shanklin Elementary serves students in grades 2 to 5, followed by Gilbert Gerdes Junior High for grades 6 to 8. Lastly, Luling High School provides education for students in grades 9 to 12.
Prominent individuals include Emory Bellard, a coach in college football, Bo Burris, who played in the NFL, Jennie Everton Clarke, the creator of the Belle Haven Orphan home, Michael Dorn, an actor, Tamron Hall, a journalist and host of a television talk show, Obert Logan, a former NFL player for the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints, Craig Mager, a current NFL player for the Denver Broncos, Marshall W. Mason, a Broadway director, and Riley Odoms, a former NFL player for the Denver Broncos.