Hungary in east-central Europe is a land of many peoples. Magyar, German, Slav, Romanian, Romany, and Slovak have mingled for a thousand years. The Hungarians, the Magyar, are themselves immigrants from farther east. This is a land of overlapping traditions and many languages—a troubled place.

Hungary, notably from 1848 to 1956, was a homeland its sons and daughters were forced to leave. The reasons were the usual: failed revolutionary efforts to break away from conquerors, international war, and overpopulation during peacetime.

Those who left, many for the Americas, unfailingly retained their language, customs, foods, and dress to a noticeable degree and their pride of origin absolutely. In new homelands, such as Texas, they continued a social change and adaptation that began in 10th century Europe.

The revolution of 1848-1849 directed against Austrian rule caused the exile of many soldiers and civil leaders, often the educated nobility from the highly stratified culture of Eastern Europe. People of the lower economic class had no means to leave; many of the rulers did.

László Újházi was a former civil governor of the Komárom fortress at the time of the 1848 revolution. Coming to San Antonio with others from the losing side, Újházi became the leader of what was perhaps Texas's first small Hungarian center. One of his daughters, Helen, became Texas's first Hungarian businesswoman.

Joe Petmecky came to New Braunfels in 1845, even before the outbreak of revolutionary feeling in Hungary, then set up a gunsmith shop in Austin. Petmecky became famous for his master craftsmanship and was soon known for his inventions. One idea that made him famous in the American West was the spring-shank steel spur. If a cowboy was thrown from his horse, the spur would open and fall away, rather than remain strapped on and possibly cause a broken ankle.

Dr. Arthur Wadgymár settled at Carrizo Springs in 1880; he was typical of the early Hungarian arrivals: professionals and craftspeople.

Hungarians in Texas were seriously split by the Civil War; some willingly enlisted, some were conscripted, and some become Union soldiers.

Between 1880 and 1920, like so much of Europe, Hungary provided agricultural immigrants. Under Austrian domination but in relative peace many of the years from 1849 to World War I, the country felt the pressure of overpopulation. So farming families came to Texas.

Following World War I, Hungary, on the losing side, was literally dismembered. Three-quarters of its land and population was put under other rulers. In World War II Hungary, joining Germany in an effort to regain territory, faced Russia—and lost.

In 1944 the Red Army advanced into Budapest, and many Hungarians left their homeland.

Under Communist rule few people were allowed to leave the shattered country. The subsequent Budapest uprising of 1956 resulted in another failure. Thousands fled west and, just as a century before, many of the refugees were well educated and technically trained.

Some individuals, such as Rose and Steve Safran, walked into Austria with little more than the clothes they wore and were eventually welcomed into the United States. The Safrans made San Antonio their home.

Today, a scattering of Hungarians, some native, most descended from earlier arrivals, live across Texas in urban areas. Individuals have entered the arts, investment and professional services, and politics.