The development is inspired by the original town of Colmar in Alsace, France, with elements taken from ancient surrounding villages like Riquewihr, Turckheim and Kaysersberg as well.
Schreiner, a native of Riquewihr, France, had emigrated to the United States as a teenager with his family in 1852.
Louis Frederick received the possessions on the left bank of the Rhine (Montbéliard, Riquewihr and Horburg) with full sovereignty.