Matagorda, Texas

Matagorda
Town
Sign indicating Matagorda
Sign indicating Matagorda
Matagorda is located in Texas
Matagorda
Matagorda
Coordinates: 28°41′49″N 95°58′00″W / 28.69694°N 95.96667°W / 28.69694; -95.96667[1]
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyMatagorda
Elevation
[1]
7 ft (2 m)
Population
 • Total
313
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central Time Zone)
GNIS feature ID2586960[1]
Bay City Public Library Matagorda Branch

Matagorda (/ˈmætəˈɡɔːrdə/ ⓘ[2]) is a census-designated place in Matagorda County, Texas, United States. It is located near the mouth of the Colorado River on the upper Texas coast in the United States. In 2020, its population was 313.[3] Matagorda is primarily a tourist town, with commercial and recreational fishing being the top industries. Approximately 23 miles (37 km) of the beach are accessible by vehicle and 35 additional miles are accessible only by boat. Matagorda is at the end of State Highway 60 and the beginning of Farm to Market Road 2031, which runs over the Intracoastal Waterway and south to the Gulf of Mexico.

History

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Matagorda is the third-oldest Anglo-American town in Texas.[4] It was established in 1827 when Stephen F. Austin obtained permission from the Mexican government to build a town to protect incoming settlers.[5] Elias R. Wightman, one of Stephen F. Austin's early surveyors, traveled to Matagorda in 1829 with 60 immigrant settlers.

24 historical markers are in the township of Matagorda.[6] Matagorda was named by early Spanish settlers after the dense foliage which grew near the coast. The name means "fat thicket" in Spanish [7]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2010503—
2020313−37.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1850–1900[9] 1910[10]
1920[11] 1930[12] 1940[13]
1950[14] 1960[15] 1970[16]
1980[17] 1990[18] 2000[19]
2010[20] 2020[21]

Matagorda first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. Census.[20]

Matagorda CDP, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2010[22] Pop 2020[21] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 426 276 84.69% 88.18%
Black or African American alone (NH) 4 5 0.80% 1.60%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 3 0 0.60% 0.00%
Asian alone (NH) 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 1 0 0.20% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 4 9 0.80% 2.88%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 65 23 12.92% 7.35%
Total 503 313 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 313 people, 242 households, and 167 families residing in the CDP.

Characteristics

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Matagorda's beach area has access to both East and West Matagorda Bays, Matagorda Beach, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Since 1997, 234 different species of birds have been spotted by the North American Audubon Christmas Bird Count.[23] Among the species reported are the prairie warbler, common poorwill, broad-winged hawk, MacGillivray's warbler, and Swainson's warbler.

Education

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Matagorda Independent School District is the local school district.

The designated community college for Matagorda Independent School District is Wharton County Junior College.[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Matagorda, Texas
  2. ^ "Matagorda Bay". Dictionary.com. Random House, Inc. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  3. ^ "Texas: 2010 — Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. September 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  4. ^ "Matagorda Area Chamber of Commerce". www.matagordachamber.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-22. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
  5. ^ J., KLEINER, DIANA. "MATAGORDA, TX". tshaonline.org. Retrieved 2015-12-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Matagorda County Historical Markers". www.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
  7. ^ Cambridge.org
  8. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  9. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^ a b "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Matagorda CDP, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Matagorda CDP, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ "Matagorda Area Chamber of Commerce — Birding". www.matagordachamber.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-10. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
  24. ^ Texas Education Code Sec. 130.211. WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
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28°41′27″N 95°58′03″W / 28.69083°N 95.96750°W / 28.69083; -95.96750


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