Bandera County, Texas

Bandera County (Spanish: "flag", /bænˈdɛrə/ ban-DERR-ə) is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population is 20,485.[1] Its county seat is Bandera.[2] The county was formed in 1856 from Bexar and Uvalde counties. The county and its seat are named for Bandera Pass, which in turn uses the Spanish word for flag.

Bandera County
U.S. county
The Bandera County Courthouse in Bandera. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 31, 1979.
Flag
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°44′N 99°14′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1856
Named forBandera Pass
SeatBandera
Largest communityLakehills
Area
 • Total798 sq mi (2,070 km2)
 • Land791 sq mi (2,050 km2)
 • Water6.7 sq mi (17 km2)  0.8%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total20,485
 • Density26/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district21st
Websitewww.banderacounty.org

Bandera County is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is officially recognized as the "Cowboy Capital of the World" by the Texas Legislature.[3]

History
  • 8000 to 4000 BC Earliest human habitation.
  • In the 17th century Native Americans settled including Lipan Apache and later, Comanche.[4]
  • 1841 or 1843 (exact date uncertain) – Battle of Bandera Pass, John Coffee Hays and a troop of Texas Rangers defeat a large party of Comanche warriors.[5][6][7]
  • 1853 John James and Charles S. DeMontel[8] survey and plan the town of Bandera. A. M. Milstead, Thomas Odem, P.D. Saner, and their families camp along the river and begin making cypress shingles. James, Montel and Company build a horse-powered sawmill and open a store.[4][9]
  • 1855 Sixteen Polish families arrive in Bandera to work in James and DeMontel's sawmill. August Klappenbach opens the first store and post office.[4]
  • 1856 The legislature marks off Bandera County from portions of Bexar County, and the county is formally organized.[4]
  • 1860 Population 399, including 12 slaves.[4]
  • 1880 Sheep and Angora goats become more profitable for Bandera than farming.[4]
  • 1920 Cora and Ed Buck began taking boarders at their ranch, beginning the tourist trade in Bandera.[10][11]
  • 1933 Frontier Times Museum[12] opens to the public.[13]
  • 1979 Lost Maples State Natural Area opens to the public.[14]
  • 1982 Eighty-two percent of the land in the county is in farms and ranches.[4]
  • 1984 Hill Country State Natural Area[15] opens to the public.[16]
  • 2000 The Nature Conservancy purchases 1,400 acres (5.7 km2) of Love Creek Ranch[17] from Baxter and Carol Adams, creating the Love Creek Preserve.[18]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 798 square miles (2,070 km2), of which 791 square miles (2,050 km2) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km2) (0.8%) is water.[19]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1860399—
187064962.7%
18802,158232.5%
18903,79575.9%
19005,33240.5%
19104,921−7.7%
19204,001−18.7%
19303,784−5.4%
19404,23411.9%
19504,4104.2%
19603,892−11.7%
19704,74722.0%
19807,08449.2%
199010,56249.1%
200017,64567.1%
201020,48516.1%
2019 (est.)23,112[20]12.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[21]
1850–2010[22] 2010–2014[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 20,485 people living in the county. 92.8% were White, 0.8% Native American, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 3.8% of some other race and 1.8% of two or more races. 16.7% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 17.6% were of German, 13.7% English, 10.2% Irish and 10.1% American ancestry.[23]

As of the census[24] of 2000, there were 17,645 people, 7,010 households, and 5,061 families living in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (9/km2). There were 9,503 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.02% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 0.90% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.55% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. 13.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,010 households, out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 23.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.70% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 27.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,013, and the median income for a family was $45,906. Males had a median income of $31,733 versus $24,451 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,635. About 7.70% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.20% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The following school districts serve Bandera County:

Communities

City

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[25]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 79.1% 10,057 19.7% 2,505 1.2% 153
2016 79.9% 8,163 16.9% 1,726 3.2% 329
2012 78.6% 7,426 19.7% 1,864 1.7% 158
2008 74.6% 6,935 24.2% 2,250 1.2% 112
2004 79.3% 6,933 19.9% 1,738 0.8% 70
2000 77.2% 5,613 19.6% 1,426 3.2% 234
1996 65.2% 3,700 24.4% 1,383 10.4% 590
1992 50.2% 2,674 19.9% 1,059 29.9% 1,589
1988 72.2% 3,435 26.3% 1,251 1.6% 75
1984 80.0% 3,152 19.6% 771 0.4% 15
1980 70.6% 2,373 26.6% 894 2.8% 93
1976 56.2% 1,554 42.8% 1,183 1.1% 29
1972 79.5% 1,796 19.2% 434 1.3% 29
1968 46.8% 842 29.7% 535 23.5% 423
1964 46.5% 762 53.5% 876 0.1% 1
1960 63.5% 942 36.3% 539 0.2% 3
1956 76.1% 1,083 23.6% 336 0.4% 5
1952 79.0% 1,350 20.9% 358 0.1% 2
1948 50.4% 570 39.3% 445 10.3% 117
1944 50.4% 634 42.3% 532 7.3% 92
1940 32.8% 432 66.9% 881 0.3% 4
1936 36.8% 431 61.5% 720 1.7% 20
1932 28.7% 359 70.7% 883 0.6% 7
1928 74.5% 936 25.2% 317 0.2% 3
1924 47.8% 442 46.0% 425 6.2% 57
1920 40.8% 249 50.9% 311 8.4% 51
1916 22.3% 168 71.4% 537 6.3% 47
1912 22.3% 158 58.0% 412 19.7% 140

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Pannebaker, Judith (July 11, 2013). "Bandera now official 'Cowboy Capital of the World'". Bandera County Courier. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  4. Long, Christopher (June 12, 2010). "Bandera County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on December 21, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  5. Fisher, O Clark (1966). "Battle of Bandera Pass". Great Western Indian Fights. Bison. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-8032-5186-1.
  6. Tobin, Peggy (August 31, 2010). "Battle of Bandera Pass". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  7. McConnell, Joseph Caroll. "Famous Battle of Bandera Pass". Fort Tours. Fort Tour Systems, Inc. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  8. Schumacher, Dr MJ (November 5, 2009). "Granddaughter's memories bring early history to life". Bandera County Courier.
  9. Tobin, Peggy (June 12, 2010). "Bandera, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on November 1, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  10. Wise, Dan (July 25, 2006). "Celebrate Bandera County honors Bandera County's dude ranches". The Bandera Bulletin.
  11. "Old Buck Ranch". Texas State Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  12. Pohlen, Jerome (2006). "Frontier Times Museum". Oddball Texas: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places. Chicago Review Press. pp. 140–141. ISBN 978-1-55652-583-4.
  13. "Frontier Times Museum". Texas State Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  14. "Lost Maples State Park". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  15. Coppedge, Clay. "Bandera-Hill Country State Natural Preserve". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  16. "Hill Country State Natural Area". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  17. Permenter, Paris; Bigley, John (2006). Day Trips from San Antonio. GPP Travel. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-7627-3868-7.
  18. "Love Creek Preserve". The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  19. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  20. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  21. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  22. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  23. "American FactFinder"
  24. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  25. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 19, 2018.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.