Bandera, Texas

For the Ukrainian nationalist, see Stepan Bandera.
Bandera, Texas
City
Downtown Bandera
Downtown Bandera
Flag of Bandera, Texas
Flag
Official logo of Bandera, Texas
Logo
Nickname: 
"Cowboy Capital of the World"
Map
Map
Map
Map
Bandera, Texas is located in the United States
Bandera, Texas
Bandera, Texas
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 29°43′32″N 99°04′27″W / 29.72556°N 99.07417°W / 29.72556; -99.07417
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyBandera
Government
 • MayorKaylyn Huerta[citation needed]
Area
[1]
 • Total1.16 sq mi (3.00 km2)
 • Land1.16 sq mi (3.00 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
[2]
1,247 ft (380 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total829
 • Density778.55/sq mi (300.49/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
78003
Area code830
FIPS code48-05528[3]
GNIS feature ID2409781[2]
Websitewww.cityofbandera.com

Bandera (Spanish: "flag", /bænˈdɛrə/ ban-DERR-ə) is a town[clarification needed] in Bandera County, Texas, United States. The county seat, it lies in the Texas Hill Country, a part of the Edwards Plateau located at the crossroads of the central, southern, and western parts of the state,[4] The population was 829 at the 2020 census.[5] approximately 40 miles northwest of San Antonio and 90 miles southwest of Austin, the state capital.

Bandera calls itself the "Cowboy Capital of the World", a legacy dating to its days as a staging area for what is today known as Great Western Cattle Trail for the last cattle drives of the 1800s.[6]

History

Bandera was founded in 1855 by Polish Roman Catholic immigrants from the Province of Silesia.[7]: 22, 23  They built St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, and many local residents are descended from them.[7]: 27 

Bandera is the Spanish word for flag. How the town acquired the name is unknown. One theory is that the town is named after Bandera Pass.[8]

Bandera was a staging area on the Great Western Cattle Trail, during the second half of the 19th century.[9]

The Cabaret Dance Hall opened in 1936.[10] Throughout its history the dance hall hosted Bob Wills, Doug Sahm, Ernest Tubb, and others.[11] In 2008, the hall was listed as endangered by Preservation Texas.[12] By at least 2013 the hall was closed.[10] By at least 2015 the hall was demolished.[13]

Bandera hosts a three-day Cowboy Mardi Gras that attracts over 15 thousand people from all over the world to the town of 829 residents.[9][14]

Geography

Bandera is located in east-central Bandera County 47 miles (76 km) northwest of downtown San Antonio, on the Medina River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.2 sq mi (3.1 km2), of which 0.008 sq mi (0.02 km2), or 0.55%, is covered by water.[5]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890372—
190041912.6%
1920700—
1930580−17.1%
19401,250115.5%
19501,3256.0%
19601,065−19.6%
1970891−16.3%
19809476.3%
1990877−7.4%
20009579.1%
2010857−10.4%
2020829−3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]

2020 census

Bandera racial composition[16]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 607 73.22%
Black or African American (NH) 1 0.12%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 3 0.36%
Asian (NH) 4 0.48%
Pacific Islander (NH) 2 0.24%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 27 3.26%
Hispanic or Latino 185 22.32%
Total 829

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 829 people, 240 households, and 118 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, 957 people, 408 households, and 239 families were residing in the city. The population density was 820.2/sq mi (316.7/km2). The 488 housing units averaged 418.2/sq mi (161.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.98% White, 0.21% African American, 0.52% Native American, 2.51% from other races, and 1.78% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 21.84% of the population.

Of the 408 households, 24.5% had children under 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were not families. About 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.22, and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city, the age distribution was 21.5% under 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 25.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,089, and for a family was $36,500. Males had a median income of $27,604 versus $17,813 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,502. About 11.0% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Bandera is served by the Bandera Independent School District and home to the Bandera High School Bulldogs.

Trivia

  • The city is home of Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar, a famous Hill Country honky-tonk.[19]

Sister cities

  • The First Baptist Church of Bandera
    The First Baptist Church of Bandera
  • Entrance to the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera
    Entrance to the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera
  • Outdoor mural reflects the theme of Bandera as the "Cowboy Capital of the World"
    Outdoor mural reflects the theme of Bandera as the "Cowboy Capital of the World"
  • Motorcyclists in Bandera
    Motorcyclists in Bandera
  • Bandera Courthouse
    Bandera Courthouse
  • Old downtown store
    Old downtown store
  • Old bank on Main St. & older water tower
    Old bank on Main St. & older water tower
  • Cowboy statue
    Cowboy statue
  • Historical marker for the town center[21]
    Historical marker for the town center[21]

References

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bandera, Texas
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Bandera city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  6. ^ "This Small Texas Town Has Less Than 1,000 Residents — and It's the 'Cowboy Capital of the World" travelandliesure.com, March 23, 2023
  7. ^ a b Coleman, Marion Moore (1963). "The Polish Origins of Bandera, Texas". Polish American Studies. 20 (1): 21–27. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  8. ^ Horne, Justin (October 21, 2021). "Bandera: How did it get its name?". KSAT. San Antonio, Texas. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Romero, Gabriel (March 15, 2022). "'It doesn't make sense:' Exploring Bandera, the 'Cowboy Capital of the World'". MySanAntonio.com. San Antonio, Texas. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Shetron, Tamara H. (November 23, 2017). "Cabaret". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  11. ^ Ferguson, Wes (August 27, 2020). "The Spirit of a Bandera Dance Hall Lives On". Texas Highways. Austin, Texas. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  12. ^ Wilonsky, Robert (February 8, 2008). "Ain't Life Grand? It Is, At Least According to Preservation Texas". Dallas Observer. Dallas, Texas: Voice Media Group, LLC. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  13. ^ "Scatter Shots" (PDF). Action Magazine. November 2015. p. 11. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  14. ^ "Hill Country town puts a Texas twist on Carnival season for 18th annual Cowboy Mardi Gras - CultureMap Austin".
  15. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  16. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  17. ^ "Census.gov". Census.gov.
  18. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  19. ^ "Honky Tonk Texas, USA". Archived from the original on December 12, 2007. Retrieved December 6, 2007.
  20. ^ a b "Interactive City Directory". Sister Cities International. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  21. ^ "Bandera Historic Town Center Historical Marker".
  1. ^ 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 can be of any race.[17][18]