Bandera County, Texas Explained

County:Bandera County
State:Texas
Flag:Flag of Bandera County, Texas.svg
Seal:Bandera County, Texas seal.gif
Founded Year:1856
Seat Wl:Bandera
Largest City Wl:Lakehills
City Type:community
Area Total Sq Mi:798
Area Land Sq Mi:791
Area Water Sq Mi:6.7
Area Percentage:0.8
Census Yr:2020
Pop:20851
Density Sq Mi:auto
Web:https://www.banderacounty.org/
Ex Image:Bandera county courthouse.jpg
Ex Image Size:250
Ex Image Cap:The Bandera County Courthouse in Bandera. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 31, 1979.
District:21st
Time Zone:Central
Named For:Bandera Pass

Bandera County (Spanish: "flag",) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located in the Hill Country and its county seat is Bandera.[1] Bandera county was settled by German and Polish emigrants in the mid 1800s. Many residents are descendants[2] of those same emigrants.

As of the 2020 census, the population is 20,851.[3] [4] Bandera County is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan statistical area.

The county is officially recognized as the "Cowboy Capital of the World" by the Texas Legislature.[5]

History

In 1856, the Texas Legislature established Bandera County from portions of Bexar and Uvalde Counties, and named the county and its seat for Bandera Pass, which uses the Spanish word for flag.

Native Americans

Although the county's earliest evidence of human habitation dates from 8000 to 4000 BC, the county's earliest known ethnology places Lipan Apache and later Comanche settlements in the area during the 17th century.[6]

19th century

In 1841, John Coffee Hays and a troop of Texas Rangers defeated a large party of Comanche warriors, thereby pacifying the region in what became known as the Battle of Bandera Pass.[7] [8] [9]

In 1853, John James and Charles S. DeMontel survey and plan the town of Bandera, which facilitates settlement by A. M. Milstead, Thomas Odem, P.D. Saner, and their families along the river. The families begin making cypress shingles.[10] James, Montel and Company build a horse-powered sawmill and open a store within a year.[6] [11] In the wake of successive national insurrections crushed by Prussia, Austria and Russia, 16 Polish families arrive in Bandera in 1855 and begin working in James and DeMontel's sawmill. August Klappenbach opens the first store and post office. In 1856, the Texas Legislature establishes Bandera County from portions of Bexar County, and the county is formally organized.

By 1860, the population grew to 399, which included 12 slaves. By 1880, sheep and Angora goats become more profitable than farming.

20th century

In 1920, Cora and Ed Buck launch Bandera's tourist industry by taking boarders at their ranch,[12] [13] and by 1933, Frontier Times Museum opens to the public.[14] [15]

During the last 30 years of the 20th century, with an estimated 80% of its land dedicated to farming and ranching industries, the county government facilitates three major actions to preserve its natural heritage: the Lost Maples State Natural Area opens to the public in 1979,[16] the Hill Country State Natural Area[17] opens to the public in 1984,[18] and the Nature Conservancy purchases 1400acres of the Love Creek Ranch[19] from Baxter and Carol Adams to create the Love Creek Preserve in 2000.[20]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (0.8%) is water.[21] Bandera County is a part of the Greater San Antonio area and is located on the Edwards Plateau.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Bandera County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
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!Pop 2010[22] !Pop 2020[23] !% 2010!% 2020
White alone (NH)16,57615,59580.92%74.79%
Black or African American alone (NH)901020.44%0.49%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1211010.59%0.48%
Asian alone (NH)55950.27%0.46%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)0110.00%0.05%
Some Other Race alone (NH)18710.09%0.34%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)2108661.03%4.15%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)3,4154,01016.67%19.23%
Total20,48520,851100.00%100.00%

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.[24]

As of the census[25] of 2000, there were 17,645 people, 7,010 households, and 5,061 families living in the county. The population density was 22/mi2. There were 9,503 housing units at an average density of 12adj=preNaNadj=pre. 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:[26]

All of the county is in the service area of Alamo Community College District.[27]

Communities

City

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Find a County . June 7, 2011 . National Association of Counties . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx . May 31, 2011 .
  2. Web site: Texans One and All — The German Texans. 2014. Institute of Texan Cultures. August 18, 2024.
  3. Web site: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Bandera County, Texas. January 31, 2022. United States Census Bureau.
  4. Web site: Bandera County, Texas. United States Census Bureau. January 30, 2022.
  5. News: Pannebaker. Judith. July 11, 2013. Bandera now official 'Cowboy Capital of the World'. Bandera County Courier. dead. September 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20160816142738/http://www.bccourier.com/Archives/News_detail.php?contentId=14232. August 16, 2016.
  6. Web site: Long. Christopher. Bandera County, Texas. Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. November 28, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101221154113/http://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcb02. December 21, 2010. live. June 12, 2010.
  7. Book: Fisher, O Clark . https://books.google.com/books?id=DWfRCUonxKwC&pg=PA41 . Great Western Indian Fights . Bison . 1966 . 978-0-8032-5186-1 . 41 . Battle of Bandera Pass.
  8. Web site: Tobin. Peggy. Battle of Bandera Pass. Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. November 28, 2010. August 31, 2010.
  9. Web site: McConnell. Joseph Caroll. Famous Battle of Bandera Pass. Fort Tours. Fort Tour Systems, Inc.. November 28, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101125105442/http://forttours.com/pages/banderapass.asp. November 25, 2010. live.
  10. News: Schumacher. Dr MJ. Granddaughter's memories bring early history to life. Bandera County Courier. November 5, 2009.
  11. Web site: Tobin. Peggy. Bandera, Texas. Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. November 28, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101101030833/http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlb05. November 1, 2010. live. June 12, 2010.
  12. News: Wise. Dan. Celebrate Bandera County honors Bandera County's dude ranches. The Bandera Bulletin. July 25, 2006.
  13. Web site: Old Buck Ranch. Texas State Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. November 28, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120301061934/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5019003694. March 1, 2012.
  14. Book: Pohlen, Jerome . Oddball Texas: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places . Chicago Review Press . 2006 . 978-1-55652-583-4 . 140–141 . Frontier Times Museum . registration.
  15. Web site: Frontier Times Museum. Texas State Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. November 28, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120314205029/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5019002071. March 14, 2012.
  16. Web site: Lost Maples State Park. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. November 28, 2010.
  17. Web site: Coppedge. Clay. Bandera-Hill Country State Natural Preserve. Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. November 28, 2010.
  18. Web site: Hill Country State Natural Area. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. November 28, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101028100800/http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/hill_country. October 28, 2010. live.
  19. Book: Permenter, Paris. Day Trips from San Antonio. 2006. GPP Travel. 978-0-7627-3868-7. Bigley, John. 149.
  20. Web site: Love Creek Preserve. The Nature Conservancy. November 28, 2010.
  21. Web site: 2010 Census Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. April 19, 2015. August 22, 2012.
  22. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Bandera County, Texas. United States Census Bureau.
  23. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Bandera County, Texas. United States Census Bureau.
  24. Web site: "American FactFinder" . January 8, 2015 . January 8, 2015 . http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20150108070337/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml . dead .
  25. Web site: U.S. Census website . United States Census Bureau . May 14, 2011 .
  26. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Bandera County, TX. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48019_bandera/DC20SD_C48019.pdf . October 9, 2022 . live. U.S. Census Bureau. June 29, 2022. - Text list
  27. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.162. ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.