Matagorda, Texas

Sign indicating Matagorda

Bay City Public Library Matagorda Branch

Matagorda (/ˈmætəˈɡɔːrdə/ (listen)^[1]) is a census-designated place in Matagorda County, Texas, located near the mouth of the Colorado River on the upper Texas coast in the United States. In 2020, its population was 313.^[2] Matagorda is primarily a tourist town, with commercial and recreational fishing being the top industries. About 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

Matagorda is the third-oldest Anglo-American town in Texas.^[3] It was established in 1827 when Stephen F. Austin obtained permission from the Mexican government to build a town to protect incoming settlers.^[4] Elias R. Wightman, who was one of Stephen F. Austin's early surveyors, traveled to Matagorda in 1829 with 60 immigrant settlers.

Twenty-four historical markers are in the township of Matagorda.^[5]

Demographics

**Matagorda racial composition as of 2020**^[6]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)^[a]
Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	276	88.18%
Black or African American (NH)	5	1.6%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	9	2.88%
Hispanic or Latino	23	7.35%
Total	313

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

Activities

The most popular activity in Matagorda is visiting the beach. It is a fishing hot spot on the Texas coast. It provides access to both East and West Matagorda Bays, Matagorda Beach, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Matagorda is known as one of the best kayaking and kayak fishing destinations on the Texas coast due to miles of shallow marsh area only accessible by kayak. Miles of designated paddling trails are in the Matagorda area.^[9]

Matagorda County has been number-one in the nation since 1997 in the North American Audubon Christmas Bird Count with 234 different species spotted.^[10] Among the more impressive species which have been reported are the prairie warbler, common poorwill, broad-winged hawk, MacGillivray's warbler, and Swainson's warbler.

Education

Matagorda ISD is the local K-8 school district.

The designated community college for Matagorda ISD is Wharton County Junior College.^[11]

References

^ "Matagorda Bay". Dictionary.com. Random House, Inc. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
^ "Texas: 2010 — Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. September 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
^ "Matagorda Area Chamber of Commerce". www.matagordachamber.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-22. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
^ J., KLEINER, DIANA. "MATAGORDA, TX". tshaonline.org. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
^ "MATAGORDA COUNTY HISTORICAL MARKERS". www.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
^ https://www.census.gov/^{[not specific enough to verify]}
^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
^ "Matagorda Paddling Trails – Matagorda Adventure Company". www.matagordaadventures.com. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
^ "Matagorda Area Chamber of Commerce — Birding". www.matagordachamber.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-10. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
^ Texas Education Code Sec. 130.211. WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.

^ 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.^[7]^[8]

External links

Coordinates: 28°41′27″N 95°58′03″W / 28.69083°N 95.96750°W / 28.69083; -95.96750

This article about a location in Matagorda County, Texas is a stub. You can help Justapedia by expanding it.

[DictionaryMatagordaBay-1] "Matagorda Bay". Dictionary.com. Random House, Inc. Retrieved 9 November 2014.

[2] "Texas: 2010 — Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. September 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2015.

[3] "Matagorda Area Chamber of Commerce". www.matagordachamber.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-22. Retrieved 2015-12-13.

[4] J., KLEINER, DIANA. "MATAGORDA, TX". tshaonline.org. Retrieved 2015-12-13.

[5] "MATAGORDA COUNTY HISTORICAL MARKERS". www.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2015-12-13.

[6] "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-25.

[7] ttps://www.census.gov/^{[not specific enough to verify]}

[8] "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved 18 May 2022.

[10] "Matagorda Paddling Trails – Matagorda Adventure Company". www.matagordaadventures.com. Retrieved 2015-12-13.

[birding-11] "Matagorda Area Chamber of Commerce — Birding". www.matagordachamber.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-10. Retrieved 2015-12-13.

[12] Texas Education Code Sec. 130.211. WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.

[9] 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.^[7]^[8]

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v t e Municipalities and communities of Matagorda County, Texas, United States
County seat: Bay City
Cities	Bay City Palacios
CDPs	Blessing Markham Matagorda Midfield Sargent Van Vleck Wadsworth
Other communities	Allenhurst Ashwood Caney Cedar Lake Cedar Lane Collegeport El Maton Hawkinsville Pledger
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