Bandera, Texas

Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement

Bandera (Spanish: "flag", Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) is a city in Bandera County, Texas, United States. It was founded by Polish Catholic settlers from Silesia in the 1850's.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>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,<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Its population was 829 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name=TL>"This Small Texas Town Has Less Than 1,000 Residents — and It's the 'Cowboy Capital of the World" travelandliesure.com, March 23, 2023</ref>

History

Bandera was founded in 1855 by Polish Roman Catholic immigrants from the Province of Silesia.<ref name=Coleman1963>Template:Cite journal</ref>Template:Rp They built St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, and many local residents are descended from them.<ref name=Coleman1963 />Template:Rp

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Bandera was a staging area on the Great Western Cattle Trail, during the late 19th century.<ref name=MySA2022 >Template:Cite news</ref>

The Cabaret Dance Hall opened in 1936.<ref name=Shetron2017>Template:Cite web</ref> Throughout its history, the dance hall hosted Bob Wills, Doug Sahm, Ernest Tubb, and others.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2008, the hall was listed as endangered by Preservation Texas.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> By at least 2013 the hall was closed.<ref name=Shetron2017 /> By at least 2015, the hall was demolished.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Bandera hosts a three-day Cowboy Mardi Gras that attracts over 15,000 people from all over the world to the town.<ref name=MySA2022 /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

Bandera is located in east-central Bandera County, Template:Convert northwest of downtown San Antonio, on the Medina River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert (about 5 acres or 0.55%) is covered by water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 census

**Bandera racial composition**<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
(*NH = Non-Hispanic*)Template:Efn
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%
Multiracial (NH)	27	3.26%
Hispanic or Latino	185	22.32%
Total	829

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

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 957 people, 408 households, and 239 families were residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. The 488 housing units averaged Template:Convert. 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sister cities

Template:Flagicon Strzelce Opolskie, Poland<ref name="Interactive City Directory">Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flagicon Tysmenytsia, Ukraine<ref name="Interactive City Directory"/>

Gallery

The First Baptist Church of Bandera
Entrance to the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera
Outdoor mural reflects the theme of Bandera as the "Cowboy Capital of the World"
Motorcyclists in Bandera
Bandera Courthouse
Old downtown store
Old bank on Main St. and an older water tower
Cowboy statue
Historical marker for the town center<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>