Matagorda County, Texas

Matagorda County, Texas

The Matagorda County Courthouse in Bay City
Map of Texas highlighting Matagorda County
Location in the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded 1836
Seat Bay City
Largest city Bay City
Area
 • Total 1,613 sq mi (4,178 km2)
 • Land 1,100 sq mi (2,849 km2)
 • Water 512 sq mi (1,326 km2), 32%
Population
 • Total 36,807
 • Density 33/sq mi (13/km²)
Congressional district 27th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.matagorda.tx.us
Matagorda County Office Building

Matagorda County (/ˌmætəˈɡɔːrdə/[1]) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 36,702.[2] According to data from Applied Geographic Solutions,[3] the 2016 population was 36,807. Its county seat is Bay City,[4] not to be confused with the larger Baytown in Harris and Chambers Counties. Matagorda County is named for the canebrakes that once grew along the coast (matagorda is a Spanish word meaning "thick bush").

Matagorda County comprises the Bay City, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Houston-The Woodlands, TX Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,613 square miles (4,180 km2), of which 1,100 square miles (2,800 km2) is land and 512 square miles (1,330 km2) (32%) is water.[5] The water area includes Matagorda Bay. It borders the Gulf of Mexico.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18502,124—
18603,45462.6%
18703,377−2.2%
18803,94016.7%
18903,9851.1%
19006,09753.0%
191013,597123.0%
192016,58922.0%
193017,6786.6%
194020,06613.5%
195021,5597.4%
196025,74419.4%
197027,9138.4%
198037,82835.5%
199036,928−2.4%
200037,9572.8%
201036,702−3.3%
Est. 201637,187[6]1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1850–2010[8] 2010–2014[2]

As of 2016 data from Applied Geographic Solutions,[3] there were 36,807 people, 14,425 households, and 9,824 families residing in the county. There were 19,267 housing units in the county with 14,425 occupied. The racial makeup of the county was 69.93% White, 11.56% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 2.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 13.02% from other races, and 2.53% from two or more races. 40.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.85% under the age of 20, 12.95% from 20 to 29, 11.47% from 30 to 49, 20.56% from 50 to 64, and 16.42% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.97 years. The median income for a household in the county was $43,046.

Economy

The Matagorda County Museum in Bay City is located across from the Court House.

Rice is grown extensively in Matagorda County, as well as St. Augustine and other turf grass. In addition to a wealth of offshore oil rigs and natural gas extraction facilities all over the county, two petrochemical processing plants (Celanese and Equistar) and the South Texas Project nuclear power plant operate within the county. Matagorda County has secluded, extensive forests, wetlands, prairie and coastal regions. The gulf coast floodplain has several conditions conducive to a variety of ecosystems and recreational activities evident by the highest count of migrating birds in the United States. Fishing (on & offshore), hunting and scuba diving are large parts of the recreation industry due to the Colorado river, the forests and Matagorda bay. As well as having the Rio Colorado Golf Course and a birdwatching park on the Colorado River near the State Highway 35 bridge, there are a significant number of wildlife preserves around the county, a portion of which is land bought for that purpose by the two major petrochemical refineries and nuclear plant in the county.

Education

School districts serving Matagorda County include:

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

Politics

Presidential Elections Results[9]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 68.6% 8,366 28.7% 3,500 2.7% 330
2012 66.3% 8,040 32.8% 3,980 0.9% 113
2008 63.3% 7,835 35.9% 4,440 0.8% 98
2004 64.8% 8,119 34.8% 4,355 0.4% 47
2000 60.9% 7,584 37.7% 4,696 1.4% 179
1996 47.0% 5,876 43.0% 5,374 10.0% 1,244
1992 40.5% 5,328 36.2% 4,759 23.4% 3,078
1988 54.0% 6,787 45.2% 5,675 0.8% 104
1984 61.7% 8,452 38.0% 5,201 0.3% 41
1980 53.4% 5,545 44.2% 4,585 2.4% 252
1976 42.1% 3,679 56.9% 4,971 0.9% 81
1972 66.8% 5,003 33.0% 2,473 0.3% 19
1968 36.6% 3,094 42.5% 3,595 21.0% 1,777
1964 36.7% 2,407 63.2% 4,143 0.1% 5
1960 49.6% 2,975 49.5% 2,971 0.9% 52
1956 66.5% 3,927 32.2% 1,904 1.3% 78
1952 66.2% 4,122 33.8% 2,101 0.0% 1
1948 30.8% 1,016 49.4% 1,628 19.9% 655
1944 13.4% 412 60.5% 1,854 26.1% 801
1940 23.1% 651 76.6% 2,156 0.2% 6
1936 21.2% 459 78.6% 1,700 0.2% 5
1932 16.6% 408 82.9% 2,039 0.6% 14
1928 58.9% 1,194 40.9% 829 0.3% 6
1924 37.6% 893 57.0% 1,353 5.4% 128
1920 43.9% 918 47.4% 992 8.7% 181
1916 23.1% 252 68.6% 748 8.3% 91
1912 9.6% 107 64.0% 710 26.4% 293

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Matagorda Bay". Dictionary.com. Random House, Inc. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Estimates and Projections". Applied Geographic Solutions. 2015-10-08. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS

Coordinates: 28°47′N 96°00′W / 28.78°N 96.00°W / 28.78; -96.00

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