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Bandera, Texas
City
Downtown Bandera
Downtown Bandera
Official logo of Bandera, Texas
Logo
Nickname(s): 
"Cowboy Capital of the World"
Bandera, Texas is located in the United States
Bandera, Texas
Bandera, Texas
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Texas
County Bandera
Area
 • Total 1.16 sq mi (3.00 km2)
 • Land 1.16 sq mi (3.00 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
1,243 ft (379 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 829
 • Density 778.55/sq mi (300.49/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
78003
Area code(s) 830
FIPS code 48-05528
GNIS feature ID 1330000

Bandera (Spanish: "flag", /bænˈdɛrə/ ban-DERR-ə) is a town 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, The population was 829 at the 2020 census. 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.

History

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

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.

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

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

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.

Geography

Bandera is located in east-central Bandera County at 29°44′N 99°4′W / 29.733°N 99.067°W / 29.733; -99.067 (29.7258, −99.0750). It is 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.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1890 372 —
1900 419 12.6%
1920 700 —
1930 580 −17.1%
1940 1,250 115.5%
1950 1,325 6.0%
1960 1,065 −19.6%
1970 891 −16.3%
1980 947 6.3%
1990 877 −7.4%
2000 957 9.1%
2010 857 −10.4%
2020 829 −3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Bandera racial composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
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.

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, and was included in the 1975 horror film, Race with the Devil.
  • On Sunday mornings, Bandera is a popular destination for motorcyclists from San Antonio, known as the Bandera Breakfast Run.
  • Bandera is home to the Bandera Riverfest that takes place in June each year on the Medina River, offering tubing, kayaking, cookoffs, and live music throughout the weekend.
  • Willie Nelson has an instrumental called "Bandera" on his Red Headed Stranger record.
  • "The Bandera Waltz" was written by Easy Adams in 1949, and has been recorded by the Texas Top Hands, Slim Whitman, and Bruce Robison.
  • Bandera was once home to singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen.
  • Bandera is the hometown of singer-songwriter brothers Bruce and Charlie Robison.
  • The rugged Hill Country State Natural Area is the location of the Bandera 100K trail run and the Cactus Rose 100-mile endurance run, two of the toughest ultramarathons in Texas.
  • The Bandera Downs horseracing facility lies just northeast of town. It is now closed.
  • The Frontier Times Museum, founded by J. Marvin Hunter and named for Hunter's Frontier Times magazine, is located in Bandera.

Sister cities

Gallery

  • First Baptist Church of Bandera, TX Picture 093

    The First Baptist Church of Bandera

  • Frontier Times Museum, Bandera, TX Picture 091

    Entrance to the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera

  • Cowboy mural in Bandera, TX Picture 099

    Outdoor mural reflects the theme of Bandera as the "Cowboy Capital of the World"

  • Motorcyclists in Bandera, TX Picture 095

    Motorcyclists in Bandera

  • Bandera Courthouse 5 Wiki (1 of 1)

    Bandera Courthouse

  • Bandera General Store

    Old downtown store

  • Bandera water tower and bank

    Old bank on Main St. & older water tower

  • BRONCO

    Cowboy statue

  • Bandera town center historic sign

    Historical marker for the town center

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Bandera (Texas) para niños

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