Bandera County, Texas

Bandera County (Spanish: "flag", /bænˈdɛrə/ ban-DERR-ə) 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.

Bandera County
County
The Bandera County Courthouse in Bandera. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 31, 1979.
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°44′N 99°14′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1856
Named after	Bandera Pass
Seat	Bandera
Largest community	Lakehills
Area
• Total	798 sq mi (2,070 km2)
• Land	791 sq mi (2,050 km2)
• Water	6.7 sq mi (17 km2)  0.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	20,851
• Density	26/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	21st
Website	www.banderacounty.org

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 and Texas-Indian Wars

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] During the early to late 1800s, the county was a target for several Native American raids. Examples of this include a skirmish between migrating Shawnee Indians and Comanches in 1832 at Bandera Pass.^[7] Bandera Pass was also the site of the 1841 Battle of Bandera Pass between the Texas Rangers and the Comanche. In July of 1854, Texas Rangers engaged in a small battle with Seminole Indians near Bandera.^[8] Also, in 1862, settlers skirmished with Comanches near Medina, killing six warriors.^[9] In 1866, Lipan Apaches killed Thomas Click three miles west of Bandera.^[10] The last Indian raid in the county occurred on December 29, 1876, when Jack Phillips was killed by Indians, probably Lipan Apaches or Kickapoos, at Seco Pass in the southwestern part of the county, marking the end of the American Indian Wars in the county. ^[11]

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.^[12][13][14]

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.^[15] James, Montel and Company build a horse-powered sawmill and open a store within a year.^[6][16] 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 launched Bandera's tourist industry by taking boarders at their ranch,^[17][18] and by 1933, Frontier Times Museum opened to the public.^[19][20]

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 facilitated three major actions to preserve its natural heritage: the Lost Maples State Natural Area opens to the public in 1979,^[21] the Hill Country State Natural Area^[22] opens to the public in 1984,^[23] and the Nature Conservancy purchases 1,400 acres (5.7 km²) of the Love Creek Ranch^[24] from Baxter and Carol Adams to create the Love Creek Preserve in 2000.^[25]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 798 square miles (2,070 km²), of which 791 square miles (2,050 km²) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km²) (0.8%) is water.^[26] Bandera County is a part of the Greater San Antonio area and is located on the Edwards Plateau.

Further information: Laxson Creek

Major highways

• State Highway 16
• State Highway 46
• State Highway 173
• Park Road 37
• Ranch to Market Road 187
• Ranch to Market Road 337
• Ranch to Market Road 1077
• Farm to Market Road 1283
• Ranch to Market Road 2828
• Farm to Market Road 3240

Adjacent counties

• Kerr County (north)
• Kendall County (northeast)
• Bexar County (southeast)
• Medina County (south)
• Uvalde County (southwest)
• Real County (west)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	399		—
1870	649		62.7%
1880	2,158		232.5%
1890	3,795		75.9%
1900	5,332		40.5%
1910	4,921		−7.7%
1920	4,001		−18.7%
1930	3,784		−5.4%
1940	4,234		11.9%
1950	4,410		4.2%
1960	3,892		−11.7%
1970	4,747		22.0%
1980	7,084		49.2%
1990	10,562		49.1%
2000	17,645		67.1%
2010	20,485		16.1%
2020	20,851		1.8%
2024 (est.)	22,830	[27]	9.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[28] 1850–1900[29] 1910[30] 1920[31] 1930[32] 1940[33] 1950[34] 1960[35] 1970[36] 1980[37] 1990[38] 2000[39] 2010[40] 2020[41]

Bandera County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
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 (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000[42]	Pop 2010[43]	Pop 2020[41]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	14,833	16,576	15,595	84.06%	80.92%	74.79%
Black or African American alone (NH)	50	90	102	0.28%	0.44%	0.49%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	116	121	101	0.66%	0.59%	0.48%
Asian alone (NH)	47	55	95	0.27%	0.27%	0.46%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	6	0	11	0.03%	0.00%	0.05%
Other race alone (NH)	13	18	71	0.07%	0.09%	0.34%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	196	210	866	1.11%	1.03%	4.15%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2,384	3,415	4,010	13.51%	16.67%	19.23%
Total	17,645	20,485	20,851	100.00%	100.00%	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.^[44]

As of the census^[45] of 2000, there were 17,645 people, 7,010 households, and 5,061 families living in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8.5 people/km²). There were 9,503 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6/km²). 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:^[46]

• Bandera Independent School District
• Medina Independent School District (partial)
• Northside Independent School District (partial)
• Utopia Independent School District (partial)

All of the county is in the service area of Alamo Community College District.^[47]

Communities

City

• Bandera (county seat)

Census-designated places

• Lake Medina Shores (partly in Medina County)
• Lakehills (largest community)

Unincorporated communities

• Bandera Falls
• Medina
• Pipe Creek
• Tarpley
• Vanderpool

Ghost town

• Tuff

Politics

United States presidential election results for Bandera County, Texas^[48]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	10,939	80.43%	2,532	18.62%	129	0.95%
2020	10,057	79.03%	2,505	19.68%	164	1.29%
2016	8,163	79.89%	1,726	16.89%	329	3.22%
2012	7,426	78.60%	1,864	19.73%	158	1.67%
2008	6,935	74.59%	2,250	24.20%	112	1.20%
2004	6,933	79.32%	1,738	19.88%	70	0.80%
2000	5,613	77.18%	1,426	19.61%	234	3.22%
1996	3,700	65.22%	1,383	24.38%	590	10.40%
1992	2,674	50.24%	1,059	19.90%	1,589	29.86%
1988	3,435	72.15%	1,251	26.28%	75	1.58%
1984	3,152	80.04%	771	19.58%	15	0.38%
1980	2,373	70.63%	894	26.61%	93	2.77%
1976	1,554	56.18%	1,183	42.77%	29	1.05%
1972	1,796	79.50%	434	19.21%	29	1.28%
1968	842	46.78%	535	29.72%	423	23.50%
1964	762	46.49%	876	53.45%	1	0.06%
1960	942	63.48%	539	36.32%	3	0.20%
1956	1,083	76.05%	336	23.60%	5	0.35%
1952	1,350	78.95%	358	20.94%	2	0.12%
1948	570	50.35%	445	39.31%	117	10.34%
1944	634	50.40%	532	42.29%	92	7.31%
1940	432	32.80%	881	66.89%	4	0.30%
1936	431	36.81%	720	61.49%	20	1.71%
1932	359	28.74%	883	70.70%	7	0.56%
1928	936	74.52%	317	25.24%	3	0.24%
1924	442	47.84%	425	46.00%	57	6.17%
1920	249	40.75%	311	50.90%	51	8.35%
1916	168	22.34%	537	71.41%	47	6.25%
1912	158	22.25%	412	58.03%	140	19.72%

United States Senate election results for Bandera County, Texas1^[49]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	10,472	77.40%	2,735	20.21%	323	2.39%

See also

• Texas portal

• List of museums in Central Texas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bandera County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Bandera County