Matagorda County is a
county located in the
U.S. state of
Texas. As of 2000, the population was 37,957. Its
county seat is
Bay City, not to be confused with the larger
Baytown in
Harris and
Chambers counties. Matagorda County is named for the canebrakes which once grew along the coast (Matagorda is a Spanish word meaning "thick bush").
Matagorda County is part of the Bay City Micropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Houston–Baytown–Huntsville Combined Statistical Area.
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,612
square miles (4,176
km²), of which 1,114 square miles (2,886 km²) is land and 498 square miles (1,290 km²) (30.87%) is water, which includes
Matagorda Bay.
Major highways
State Highway 35
State Highway 60
State Highway 71
State Highway 111
Adjacent counties
Brazoria County (northeast)
Gulf of Mexico (southeast)
Calhoun County (southwest)
Jackson County (west)
Wharton County (northwest)
Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge
San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Demographics
As of the
census of 2000, there were 37,957 people, 13,901 households, and 9,925 families residing in the county. The
population density was 34 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 18,611 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 67.83%
White, 12.72%
Black or
African American, 0.67%
Native American, 2.38%
Asian, 0.04%
Pacific Islander, 13.98% from
other races, and 2.38% from two or more races. 31.35% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race. 10.3% were of
German, 8.2%
American, 5.4%
English and 5.2%
Irish ancestry according to
Census 2000. 73.9% spoke
English, 24.0%
Spanish and 1.6%
Vietnamese as their first language.
There were 13,901 households out of which 36.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples living together, 12.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the county, the population was spread out with 30.00% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,174, and the median income for a family was $40,586. Males had a median income of $37,733 versus $21,871 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,709. About 14.90% of families and 18.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.00% of those under age 18 and 13.60% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
in Bay City is located across from the Court House.]]
Rice is grown extensively in Matagorda County. In addition to a wealth of offshore oil rigs and natural gas extraction facilities all over the county, two petro-chemical 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 and hwy 35, there are a significant number of wildlife preserves around the county, a portion of which is land bought for that purpose by the three major plants in the county.
Cities and towns
Cities
Bay City
Palacios
Census-designated places
Blessing
Markham
Van Vleck
Other communities
Allenhurst
Caney
Cedar Lake
Cedar Lane
Collegeport
Elmaton
Hawkinsville
Matagorda
Midfield
Pledger
Sargent
Wadsworth
Education
School districts serving Matagorda County include:
Bay City Independent School District
Matagorda Independent School District
Palacios Independent School District (partial)
Tidehaven Independent School District
Van Vleck Independent School District
Boling Independent School District (partial)
References
External links
Matagorda County government's website
Category:Texas counties
Category:1836 establishments
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![The Matagorda County Museum in Bay City is located across from the Court House. As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 37,957 people, 13,901 households, and 9,925 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13/km²).](http://web.archive.org./web/20110416173532im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/6d/4a/0a7aaec393f58e18d4915e346820_grande.jpg "The Matagorda County Museum in Bay City is located across from the Court House. As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 37,957 people, 13,901 households, and 9,925 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13/km²).")
![The Matagorda County Court House in Bay City. As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 37,957 people, 13,901 households, and 9,925 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 18,611 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6/km²).](http://web.archive.org./web/20110416173532im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/bd/15/8fd0654165b5075a7087260ee71a_grande.jpg "The Matagorda County Court House in Bay City. As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 37,957 people, 13,901 households, and 9,925 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 18,611 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6/km²).")
![View from atop Mount Bonnell looking northwest toward Penny backer Bridge.The Colorado River is the 18th longest river in the United States[4] and the longest river with both its source and mouth within Texas;[3] however its drainage basin and some of its usually dry tributaries do extend into New Mexico.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110416173532im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/c2/31/41882a39dfa0b028e101c648a900_grande.jpg "View from atop Mount Bonnell looking northwest toward Penny backer Bridge.The Colorado River is the 18th longest river in the United States[4] and the longest river with both its source and mouth within Texas;[3] however its drainage basin and some of its usually dry tributaries do extend into New Mexico.")
![The Matagorda County Museum in Bay City is located across from the Court House. As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 37,957 people, 13,901 households, and 9,925 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13/km²).](http://web.archive.org./web/20110416173532im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/6d/4a/0a7aaec393f58e18d4915e346820_thumb.jpg "The Matagorda County Museum in Bay City is located across from the Court House. As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 37,957 people, 13,901 households, and 9,925 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13/km²).")
![The Matagorda County Court House in Bay City. As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 37,957 people, 13,901 households, and 9,925 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 18,611 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6/km²).](http://web.archive.org./web/20110416173532im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/bd/15/8fd0654165b5075a7087260ee71a_thumb.jpg "The Matagorda County Court House in Bay City. As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 37,957 people, 13,901 households, and 9,925 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 18,611 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6/km²).")
![View from atop Mount Bonnell looking northwest toward Penny backer Bridge.The Colorado River is the 18th longest river in the United States[4] and the longest river with both its source and mouth within Texas;[3] however its drainage basin and some of its usually dry tributaries do extend into New Mexico.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110416173532im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/c2/31/41882a39dfa0b028e101c648a900_thumb.jpg "View from atop Mount Bonnell looking northwest toward Penny backer Bridge.The Colorado River is the 18th longest river in the United States[4] and the longest river with both its source and mouth within Texas;[3] however its drainage basin and some of its usually dry tributaries do extend into New Mexico.")
