Matagorda (
) is a
census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
in
Matagorda County,
Texas
Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
, United States. It is located near the mouth of the
Colorado River
The Colorado River () is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. The river, the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), 5th longest in the United St ...
on the upper Texas coast in the United States. In 2020, its population was 313. Matagorda is primarily a
tourist town, with commercial and recreational
fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment (Freshwater ecosystem, freshwater or Marine ecosystem, marine), but may also be caught from Fish stocking, stocked Body of water, ...
being the top industries. Approximately of the beach are accessible by vehicle and 35 additional miles are accessible only by boat. Matagorda is at the end of
State Highway 60 and the beginning of
Farm to Market Road 2031, which runs over the
Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a Navigability, inland waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States, running from Massachusetts southward along the Atlantic Seaboard and around the southern tip of Florida, the ...
and south to the
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico () is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States; on the southw ...
.
History
Matagorda is the third-oldest
Anglo-American town in Texas. It was established in 1827 when
Stephen F. Austin obtained permission from the
Mexican government
The Federal government of Mexico (alternately known as the Government of the Republic or ' or ') is the national government of the United Mexican States, the central government established by its constitution to share sovereignty over the republ ...
to build a town to protect incoming settlers.
Elias R. Wightman, one of
Stephen F. Austin's early surveyors, traveled to Matagorda in 1829 with 60 immigrant settlers.
24 historical markers are in the township of Matagorda. Matagorda was named by early Spanish settlers after the dense foliage which grew near the coast. The name means "fat thicket" in Spanish
Demographics
Matagorda first appeared as a
census designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
in the
2010 U.S. Census.
[
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 313 people, 242 households, and 167 families residing in the CDP.
]
Characteristics
Matagorda's beach area has access to both East and West Matagorda Bay
Matagorda Bay () is a large Gulf of Mexico bay on the Texas coast, lying in Calhoun and Matagorda counties and located approximately northeast of Corpus Christi, east-southeast of San Antonio, south-southwest of Houston, and south-southea ...
s, Matagorda Beach, and the Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico () is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States; on the southw ...
.
Since 1997, 234 different species of birds have been spotted by the North American Audubon Christmas Bird Count.common poorwill
The common poorwill (''Phalaenoptilus nuttallii'') is a nocturnal bird of the family Caprimulgidae, the nightjars. It is found from British Columbia and southeastern Alberta, through the western United States to northern Mexico. The bird's habi ...
, broad-winged hawk, MacGillivray's warbler, and Swainson's warbler.
Education
Matagorda Independent School District is the local school district.
The designated community college for Matagorda Independent School District is Wharton County Junior College
Wharton County Junior College (WCJC) is a public community college with its main campus in Wharton, Texas. The college also has campuses in Richmond, Sugar Land, and Bay City.
WCJC offers a range of postsecondary educational prog ...
.Texas Education Code Sec. 130.211. WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
/ref>
References
External links
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Matagorda Beach information
Matagorda Beach Cam
Matagorda Chamber of Commerce
Census-designated places in Matagorda County, Texas
Populated coastal places in Texas
1827 establishments in Texas
{{MatagordaCountyTX-geo-stub