Matagorda County

County comprises the Bay City, TX micropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Houston-The Woodlands, TX combined statistical area.

• County — Matagorda County • State — Texas • Founded — 1836 • Seat Wl — Bay City • Largest City Wl — Bay City • Area Total Sq Mi — 1613 • Area Land Sq Mi — 1100 • Area Water Sq Mi — 512 • Area Water Percent — 32 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 36255 • Pop Est As Of — 2025 • Population Est — 36463 • Population Density Sq Mi — auto • Time Zone — Central • District — 22nd • Illustration — Matagorda County Office Building

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1613 sqmi, of which 512 sqmi (32%) are covered by water. The water area includes Matagorda Bay. It borders the Gulf of Mexico.

• State Highway 35 • State Highway 60 • State Highway 71 • State Highway 111

• Brazoria County (northeast) • Calhoun County (southwest) • Jackson County (west) • Wharton County (northwest)

• Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge • San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge (part)

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 36,255. The median age was 38.6 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.4 males age 18 and over. The racial makeup of the county was 54.5% White, 10.8% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 16.4% from some other race, and 15.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 42.6% of the population. 53.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 46.7% lived in rural areas. There were 13,716 households in the county, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.9% were married-couple households, 19.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 18,476 housing units, of which 25.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.0% were owner-occupied and 32.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 16.9%.

As of the 2000 census, 37,957 people, 13,901 households, and 9,925 families were residing in the county. The population density was 34 /mi2. The 18,611 housing units averaged 17 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 67.83% White, 12.72% African American, 0.67% Native American, 2.38% Asian, 14.02% from other races, and 2.38% from two or more races. About 31.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. By ancestry, 10.3% were of German, 8.2% American, 5.4% English, and 5.2% Irish according to Census 2000, and 73.9% spoke English, 24.0% Spanish, and 1.6% Vietnamese as their first language. Of the 13,901 households, 36.70% had children under 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 not families. About 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.70, and the average family size was 3.25. In the county, the age distribution was 30.0% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 95.5 males. The median income for a household in the county was $32,174, and 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.

• Illustration — The Matagorda County Museum in Bay City is located across from the Courthouse. Rice is grown extensively in Matagorda County, as are St. Augustine and other turf grasses. 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- and offshore), hunting, and scuba diving are large parts of the recreation industry due to the Colorado River, the forests, and Matagorda Bay. The Rio Colorado Golf Course and a birdwatching park are on the Colorado River near the State Highway 35 bridge, and several wildlife preserves are located 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.

School districts serving Matagorda County include: • Bay City Independent School District • Boling Independent School District (partial) • Matagorda Independent School District • Palacios Independent School District (partial) • Tidehaven Independent School District • Van Vleck Independent School District Residents in Bay City, Boling, Matagorda, Palacios, Tidehaven, and Van Vleck ISDs (in other words, the entire county) are in the service area of Wharton County Junior College.

• Bay City (county seat) • Palacios

• Blessing • Markham • Matagorda • Midfield • Sargent • Van Vleck • Wadsworth

• Allenhurst • Buckeye • Caney • Cedar Lake • Cedar Lane • Collegeport • El Maton • Hawkinsville • Pledger

• Hawley

• James Boyd Hawkins, a planter and rancher, was the founder of Hawkins Plantation. • Charlie Siringo • Hortense Sparks Ward • Priscilla Richman, chief judge of the Fifth Circuit • William Abrams (W.A.) Price was the first black attorney, the first black judge, and the first black man elected county attorney in Texas.

• Illustration — Monument erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy on the Matagorda County Courthouse Square in Bay City in 1913 • Illustration — Episcopal Church, Palacios

Republican