For the Ukrainian nationalist, see Stepan Bandera.
Bandera, Texas
City
MayorDenise Griffin [1]
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyBandera
Unit prefImperial
Area total3.00 km²
Area land3.00 km²
Area water0.01 km²
Area total1.16 sq mi
Area land1.16 sq mi
Area water0.00 sq mi
Population as of2020
Population total829
Population density778.55 sq mi
Population density300.49 km²
Time zoneCentral (CST) (UTC−6)
Time zone (DST)CDT (UTC−5)
Elevation1247 ft
Coordinates29°43′32″N 99°04′27″W
ZIP Code78003
Area code830
FIPS code48-05528[2]
GNIS feature ID2409781[3]
Websitewww.banderatx.gov

Bandera (Spanish: "flag", /bænˈdɛrə/ ban-DERR-ə) is a city in Bandera County, Texas, United States. It was founded by Polish Catholic settlers from Silesia in the 1850s.[4]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,[5] Its population was 829 at the 2020 census.[6]

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.[7]

History

Bandera was founded in 1855 by Polish Roman Catholic immigrants from the Province of Silesia.[8]: 22, 23 They built St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, and many local residents are descended from them.[8]: 27

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.[9]

Bandera was a staging area on the Great Western Cattle Trail, during the late 19th century.[10]

The Cabaret Dance Hall opened in 1936.[11] Throughout its history, the dance hall hosted Bob Wills, Doug Sahm, Ernest Tubb, and others.[12] In 2008, the hall was listed as endangered by Preservation Texas.[13] By at least 2013 the hall was closed.[11] By at least 2015, the hall was demolished.[14]

Bandera hosts a three-day Cowboy Mardi Gras that attracts over 15,000 people from all over the world to the town.[10][15]

Bandera had eight surveillance cameras from Flock Safety, but after an uproar in 2026 during several city council meetings, and cameras repeatedly being cut from their poles, the council voted to terminate their contract with Flock. After the vote, a councilman who had supported Flock sarcastically proposed "returning to 1880" and banning internet service and mobile phones in the city in the name of privacy.[16][17]

Geography

Bandera is located in east-central Bandera County, 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) (about 5 acres or 0.55%) is covered by water.[6]

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Bandera had a population of 829. The median age was 51.1 years, 16.4% of residents were under 18, and 30.9% of residents were 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 80.9 males age 18 and over.[18]

None of the residents lived in urban areas, while all lived in rural areas.[19]

Of the 397 households in Bandera, 28.5% had children under 18 living in them, 33.0% were married-couple households, 19.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 39.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.[18]

Of the 496 housing units, 20.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 56.7% were owner-occupied and 43.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was <0.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.9%.[18]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[20]
RacePercent
White86.1%
Black or African American0.1%
American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
Asian0.5%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander0.4%
Some other race2.3%
Two or more races10.0%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)22.3%

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 957 people, 408 households, and 239 families were residing in the city. The population density was 820.2 /sq mi (316.7 /km2). The 488 housing units averaged 418.2 /sq mi (161.5 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.98% White, 0.21% African American, 0.52% Native American, 2.51% from other races, and 1.78% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 21.84% of the population.

Of the 408 households, 24.5% had children under 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were not families. About 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.22, and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city, the age distribution was 21.5% under 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 25.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,089 and for a family was $36,500. Males had a median income of $27,604 versus $17,813 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,502. About 11.0% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.

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.[21]

Sister cities

References

  1. ^ "Bandera City Government Page". Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  2. ^ "U.S. Census website". Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  3. ^
  4. ^ "Discover Bandera, Texas: History, Economy, and Tourism"
  5. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  6. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Bandera city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  7. ^ "This Small Texas Town Has Less Than 1,000 Residents — and It's the 'Cowboy Capital of the World" travelandliesure.com, March 23, 2023
  8. ^ Coleman, Marion Moore (1963). "The Polish Origins of Bandera, Texas". Polish American Studies. 20 (1): 21–27. JSTOR 20147631. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  9. ^ Horne, Justin (21 October 2021). "Bandera: How did it get its name?". KSAT. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  10. ^ Romero, Gabriel (15 March 2022). "'It doesn't make sense:' Exploring Bandera, the 'Cowboy Capital of the World'". MySanAntonio.com. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  11. ^ Shetron, Tamara H. (23 November 2017). "Cabaret". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  12. ^ Ferguson, Wes (27 August 2020). "The Spirit of a Bandera Dance Hall Lives On". Texas Highways. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  13. ^ Wilonsky, Robert (8 February 2008). "Ain't Life Grand? It Is, At Least According to Preservation Texas.". Dallas Observer. Dallas, Texas: Voice Media Group, LLC. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Scatter Shots". Action Magazine. November 2015. p. 11. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Hill Country town puts a Texas twist on Carnival season for 18th annual Cowboy Mardi Gras - CultureMap Austin"
  16. ^ Koebler, Jason (2026-05-20). "After Town Bans Flock, Councilmember Crashes Out, Proposes Internet and Phone Ban". 404 Media. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  17. ^ Rector, Veronica (2026-05-13). "Council votes to terminate Flock Safety contract". Bandera Bulletin. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  18. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  19. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  20. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  21. ^ "Honky Tonk Texas, USA". Archived December 12, 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  22. ^ "Interactive City Directory". Sister Cities International. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.