Texas

Matagorda

36,255
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Matagorda

Matagorda, Texas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 2,124. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 36,255.

Its recorded population peaked at 37,957 in 2000, and has since declined by roughly 4 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Texas Coastal Violence (Karankawa Area), Bombardment of Fort Green (Matagorda), Union Occupation of Matagorda Peninsula, and 14 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202036,255
201036,702
200037,957
199036,928
198037,828
197027,913
196025,744
195021,559
194020,066
193017,678
192016,589
191013,594
19006,097
18903,985
18803,940
18703,377
18603,454
18502,124
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Matagorda

Military engagements that took place in Matagorda, Texas.

Texas Coastal Violence (Karankawa Area)
1100
Bombardment of Fort Green (Matagorda)
1862
Union Occupation of Matagorda Peninsula
1864

Historic places in Matagorda

National Register of Historic Places listings in Matagorda, Texas.

Hensley-Gusman House
Bay City
Hill, R.J., Building
Palacios
Blessing Masonic Lodge No. 411
Blessing
Hotel Blessing
Blessing
Luther Hotel
Palacios
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Explore census history and historic records for more Texas counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Matagorda County, Texas

This page charts the census history of Matagorda County, Texas. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Matagorda

When does Matagorda first appear in the US census?
Matagorda, Texas first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 2,124.
What is the population of Matagorda?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Matagorda had a recorded population of 36,255.
When did Matagorda's population peak?
Matagorda's recorded population peaked at 37,957 in 2000.
Were any battles fought in Matagorda?
3 documented military engagements took place in Matagorda, including Texas Coastal Violence (Karankawa Area), Bombardment of Fort Green (Matagorda), Union Occupation of Matagorda Peninsula.
How many historic places are in Matagorda?
14 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Matagorda, Texas.
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