Editing Matador, Texas (section)

== History ==
The Matador Ranch was consolidated in 1882 by a [[Scotland|Scottish]] syndicate, and a [[post office]] opened at Matador in 1886.

At the end of the 19th century, townspeople freed the community from domination by the Matador Ranch, which was liquidated in 1951, by relocating nonranch families there and electing their own slate of officials.

The community was incorporated in 1912 and made the county seat. The state required that a town have at least 20 businesses. Local ranch hands hence established fraudulent, temporary businesses using ranch supplies. The only real business in Matador at the time was a [[Bar (establishment)|saloon]].<ref>David Jouris, ''All Over The Map,''</ref>

Its highest population, 1,376, was reached in 1940.

=== 2023 tornado ===
On [[Tornado outbreak sequence of June 20–26, 2023|June 21, 2023]], the town was severely damaged by a powerful, high-end EF3 tornado, causing four deaths and ten injuries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Matador takes direct hit from tornado as potent storms move through West Texas |url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/weather/severe/2023/06/21/matador-direct-him-from-tornado-potent-storms-move-through-west-texas/70344871007/ |access-date=June 22, 2023 |website=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Multiple tornadoes in north Texas kill four, injure 10 as heat wave scorches state |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/22/texas-tornadoes-heat-wave/70345615007/ |access-date=June 22, 2023 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> At least 20 homes and business were destroyed on the western side of town.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2023 |title=Four dead and 10 injured after tornado strikes Texas town, destroying homes and businesses |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tornado-strikes-texas-town-destroying-homes-businesses-rcna90537 |access-date=June 22, 2023 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>