Editing Marathon, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Marathon, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = MarathonTXSign.JPG
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Sign of Marathon
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = Brewster County Marathon.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Brewster County, Texas|Brewster]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 13.6
| area_land_km2      = 13.6
| area_water_km2     = 0.0
| area_total_sq_mi   = 5.3
| area_land_sq_mi    = 5.3
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.0

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 410
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 4101
| coordinates        = {{coord|30|13|00|N|103|14|56|W|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 79842
| area_code          = [[Area code 432|432]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-46572<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2408173<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2408173}}</ref>
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}
[[Image:Marathon, Texas panorama.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|A panoramic view of Marathon, [[Texas]].]]
'''Marathon''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ær|ə|θ|ən}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.texastripper.com/pronounce/locations-m.html |title=Towns M Texas Pronunciation Guide |website=www.texastripper.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213134152/http://www.texastripper.com/pronounce/locations-m.html |archive-date=2008-02-13}}</ref> is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Brewster County, Texas|Brewster County]], [[Texas]], United States. The population was 410 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name=":0" /> down from 430 in 2010,<ref>[http://www.texasalmanac.com/texas-towns/marathon Marathon at Texas Almanac]</ref> 470 in 2007,<ref>[http://www.city-data.com/city/Marathon-Texas.html Marathon at City-Data]</ref> and 455 in 2000.

{{As of|2012}} Marathon services tourists traveling to [[Big Bend National Park]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Breal|first=Jordan|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-wanderer/marathon-get-outta-town/|title=Marathon: Get Outta Town|work=[[Texas Monthly]]|date=2012-08-27|accessdate=2022-05-26}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Fort Pena Colorado, Texas.jpg|thumb|Fort Peña Colorado. The post park is five miles south of Marathon]]
In 1927 local rancher Alfred S. Gage commissioned El-Paso architect [[Trost & Trost|Henry Trost]] to build a hotel in Marathon. The Gage Hotel opened in 1927, and also served as Gage’s office until his death a year later.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gage Hotel |url=https://www.henrytrost.org/buildings/gage-hotel/ |website=www.henrytrost.org |publisher=Henry C. Trost Historical Organization |access-date=26 September 2023}}</ref><ref name=GageHotelWebsite>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://gagehotel.com/history/ |website=The Gage Hotel |access-date=26 September 2023}}</ref>

In 2022 Joe Holley of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' wrote that Marathon is "proud to be the un-[[Marfa, Texas|Marfa]]."<ref name=Holleysearch>{{cite web|last=Holley|first=Joe|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/columnists/native-texan/article/Searching-for-history-in-the-Trans-Pecos-town-of-16817162.php|title=Searching for history in the Trans-Pecos town of Marathon|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2022-01-30|accessdate=2022-05-26}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|5.2|sqmi|km2}}, all  land.

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, Marathon has a [[semiarid climate]], ''BSk'' on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=975514&cityname=Marathon%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Marathon, Texas]</ref>
{{Weather box
|location=Marathon, Texas (Jul 1, 1896–Feb 28, 2013)
|single line=Y
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high F=88
|Feb record high F=90
|Mar record high F=94
|Apr record high F=100
|May record high F=105
|Jun record high F=108
|Jul record high F=105
|Aug record high F=110
|Sep record high F=102
|Oct record high F=101
|Nov record high F=97
|Dec record high F=94
|year record high F=110
|Jan high F=62.1
|Feb high F=65.7
|Mar high F=72.9
|Apr high F=80.3
|May high F=86.5
|Jun high F=91.1
|Jul high F=90.5
|Aug high F=90.0
|Sep high F=84.9
|Oct high F=78.6
|Nov high F=69.3
|Dec high F=63.0
|year high F=77.9
|Jan mean F=45.5
|Feb mean F=48.6
|Mar mean F=55.0
|Apr mean F=62.5
|May mean F=69.8
|Jun mean F=75.5
|Jul mean F=76.4
|Aug mean F=75.6
|Sep mean F=70.6
|Oct mean F=62.5
|Nov mean F=52.4
|Dec mean F=46.4
|year mean F=61.7
|Jan low F=28.8
|Feb low F=31.5
|Mar low F=37.2
|Apr low F=44.6
|May low F=53.1
|Jun low F=60.0
|Jul low F=62.4
|Aug low F=61.3
|Sep low F=56.5
|Oct low F=46.4
|Nov low F=35.5
|Dec low F=29.8
|year low F=45.6
|Jan record low F=-6
|Feb record low F=-3
|Mar record low F=9
|Apr record low F=19
|May record low F=32
|Jun record low F=40
|Jul record low F=49
|Aug record low F=43
|Sep record low F=35
|Oct record low F=17
|Nov record low F=0
|Dec record low F=-3
|year record low F=-6
|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation inch=0.44
|Feb precipitation inch=0.40
|Mar precipitation inch=0.40
|Apr precipitation inch=0.74
|May precipitation inch=1.62
|Jun precipitation inch=1.87
|Jul precipitation inch=2.21
|Aug precipitation inch=2.14
|Sep precipitation inch=2.42
|Oct precipitation inch=1.40
|Nov precipitation inch=0.52
|Dec precipitation inch=0.51
|year precipitation inch=14.69
|Jan snow inch=0.6
|Feb snow inch=0.3
|Mar snow inch=0.4
|Apr snow inch=0.0
|May snow inch=0.0
|Jun snow inch=0.0
|Jul snow inch=0.0
|Aug snow inch=0.0
|Sep snow inch=0.0
|Oct snow inch=0.0
|Nov snow inch=0.2
|Dec snow inch=0.2
|year snow inch=1.6
|unit precipitation days=0.001 in
|Jan precipitation days=2.28
|Feb precipitation days=2.14
|Mar precipitation days=1.69
|Apr precipitation days=2.44
|May precipitation days=4.28
|Jun precipitation days=5.22
|Jul precipitation days=5.64
|Aug precipitation days=5.63
|Sep precipitation days=6.17
|Oct precipitation days=3.66
|Nov precipitation days=1.96
|Dec precipitation days=2.28
|year precipitation days=46.29
|source 1 = [[Western Regional Climate Center]], [[Desert Research Institute]]<ref name="MarWeather">{{Cite web|publisher=Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute|title=MARATHON, TEXAS (415579), Period of Record Monthly Climate Summary |url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?tx5579|accessdate=May 5, 2015}}</ref>
|date=May 2015
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 2000 = 
| 2010 = 430
| 2020 = 410
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br> 1850–1900<ref name=1900CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/49-population-tx.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-tx-p1.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1920<ref name=1920CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-tx-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1930<ref name=1930CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch10.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch09.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br>
1950<ref name=1950CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-46.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1960<ref name=1960CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/33255142v1p45ch02.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/00496492v1p45s1ch02.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1980<ref name=1980CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1980/volume-1/texas/1980a_txab-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1990<ref name=1990CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cph-2/cph-2-45.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2000<ref name=2000CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-45.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 2010<ref name=2010CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-45.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
}}

Marathon was first listed as a [[census designated place]] in the [[2000 U.S. Census]].<ref name=2000CensusTX/> 

===2020 census===

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Marathon racial composition'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4846572&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (''NH = Non-Hispanic''){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|209
|50.98%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|3
|0.73%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|3
|0.73%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|2
|0.49%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|3
|0.73%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|190
|46.34%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''410'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 410 people, 217 households, and 174 families residing in the CDP.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 455 people, 198 households and 126 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|86.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 287 housing units at an average density of {{convert|54.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 82.42% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.88% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 13.19% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.52% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 53.19% of the population.

There were 198 households, of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 21.1% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 17.1% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.7 males.

The median household income was $22,273, and the median family income was $27,500. Males had a median income of $22,500 versus $20,938 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $17,884. About 13.2% of families and 23.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 46.7% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Places of interest==
{{multiple image
|image1 = The Gage Hotel.JPG
|image2 = MarathonSchoolTX2.JPG
|footer = Gage Hotel (left) and [[Marathon School]] (right)
|total_width = 410
}}
J.P. Bryan purchased the vacant Gage Hotel in 1978, which underwent a renovation and re-opened in 1982.<ref name="GageHotelWebsite" /> The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=National Register Database and Research - National Register of Historic Places (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/database-research.htm#table |website=www.nps.gov |access-date=27 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Bryan also acquired other buildings to further develop the town.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Kathryn|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/marathon-man-2/|title=Marathon Man |work=[[Texas Monthly]]|date=July 1998|accessdate=2022-05-26}}</ref>

The town was also a filming location for the movie [[Paris, Texas (film)|''Paris, Texas'']] directed by [[Wim Wenders]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Filming Locations for Wim Wenders' Paris, Texas (1984) in Texas, including Marathon and Big Bend National Park. |url=https://www.movie-locations.com/movies/p/Paris-Texas.php |website=The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations |access-date=27 September 2023}}</ref>  The 1985 [[Kevin Costner]] film, ''[[Fandango (1985 film)|Fandango]]'', shot scenes in Marathon.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fandango movie: Filming Locations |url=http://www.ultimatefandango.com/info/locations.htm |website=www.ultimatefandango.com |access-date=27 September 2023}}</ref>

==Transportation==
Marathon is located at the junction of [[U.S. Route 90 in Texas|U.S. Route 90]] and [[U.S. Route 385 in Texas|U.S. Route 385]]. US 90 runs east-west through town along 1st St., leading 30 miles (48 km) west to [[Alpine, Texas|Alpine]] and 53 miles (85 km) east to [[Sanderson, Texas|Sanderson]]. US 385 runs north-south, leading 40 miles (64 km) south to the entrance to [[Big Bend National Park]] near the Persimmon Gap Visitor Center and 58 miles (93 km) north to [[Fort Stockton, Texas|Fort Stockton]]. 

[[Amtrak]]’s [[Sunset Limited]] passes through the town on [[Union Pacific]] tracks without stopping, with the nearest station located 30 miles (48 km) northwest in [[Alpine station|Alpine]]. 

The closest commercial airline service is available at [[Midland International Airport|Midland International Air and Space Port]] ([[IATA airport code|IATA]]: '''MAF''', [[ICAO airport code|ICAO]]: '''KMAF''', [[Federal Aviation Administration|FAA]] [[Location identifier|LID]]: '''MAF),''' 154 miles (248 km) to the northeast.

==Education==
Marathon is served by [[Marathon Independent School District]] for grades K-12.
[[File:MarthonTXpostOffice.JPG|thumb|upright|Post office]]

Brewster County is within the [[Odessa College District]] for community college.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm|title=Texas Education Code Sec. 130.193. ODESSA COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.}}</ref>

==Government and infrastructure==
Marathon Post Office<!-- 1st North 1st East Marathon, Texas 79842-9800--> is operated by the [[United States Postal Service]].

==Earthquake==
On April 14, 1995, a 5.7-magnitude [[1995 Marathon earthquake|earthquake]] occurred near Marathon. As of 2008, this was the second-largest earthquake recorded in Texas.<ref>{{cite web | work=www.tshaonline.org |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/yde01
|title=Handbook of Texas Online: Earthquakes}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Marathon Uplift]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{notelist}}
{{Portal|Texas}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Marathon, Texas}}
{{wikivoyage|Marathon (Texas)}}
* [http://www.marathontexas.com/ Marathon Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.marathontexas.org/ Marathon Museum Society]
* [http://www.westtexasweekly.com/ West Texas Weekly] is a local weekly newspaper.
* [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlm26 Marathon in Handbook of Texas]
* {{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st48_tx/place/p4846572_marathon/DC20BLK_P4846572.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Marathon CDP, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]}} - The earliest census map posted online, from 1990: [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st48_Texas/48043_Brewster/90B48043_B01.pdf 1990 COUNTY BLOCK MAP (RECREATED): Brewster County Page B] - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk2000/st48_Texas/Place/4846572_Marathon/CBP4846572_001.pdf 2000 Map] and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st48_tx/place/p4846572_marathon/DC10BLK_P4846572_001.pdf 2010 Map]

{{Brewster County, Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Brewster County, Texas]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Texas]]
[[Category:Former county seats in Texas]]