Editing Matador, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Matador, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = MatadorTexas (1 of 1).jpg
| image_size         = 250px
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = TXMap-doton-Matador.PNG
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Matador, Texas
| image_map1         = Motley County Matador.svg
| mapsize1           = 250px
| map_caption1       = <!-- 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  = [[Motley County, Texas|Motley]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 3.38
| area_land_km2      = 3.38
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.30
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.30
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 569
| 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 = 
| elevation_m        = 726
| elevation_ft       = 2382
| coordinates        = {{coord|34|0|50|N|100|49|18|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 79244
| area_code          = [[Area code 806|806]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-47004<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1362272<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
| website            = 
}}

'''Matador''' is a town in and the [[county seat]] of [[Motley County, Texas]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Its population was 569 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name=":0" /> In 1891, it was established by and named for the Matador Ranch. It is located {{convert|95|mi}} east of [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]], Texas.

== 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>

==Geography==

Matador is located at {{coord|34|0|50|N|100|49|18|W|type:city}} (34.013996, –100.821646).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|1.3|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land.

Matador is at the junction on conjoined [[U.S. Highway 62 (Texas)|US Route 62]], U.S. Route 70, and State Highway 70.

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], Matador has a [[semiarid climate]], ''BSk'' on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=856514&cityname=Matador%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Matador, Texas Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|work=Weatherbase|access-date=March 18, 2016}}</ref>

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Matador, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1947–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 87
 | Feb record high F  = 93
 | Mar record high F  = 100
 | Apr record high F  = 106
 | May record high F  = 110
 | Jun record high F  = 116
 | Jul record high F  = 113
 | Aug record high F  = 111
 | Sep record high F  = 106
 | Oct record high F  = 105
 | Nov record high F  = 94
 | Dec record high F  = 85
 | year record high F = 
 | Jan high F = 53.7
 | Feb high F = 57.5
 | Mar high F = 66.3
 | Apr high F = 74.4
 | May high F = 82.3
 | Jun high F = 90.1
 | Jul high F = 93.4
 | Aug high F = 92.3
 | Sep high F = 84.5
 | Oct high F = 74.9
 | Nov high F = 63.3
 | Dec high F = 54.4
 | year high F = 73.9
 | Jan mean F = 41.1
 | Feb mean F = 43.9
 | Mar mean F = 52.1
 | Apr mean F = 60.0
 | May mean F = 69.1
 | Jun mean F = 77.5
 | Jul mean F = 81.2
 | Aug mean F = 80.0
 | Sep mean F = 72.2
 | Oct mean F = 61.8
 | Nov mean F = 50.4
 | Dec mean F = 42.2
 | year mean F = 61.0
 | Jan low F = 28.4
 | Feb low F = 30.3
 | Mar low F = 37.9
 | Apr low F = 45.6
 | May low F = 56.0
 | Jun low F = 64.9
 | Jul low F = 69.0
 | Aug low F = 67.8
 | Sep low F = 59.9
 | Oct low F = 48.7
 | Nov low F = 37.5
 | Dec low F = 30.0
 | year low F = 48.0
 | Jan record low F  = -4
 | Feb record low F  = -6
 | Mar record low F  = 3
 | Apr record low F  = 22
 | May record low F  = 32
 | Jun record low F  = 46
 | Jul record low F  = 54
 | Aug record low F  = 52
 | Sep record low F  = 37
 | Oct record low F  = 18
 | Nov record low F  = 10
 | Dec record low F  = -5
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 0.81
 | Feb precipitation inch = 0.89
 | Mar precipitation inch = 1.45
 | Apr precipitation inch = 1.96
 | May precipitation inch = 2.77
 | Jun precipitation inch = 3.44
 | Jul precipitation inch = 2.03
 | Aug precipitation inch = 2.68
 | Sep precipitation inch = 2.99
 | Oct precipitation inch = 1.89
 | Nov precipitation inch = 1.08
 | Dec precipitation inch = 0.99
 | year precipitation inch = 22.98
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 3.2
 | Feb precipitation days  = 3.7
 | Mar precipitation days  = 4.7
 | Apr precipitation days  = 4.6
 | May precipitation days  = 6.7
 | Jun precipitation days  = 6.8
 | Jul precipitation days  = 5.1
 | Aug precipitation days  = 6.4
 | Sep precipitation days  = 5.9
 | Oct precipitation days  = 4.9
 | Nov precipitation days  = 3.5
 | Dec precipitation days  = 3.3
 | year precipitation days = 58.8
 | Jan snow inch = 1.4
 | Feb snow inch = 1.7
 | Mar snow inch = 0.3
 | Apr snow inch = 0.1
 | 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 = 0.1
 | Nov snow inch = 0.9
 | Dec snow inch = 2.0
 | year snow inch = 6.5
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 0.9
 | Feb snow days  = 1.0
 | Mar snow days  = 0.3
 | Apr snow days  = 0.1
 | May snow days  = 0.0
 | Jun snow days  = 0.0
 | Jul snow days  = 0.0
 | Aug snow days  = 0.0
 | Sep snow days  = 0.0
 | Oct snow days  = 0.1
 | Nov snow days  = 0.5
 | Dec snow days  = 1.0
 | year snow days = 3.9
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=lub
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 27, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00415658&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 27, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1920 = 692
| 1930 = 1302
| 1940 = 1376
| 1950 = 1335
| 1960 = 1217
| 1970 = 1091
| 1980 = 1052
| 1990 = 790
| 2000 = 740
| 2010 = 607
| 2020 = 569
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Matador racial composition'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4847004&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=May 19, 2022 |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=May 18, 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|436
|76.63%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|100
|17.57%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|7
|1.23%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|1
|0.18%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|25
|4.39%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''569'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 569 people, 273 households, and 190 families residing in the town.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, 740 people, 308 households, and 222 families resided in the town. The [[population density]] was 569.5 people/sq mi (219.8/km{{sup|2}}). The 395 housing units averaged 304.0/sq mi (117.3/km{{sup|2}}). The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the town was 83.92% White, 5.68% African American, 1.22% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.27% Pacific Islander, 6.76% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 13.24% of the population.

Of the 308 households, 30.8% had children under  18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were not families; 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town, the population was distributed as 26.2% under  18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,778, and for a family was $32,054. Males had a median income of $26,042 versus $12,639 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $17,001. About 16.3% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 35.4% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Area attractions==
[[Image:Hotel Matador in Matador, TX IMG 1562.JPG|right|thumb|The restored Hotel Matador was founded in 1914 as the Carter Hotel.]]
[[Image:Matador, TX, City Hall IMG 1545.JPG|right|thumb|Matador City Hall]]
[[Image:First State Bank, Matador, TX IMG 1546.JPG|right|thumb|First State Bank in Matador, Texas]]

===Hotel Matador===
Originally the Carter Hotel, the Hotel Matador was built in 1914 by Roy Carter and his wife, the former Jessie Simpson. For a rural area, the hotel had luxurious rooms with a bell hop, a full-time gardener, and laundry service. It had 15 rooms, a dining room, and a large 9-foot, oak-rimmed tub as the only bathroom in the facility. An [[ice cream]] parlor, which ran the length of the lobby, operated until the 1920s.<ref name=hotel>"Hotel Matador", [[West Texas Historical Association]], March 31, 2011</ref>

The name "Hotel Matador" was coined in the 1920s. The hotel changed owners several times. Under the direction of Judge C.B. Whitten, it was a community gathering place for meetings, parties, and dances for young people. In 1941, hotelier and barber Warren Clements purchased the property. He turned the ice cream parlor into a barber shop. He also established living quarters for  his wife, Faye, and himself, with an apartment behind the hotel. Mrs. Clements maintained an English garden cultivating prize [[iris (plant)|iris]]es, and under her tutelage, the hotel was known for its entertainment.<ref name=hotel/>

In 1980, Johnny (Sonny) and Evelyn Jackson purchased the hotel and restyled it into apartments. It later became a single residence, but had been abandoned for five years when three sisters took possession and began reclaiming and restoring the historic facility. The sisters, Marilyn Hicks, Linda Roy, and Caron Perkins, operate the Matador as an eight-unit bed and breakfast. The barber shop was converted to the Circle Cross Heritage suite, with the original tin ceiling and elaborate bathroom fixtures.<ref name=hotel/>

===Traweek House===
Albert Carroll Traweek, Sr., (1875–1959) was a [[physician]] in Matador, originally from [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]], known as the "pneumonia doctor" for his success in treating patients with that sometimes fatal illness. He was the first Motley County public health officer and established the Traweek Hospital, now the [[Motley County Historical Museum]]. In 1915, Dr. Traweek began construction on the Traweek Home, designed by Charles Stephen Oates, Traweek's uncle and a noted builder in [[West Texas]]. The two-story stuccoed masonry structure was completed in 1916 at a cost of $14,000. It is a hybrid of [[Italian Renaissance architecture|Classical Renaissance]], [[Prairie style|Prairie]], and [[Classical Revival architecture]].<ref name=thouse>"Traweek House", Historical marker, [[Texas Historical Commission]], Matador, Texas</ref>
 
Among the visitors to the Traweek House was Baldwin Parker, a son of [[Quanah Parker]], the last [[Comanche]] chief, as well as state and national officials. The house at 927 Lariat Street in Matador remains in the Traweek family. It received an official historical medallion in 1964 and was designated in 1990 as a Texas Historic Landmark. Dr. Traweek and his wife, the former Allie Rainey, had six children. The house was last occupied by their youngest son, Howard Traweek (1912–1988), the [[county attorney]] for five decades, and his wife, the former Eleanor Mitchell (1922–1998).

===Bob's Oil Well===
Luther Bedford "Bob" Robertson (1894–1947), a native of [[Greenville, Texas]], came to Matador in the 1920s. Originally a service-station attendant, he opened his own [[Conoco]] gasoline business, which he topped with a decorative wooden oil derrick. He patented his design, and in 1939, he replaced the wooden derrick with one of steel. It stood 84&nbsp;ft in height and was lighted.<ref name=bob>"Bob's Oil Well", Historical marker, [[Texas Historical Commission]], Motley County, Texas</ref>

Robertson advertised his business in unusual ways, having maintained a cage of live [[rattlesnake]]s for the amusement of tourists. He later added a small zoo of lions, monkeys, and coyotes, and a white buffalo. He paid long-distance truckers to place advertising signs at strategic points across the United States. The signs noted the mileage to Bob's Oil Well in Matador. Matador is equidistant from [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]] and [[Carlsbad, New Mexico]],  and 9 miles (14&nbsp;km) closer to [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]] than to [[El Paso, Texas|El Paso]]. Robertson soon expanded his operation to include a grocery store, café, and garage. He was also a Matador civic leader who sought to recognize returning veterans from [[World War II]].<ref name=bob/>

Robertson died in 1947, two weeks before a high wind toppled the steel derrick that had been his trademark. His widow, the former Olga Cunningham (1904–1993), restored it in 1949 with even more prominent lights. Ultimately, the business failed, and attempts by others to revive it were short-lived. At the intersection of [[U.S. Route 70 in Texas|U.S. Route 70]] and [[State Highway 70 (Texas)|State Highway 70]], the site serves as a reminder of a time when bold roadside architecture was only beginning, and of a man who promoted his adopted hometown in extraordinary ways.<ref name=bob/>

==Education==
The Town of Matador is served by the [[Motley County Independent School District]],<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48345_motley/DC20SD_C48345.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Motley County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|date=2020-12-22|access-date=2025-04-27}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48345_motley/DC20SD_C48345_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> and home to the [[Motley County High School]] Matadors.

Motley County is in the service area of [[South Plains College]].<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.198. SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Karen Elliott House]], Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former executive at Dow Jones International
* [[Roy Ratcliff]], Christian minister, was born in Matador
* [[Stanley Rose]], famous Hollywood bookseller of the 1930s, was born in Matador

==See also==
*[[Quitaque Creek]]
*[[Little Red River (Texas)]]
*[[Caprock Escarpment]]
*[[Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.motleyco.org/ Motley County ISD – Go Mighty Mats!]
*{{Handbook of Texas|id=hjm07|name=Matador, Texas}}
*[http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasPanhandleTowns/MatadorTexas.htm Matador and Motley County]
*Matador Ranch Records, Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, [[Texas Tech University]]

{{Motley County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}
{{Texas county seats}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Motley County, Texas]]
[[Category:Towns in Texas]]
[[Category:County seats in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1891]]
[[Category:1891 establishments in Texas]]