Matagorda

Formed January 8, 1836 (11^th county)

Matagorda County (37,122), Bay City (17,614)

The Modern 1965 courthouse of Matagorda County sits on the square at Texas State Highway 35, 7^th Street, and Texas State Highway 60, Avenue F.  Rusty, Martin, and Vale designed the concrete and glass structure.  Three courthouses have served the county since its January 8, 1836 founding, the last two have been located in Bay City (1895 and 1965.)  Matagorda had the 1849 courthouse.  The county is one of the 23 original Texas counties (11^th county.)  Matagorda County is named for the local vegetation.  Mata and gorda are Spanish for “fat or thick plant or shrub” referring to the canebrakes native to the region.  Bay City describes the multiple creeks crossing the land leading to the nearest bay about 20 miles away. 

Matagorda County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Matagorda, Brazoria, and Wharton counties and One District Court Judge and One County Court Judge serve Matagorda County.  The far south part of Texas on the Gulf of Mexico is home to Matagorda County.  Houston, Texas is northeast of the county.  The Trinity River is part of the east border and the Colorado River crosses through the county from northwest to southeast.  The Gulf of Mexico is the entire northeast to southwest border.  The barrier island chain runs along the gulf as part of this county.  The county center is 10.4 miles South of Bay City nearer Wadsworth.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Brazoria County and the Gulf of Mexico, and Calhoun, Jackson, and Wharton counties. 

The area of the county is 1612 square miles.  It is 16 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 82 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 23.03 persons per square mile making it 121 out of 254 in the state.  Matagorda County has 60.2% of its population in its incorporated areas.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county.  An upside-down glass best describes the shape of the county.  Bay City is in the northeast part of the county.  Bay City is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 47.5% of the county population.  The county is pronounced MA-TA-GOER-DA.  This county is in the Bay City Micropolitan Statistical Area.