Marathon, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marathon, Texas
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Sign of Marathon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Brewster |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.3 sq mi (13.6 km2) |
| • Land | 5.3 sq mi (13.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,101 ft (1,250 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 410 |
| • Density | 77.4/sq mi (30.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
79842
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| Area code(s) | 432 |
| FIPS code | 48-46572 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2408173 |
Marathon (/ˈmærəθən/) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Brewster County, Texas, United States. The population was 470 in 2007, after growing from 455 in 2000, but had decreased to 430 by 2010. The population further decreased to 410 by 2020.
As of 2012[update] Marathon services tourists traveling to Big Bend National Park.
Contents
History
In 1927 local rancher Alfred S. Gage commissioned El-Paso architect 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.
In 2022 Joe Holley of the Houston Chronicle wrote that Marathon is "proud to be the un-Marfa."
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13 km2), all land.
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Marathon has a semiarid climate, BSk on climate maps.
| Climate data for Marathon, Texas (Jul 1, 1896–Feb 28, 2013) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 88 (31) |
90 (32) |
94 (34) |
100 (38) |
105 (41) |
108 (42) |
105 (41) |
110 (43) |
102 (39) |
101 (38) |
97 (36) |
94 (34) |
110 (43) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 62.1 (16.7) |
65.7 (18.7) |
72.9 (22.7) |
80.3 (26.8) |
86.5 (30.3) |
91.1 (32.8) |
90.5 (32.5) |
90.0 (32.2) |
84.9 (29.4) |
78.6 (25.9) |
69.3 (20.7) |
63.0 (17.2) |
77.9 (25.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 45.5 (7.5) |
48.6 (9.2) |
55.0 (12.8) |
62.5 (16.9) |
69.8 (21.0) |
75.5 (24.2) |
76.4 (24.7) |
75.6 (24.2) |
70.6 (21.4) |
62.5 (16.9) |
52.4 (11.3) |
46.4 (8.0) |
61.7 (16.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 28.8 (−1.8) |
31.5 (−0.3) |
37.2 (2.9) |
44.6 (7.0) |
53.1 (11.7) |
60.0 (15.6) |
62.4 (16.9) |
61.3 (16.3) |
56.5 (13.6) |
46.4 (8.0) |
35.5 (1.9) |
29.8 (−1.2) |
45.6 (7.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −6 (−21) |
−3 (−19) |
9 (−13) |
19 (−7) |
32 (0) |
40 (4) |
49 (9) |
43 (6) |
35 (2) |
17 (−8) |
0 (−18) |
−3 (−19) |
−6 (−21) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.44 (11) |
0.40 (10) |
0.40 (10) |
0.74 (19) |
1.62 (41) |
1.87 (47) |
2.21 (56) |
2.14 (54) |
2.42 (61) |
1.40 (36) |
0.52 (13) |
0.51 (13) |
14.69 (373) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.6 (1.5) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.4 (1.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.2 (0.51) |
1.6 (4.1) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.001 in) | 2.28 | 2.14 | 1.69 | 2.44 | 4.28 | 5.22 | 5.64 | 5.63 | 6.17 | 3.66 | 1.96 | 2.28 | 46.29 |
| Source: Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 410 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 |
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Marathon was first listed as a census designated place in the 2000 U.S. Census.
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 209 | 50.98% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 3 | 0.73% |
| Asian (NH) | 3 | 0.73% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 2 | 0.49% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 3 | 0.73% |
| 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.
Places of interest
J.P. Bryan purchased the vacant Gage Hotel in 1978, which underwent a renovation and re-opened in 1982. The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. Bryan also acquired other buildings to further develop the town.
The town was also a filming location for the movie Paris, Texas directed by Wim Wenders. The 1985 Kevin Costner film, Fandango, shot scenes in Marathon.
Transportation
Marathon is located at the junction of US 90 and US 385.
Amtrak’s Sunset Limited passes through the town on Union Pacific tracks, but makes no stop. A stop is located 30 miles northwest in Alpine.
Education
Marathon is served by Marathon Independent School District for grades K-12.
Brewster County is within the Odessa College District for community college.
Earthquake
On April 14, 1995, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake occurred near Marathon. As of 2008, this was the second-largest earthquake recorded in Texas.
See also
In Spanish: Marathon (Texas) para niños
