Mathis, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mathis, Texas
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| Motto(s):
Small town. Big lake. Great people.
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Location of Mathis, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | San Patricio |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.32 sq mi (8.59 km2) |
| • Land | 3.32 sq mi (8.59 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 161 ft (49 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,333 |
| • Density | 1,305.1/sq mi (504.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
78368
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| Area code(s) | 361 |
| FIPS code | 48-47040 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1341072 |
Mathis is a city in San Patricio County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,333 at the 2020 census.
Contents
History
In 1887, when the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad was laying tracks across San Patricio County, Thomas H. Mathis received naming rights when he donated 300 acres (1.2 km2) for a townsite and school. Mathis and his brother J. M. Mathis, held 37,000 acres (150 km2) in the vicinity. The brothers had dropped out of the Coleman, Mathis, Fulton Cattle Company in 1879. Thomas Mathis owned an additional 60,000 acres (240 km2) around Mathis and built a fence enclosing the town. As late as 1906, Mathis was enclosed and arriving and departing trains had to be let in and out.
Mathis' success was partially fueled by residents of Lagarto moving to be near the railroad. The Mathis post office opened in 1890 and the town's first school was held in a private residence in 1893. Two years later, a one-room school was built, and in 1913, a second railroad (the San Antonio, Uvalde and Gulf Pacific) arrived.
Cotton and corn crops were raised and ranching was an important part of the economy. During the 1930s, winter vegetable crops were grown and both railroads maintained shipping sheds. Mathis incorporated in 1939.
In the early 1950s, 7,000 acres (28 km2) of land two miles (3 km) north of town were developed for vegetable crops—complete with irrigation and deep-water wells. Cotton, corn, and sorghum replaced vegetables in the 1960s.
In the 1930s, the Nueces River was dammed and Lake Mathis (since renamed Lake Corpus Christi) was formed. Construction of the Wesley Seale Dam in the late 1950s raised the level of the lake to where it became desirable for weekend homes.
In 1988, Mathis had a population of 5,910 which has since decreased to 5,034. The game mode "Longshot" in Madden 18 and 19 is set primarily in Mathis.
Lake Corpus Christi (Lake Mathis)
Lake Corpus Christi is a 21,000-acre (85 km2) reservoir on the Nueces River, lying four miles (6.4 km) northwest of Mathis. The lake is a recreational spot in South Texas offering swimming, skiing, boating, and fishing. Large areas of submerged brush in the upper reaches of this 27-mile-long (43 km) lake provide prime fish habitat. All fishing is good, but it is noted for its excellent catfish—channels, flatheads, and blues; the record is a flathead weighing 60 lb (27 kg). Also, the lake is noted for its white, black, and striped bass, sunfish, and crappie. The record largemouth bass weighed 13.5 lb (6.1 kg).
The area is a winter home for hundreds of winter Texans from all parts of the state and country, as well as Canada.
Around its more than 200 miles (320 km) of shoreline, numerous camps and parks provide campsites, boat ramps, fishing piers, and RV and mobile home areas. A main attraction is Lake Corpus Christi State Park, whose 350 acres (1.4 km2) surround a cove, protected from the prevailing southeasterly winds by high limestone cliffs, and provide a scenic view of the main body of the lake. Favorable climate offers opportunities for year-round activities.
History abounds in the area, with former battlegrounds now lush with farmland, brush, and grass for grazing cattle. The Nueces River at one time divided Texas from Mexico. It was a much-disputed boundary, and only after the Mexican War was the issue was settled, making the Rio Grande the official boundary. One of the more famous battles between the two countries was fought at Old San Patricio, founded by the Irish and located 10 miles (16 km) south of Mathis. The area, once inhabited by Karankawa and Lipan Apache Indians, became the site of several unsuccessful settlement attempts in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Geography
Mathis is located at 28°5′39″N 97°49′38″W / 28.09417°N 97.82722°W (28.094098, –97.827323).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2 sq mi (5.2 km2), all land.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 1,950 | — | |
| 1950 | 4,050 | 107.7% | |
| 1960 | 6,075 | 50.0% | |
| 1970 | 5,351 | −11.9% | |
| 1980 | 5,667 | 5.9% | |
| 1990 | 5,423 | −4.3% | |
| 2000 | 5,034 | −7.2% | |
| 2010 | 4,942 | −1.8% | |
| 2020 | 4,333 | −12.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 356 | 8.22% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 55 | 1.27% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 4 | 0.09% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 1 | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 15 | 0.35% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 21 | 0.48% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,881 | 89.57% |
| Total | 4,333 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,333 people, 1,784 households, and 1,164 families residing in the city.
Education
The City of Mathis is served by the Mathis Independent School District. Its campuses include: Mathis High School, Mathis High School for International Studies, Mathis Middle School, Mathis Intermediate, and Mathis Elementary School.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Mathis has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.
| Climate data for Mathis, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1964–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 92 (33) |
97 (36) |
101 (38) |
105 (41) |
106 (41) |
110 (43) |
106 (41) |
108 (42) |
108 (42) |
102 (39) |
95 (35) |
91 (33) |
110 (43) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 65.6 (18.7) |
69.9 (21.1) |
75.4 (24.1) |
81.5 (27.5) |
87.0 (30.6) |
92.3 (33.5) |
94.3 (34.6) |
95.6 (35.3) |
90.2 (32.3) |
84.0 (28.9) |
74.7 (23.7) |
67.4 (19.7) |
81.5 (27.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 55.1 (12.8) |
59.1 (15.1) |
65.1 (18.4) |
70.9 (21.6) |
77.4 (25.2) |
82.4 (28.0) |
83.9 (28.8) |
84.6 (29.2) |
80.4 (26.9) |
73.2 (22.9) |
63.9 (17.7) |
57.0 (13.9) |
71.1 (21.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 44.6 (7.0) |
48.4 (9.1) |
54.7 (12.6) |
60.3 (15.7) |
67.7 (19.8) |
72.6 (22.6) |
73.4 (23.0) |
73.7 (23.2) |
70.6 (21.4) |
62.4 (16.9) |
53.2 (11.8) |
46.6 (8.1) |
60.7 (15.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 18 (−8) |
15 (−9) |
20 (−7) |
35 (2) |
47 (8) |
56 (13) |
62 (17) |
63 (17) |
51 (11) |
33 (1) |
27 (−3) |
11 (−12) |
11 (−12) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.49 (38) |
1.24 (31) |
2.25 (57) |
1.73 (44) |
3.00 (76) |
2.64 (67) |
2.57 (65) |
2.28 (58) |
3.83 (97) |
2.85 (72) |
1.85 (47) |
1.77 (45) |
27.50 (699) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 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 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.1 | 7.8 | 7.2 | 6.0 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 9.3 | 6.0 | 6.3 | 7.7 | 82.0 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 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 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Notable people
- Chris Layton, drummer
- Tammie Brown, drag queen
See also
In Spanish: Mathis (Texas) para niños
