Bandera calls itself the "Cowboy Capital of the World", a legacy dating to its days as a staging area for what is today known as Great Western Cattle Trail for the last cattle drives of the 1800s.[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.2 sq mi (3.1 km2), of which 0.008 sq mi (0.02 km2), or 0.55%, is covered by water.[5]
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 829 people, 240 households, and 118 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, 957 people, 408 households, and 239 families were residing in the city. The population density was 820.2/sq mi (316.7/km2). The 488 housing units averaged 418.2/sq mi (161.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.98% White, 0.21% African American, 0.52% Native American, 2.51% from other races, and 1.78% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 21.84% of the population.
Of the 408 households, 24.5% had children under 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were not families. About 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.22, and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city, the age distribution was 21.5% under 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 25.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,089, and for a family was $36,500. Males had a median income of $27,604 versus $17,813 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,502. About 11.0% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.
Bandera is featured in the 1980 CBS unsold pilot Jake's Way, which starred Robert Fuller, Michael Jaymes, Andrew Duggan, Slim Pickens, and newcomers Lisa LeMole, Stephen McNaughton (credited as Steven McNaughton), and Ben Lemon, and was produced by Disney Television Studios and Barry and Enright Productions.
On Sunday mornings, Bandera is a popular destination for motorcyclists from San Antonio, known as the Bandera Breakfast Run.
Bandera is home to the Bandera Riverfest that takes place in June each year on the Medina River, offering tubing, kayaking, cookoffs, and live music throughout the weekend.
Bandera is the hometown of singer-songwriter brothers Bruce and Charlie Robison.
The rugged Hill Country State Natural Area is the location of the Bandera 100K trail run and the Cactus Rose 100-mile endurance run, two of the toughest ultramarathons in Texas. Both are hosted annually by race director and veteran trail runner Joe Prusaitis.
The Bandera Downs horseracing facility lies just northeast of town. It is now closed.
The Mayan Dude Ranch and the Dixie Dude Ranch, both over 50 years old, are located in Bandera.
The Frontier Times Museum, founded by J. Marvin Hunter and named for Hunter's Frontier Times magazine, is located in Bandera.
^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.[11][12]
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![Historical marker for the town center[15]](/en/File:Bandera_town_center_historic_sign.png)
