Bandera, Texas
City in the United States in Bandera County
About Bandera
Bandera (Spanish: "flag", ban-DERR-ə) is a city in Bandera County, Texas, United States. It was founded by Polish Catholic settlers from Silesia in the 1850s.The county seat, it lies in the Texas Hill Country, a part of the Edwards Plateau located at the crossroads of the central, southern, and western parts of the state, Its population was 829 at the 2020 census.
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How Bandera is governed
Form of government not yet listed.
0 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of Bandera
Registered voters elect the officials below.
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Mayor
Executive
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The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.
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City Manager / Administrator
Executive
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The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).
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Police Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the police department.
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Fire Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the fire and emergency services department.
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Public Works Director
Administration & departments
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Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.
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Finance Director
Administration & departments
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The budget, taxes, and city accounts.
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Planning & Zoning Director
Administration & departments
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Land use, zoning, building permits.
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Parks & Recreation Director
Administration & departments
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Parks, programs, and public facilities.
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City Council
Legislative
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The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.
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City Clerk
Administration & departments
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Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.
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City Attorney
Administration & departments
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The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.
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Boards & Commissions
Legislative
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Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.
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Municipal Court
Judicial
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Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.
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Municipal Judge
Judicial
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Presides over the municipal court.
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- Website
- banderatex.com
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Population over time
From 857 in 2010 to 829 in 2020 (−3.3%).
Show the numbers
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 829 |
| 2010 | 857 |
History
Bandera was founded in 1855 by Polish Roman Catholic immigrants from the Province of Silesia. They built St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, and many local residents are descended from them.
Bandera is the Spanish word for flag. How the town acquired the name is unknown. One theory is that the town is named after Bandera Pass.
Bandera was a staging area on the Great Western Cattle Trail, during the late 19th century.
The Cabaret Dance Hall opened in 1936. Throughout its history, the dance hall hosted Bob Wills, Doug Sahm, Ernest Tubb, and others. In 2008, the hall was listed as endangered by Preservation Texas. By at least 2013, the hall was closed, by 2015, it was demolished.
Bandera hosts a three-day Cowboy Mardi Gras that attracts over 15,000 people from all over the world to the town.
Bandera had eight surveillance cameras from Flock Safety, but after an uproar in 2026 during several city council meetings, and cameras repeatedly being cut from their poles, the council voted to terminate their contract with Flock. After the vote, a councilman who had supported Flock sarcastically proposed "returning to 1880" and banning internet service and mobile phones in the city in the name of privacy.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.