BlockBefore

Bandera County, Texas

30 topographic sheets and 1 fire insurance atlases across 1 place.

Research this county

From the record

5 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service

Texas within the United States
Bandera County within Texas

What the record shows

  • 1 place in this county was surveyed for fire insurance: Bandera, in 1950.
  • 1 fire insurance atlas survives for the county. Topographic coverage is national; fire insurance survey reached only incorporated places with something worth insuring.
  • 118 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 5 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 4 buildings and 1 district.
  • 2 of the 5 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 13 populated places in this county; 12 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Photographs

12 photographs, 1939 to 2014

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Old Coca-Cola sign on a building in Pipe Creek, a small community in Bandera County, Texas
Old Coca-Cola sign on a building in Pipe Creek, a small community in Bandera County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Old Coca-Cola sign on a building in Pipe Creek, a small community in Bandera County, Texas
Old Coca-Cola sign on a building in Pipe Creek, a small community in Bandera County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
The sign says "Welcome," but the vines tell another story at an old gas station near Pipe Creek in Bandera County, Texas
The sign says "Welcome," but the vines tell another story at an old gas station near Pipe Creek in Bandera County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Old gasoline station in Pipe Creek, a small community in Bandera County, Texas
Old gasoline station in Pipe Creek, a small community in Bandera County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Old gas station and pumps near Pipe Creek in Bandera County, Texas
Old gas station and pumps near Pipe Creek in Bandera County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Rural scene in Bandera County, Texas
Rural scene in Bandera County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Old gas pump near Pipe Creek in Bandera County, Texas
Old gas pump near Pipe Creek in Bandera County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
St. James's hospital
St. James's hospital
Lomax, John Avery (1867-1948) (Recordist), 1939. Library of Congress
Frail wildwood flower
Frail wildwood flower
Lomax, John Avery (1867-1948) (Recordist), 1939. Library of Congress
Billy boy
Billy boy
Lomax, John Avery (1867-1948) (Recordist), 1939. Library of Congress
Sam Bass
Sam Bass
Lomax, John Avery (1867-1948) (Recordist), 1939. Library of Congress
The cowboy's lament (Sam Sherman's barroom )
The cowboy's lament (Sam Sherman's barroom )
Lomax, John Avery (1867-1948) (Recordist), 1939. Library of Congress

Places on the National Register

5

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Bandera County Courthouse and Jailbuilding197979002911
Bandera County Courthouse and Jailbuilding197979002911
Jureczki Housebuilding198080004075
Langford, B.F., Jr. and Mary Hay, Housebuilding200404000229
River Oaks Courtsdistrict2019100003354

Bird's-eye views and land ownership maps

1

Drawn when these were printed as single large sheets: the town seen from the air, and the county divided into its farms with every owner named. Each opens the original at the Library of Congress.

Land ownership map, 1879 - Map of Bandera County, Texas
Land ownership map (1879) - Map of Bandera County, Texas. Library of Congress.

Photographs from libraries nationwide

1 shown

Selected from the Digital Public Library of America's 1 image records catalogued for this county. Every one shown here carries a public-domain status or a licence that permits reuse on a site that carries advertising; non-commercial, share-alike and restricted images are excluded. The selection is spread across the county's towns (at most eight per town), so no single institution's bulk upload crowds out the rest. Each opens the holding library's record, and the complete set at the Digital Public Library of America is one click away.

Lost Valley Resort Ranch, Bandera, Texas, Boston Public Library - undated
Lost Valley Resort Ranch, Bandera, Texas. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

The county from the air

28 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 662 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 28 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-12-11, scale 1:69000
1952-12-11, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-12-11, scale 1:69000
1952-12-11, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-12-11, scale 1:69000
1952-12-11, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-12-11, scale 1:69000
1952-12-11, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-24, scale 1:69000
1953-04-24, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-24, scale 1:69000
1953-04-24, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-24, scale 1:69000
1953-04-24, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-24, scale 1:69000
1953-04-24, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-12-31, scale 1:31000
1962-12-31, scale 1:31000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-12-31, scale 1:31000
1962-12-31, scale 1:31000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-12-31, scale 1:31000
1962-12-31, scale 1:31000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-12-31, scale 1:31000
1962-12-31, scale 1:31000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-01-07, scale 1:31000
1963-01-07, scale 1:31000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-01-14, scale 1:31000
1963-01-14, scale 1:31000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-02-04, scale 1:23000
1963-02-04, scale 1:23000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-02-04, scale 1:23000
1963-02-04, scale 1:23000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-25, scale 1:31200
1968-02-25, scale 1:31200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-25, scale 1:31200
1968-02-25, scale 1:31200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-25, scale 1:31200
1968-02-25, scale 1:31200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-25, scale 1:31200
1968-02-25, scale 1:31200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-01-24, scale 1:31200
1969-01-24, scale 1:31200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-01-24, scale 1:31200
1969-01-24, scale 1:31200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-01-24, scale 1:31200
1969-01-24, scale 1:31200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-01-24, scale 1:31200
1969-01-24, scale 1:31200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1980-02-03, scale 1:80000
1980-02-03, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1980-02-03, scale 1:80000
1980-02-03, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1980-02-03, scale 1:80000
1980-02-03, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1980-02-03, scale 1:80000
1980-02-03, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

56 stations, 6 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

8 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 10-1Commissioner's Precinct 1: Bandera, unincorporated: Bandera, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Branch of Mason's Creek; Mason's Creek, State Hwy. 16; State Hwy. 16; N. Easterly line from junction of State Hwy. 16 and Unnamed rd. to junction of two Unnamed rds.; Unnamed rd.
  • 10-2Bandera, unincorporated - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 16, Unnamed rd. extending to Medina River; Medina River; Medina River, Norfolk Southern line to junction State Hwy. 36
  • 10-3Bandera, unincorporated - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 16; Mason's Creek; Medina River; Unnamed rd. extending from Medina River to State Hwy. 16
  • 10-4Commissioner's Precinct 1 - That part north of Medina River, outside Bandera, unincorporated (See separate map for boundaries of Bandera)
  • 10-5Commissioner's Precinct 1 - That part south of Medina River, outside Bandera, unincorporated (See separate map for boundaries of Bandera)
  • 10-6N/A
  • 10-7N/A
  • 10-8N/A

Wildfire, 2005 to 2020

109 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 109 of them, burning about 3,602 acres. 4 started naturally and 2 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning62
Missing data/not specified/undetermined20
Equipment and vehicle use15
Natural4
Recreation and ceremony2
Smoking2
Arson/incendiarism2
Power generation/transmission/distribution1
Misuse of fire by a minor1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
9 February 2017Debris and open burning940 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceLEMOND
9 March 2009Missing data/not specified/undetermined657 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceCOAL CREEK
6 March 2007Equipment and vehicle use600 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceMOFFETT
2 April 2009Equipment and vehicle use150 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceDEER MOUNTAIN FIRE
15 October 2009Debris and open burning150 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceHILLSIDE IN MEDINA
15 November 2006Debris and open burning143 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceSISTRUNK 2
21 February 2010Debris and open burning100 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceKROLY ROAD FIRE
28 February 2020Debris and open burning75 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceROCKING RR RANCH FIRE

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1959 to 2026

60 of 312 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 312 reports for this county, causing 6 deaths, 28 injuries and about $7,572,590 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail140
Flash Flood120
Thunderstorm Wind41
Tornado7
Flood2
Funnel Cloud1
Lightning1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 1997Flash FloodCountywide2 killed, 20 hurt, $5,000,000no account filed
April 1997Flash FloodCountywide2 killedno account filed
July 2007LightningVanderpool1 killed, 2 hurtA father and two sons took shelter under a medium-sized cedar tree at Lost Maples State Natural Area in western Bandera County as a storm approached. Lightning hit the tree, injuring all three, with the father the most serious. One son was still able to go for help. A park ranger and a trained medical responder who was visiting the park came quickly but could not revive the father. Both of his sons were taken to a hospital.
March 2004Flash FloodWest Portion1 killed, 1 hurt, $20,000Showers and thunderstorms built eastward along the cold front into Bandera County in the evening. General rains of near 1 inch fell over the west part of the county, with isolated totals of up to 3 inches. At times, rainfall rates approached 2 inches per hour. One man drowned near 1230 CST after being trapped in a vehicle between Vanderpool and Utopia where the Sabinal River crosses FM 187. The man's wife was rescued and taken to the hospital.
November 2001Flash FloodCountywide5 hurt, $50,000Rainfall redeveloped over Bandera County in the early morning hours, with totals since the previous night approaching 5 inches in the western part of the county around 7 am. Flash flooding developed just before sunrise and continued into the early afternoon. Road closures were widespread, with most of the damage to bridges and roads. Emergency officials noted that in spite of the widespread flooding and road closures across the county, only a few rescues were required. Apparently that the public stayed out of vehicles and very safe.
August 2007Flash FloodPipecreek$1,000,000From Bexar County the extremely heavy rainfall associated with the remains of Tropical Storm Erin spread in Bandera County. Between 3 and 5 inches of rain was reported in general, with up to 7 inches to the northwest of Medina near the Kerr County line. Roads across the north part of county were closed due to high water requiring several high water rescues. High water also closed bridges north of Medina on SH16 and northwest of Medina on FM2107. Residents were evacuated from over 50 homes in the Lakeshore area. Three cars were washed off bridges and numerous rescues were required. A bystander noted that one truck attempted to cross Privilege Creek and was warned away by everyone nearby, but the truck continued along and was quickly washed into the creek. The driver and his wife were able to leave the truck and were rescued. Their vehicle finally came to rest almost a half-mile down the creek.
April 1994Thunderstorm WindBandera$500,000Thunderstorms produced pea-sized hail and 60 mph wind gusts in Bandera. A building was reported to have been shoved by the winds, but no one was injured.
July 2007Flash FloodMedina$100,000Extremely heavy rainfall was reported from eastern Bandera County into northern Medina County. Most parts of eastern Bandera County reported 3 to 4 inches of rain, but the highest amount was in Bandera where up to 8 inches fell. Flash flooding was both widespread and severe, closing SH16, SH173, FM1283 and FM470.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindMedina Lake$80,000As the line of thunderstorms moved through the eastern part of Bandera County, it produced a downburst that damaged roofs of homes and knocked over trees in the Lakehills area of Medina Lake.
April 2001Flash FloodVanderpool$80,000Severe thunderstorm winds tore roofs off buildings, knocked over trees and damaged sheds in and around Vanderpool.
October 2004Flash FloodCountywide$50,000The Bandera County Emergency Manager reported that a car was washed off the road just north of Medina and a bridge was damaged as thunderstorms dropped between 2 and 3 inches countywide. The highest totals were 6 inches near Medina.
September 2002Flash FloodCountywide$50,000General 2 inch rainfall with isolated totals to 6 inches. Damage to roads and bridges.
September 2001Flash FloodCountywide$50,000no account filed
October 2002Flash FloodCountywide$30,000Heavy rain began in Bandera County near sunrise and continued into the mid-morning. Rain totals were generally near 1 inch, with widespread 2 inch amounts and isolated totals to 4 inches in the northwest corner of the County. Only minor damage was indicated to roads and bridges.
October 1998Flash FloodEast Portion$30,000no account filed
September 2023Thunderstorm WindBandera$25,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 70 mph that blew down at least ten trees and some power poles on Hwy 16 between Bandera and Medina.
October 2021Thunderstorm WindVanderpool$25,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 65 mph. There were several large tree limbs down, broken windows, and the roof of a barn was completely lifted up and blown off at a residence north of Vanderpool.
October 2000Flash FloodWest Portion$25,000no account filed
May 1977Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1959Tornadonot stated$25,000no account filed
July 2009Thunderstorm WindBandera$20,000Strong winds from a thunderstorm caused tree and structure damage near the Lost Valley Golf Course.
June 2003Flash FloodWest Portion$20,000Heavy rain began falling just after midnight in Bandera County, producing a general 1 to 2 inch rain over the western part of the County, with isolated totals of up to 5 inches. Flash flooding developed shortly before sunrise and continue through the early morning.
June 2002Flash FloodCountywide$20,000General 3 to 4 inch rainfall totals with isolated amounts of up to 7 inches.
November 2000Flash FloodWest Portion$20,000no account filed
May 1997Flash FloodCountywide$20,000no account filed
November 2001Thunderstorm WindBandera$15,000Severe thunderstorm winds knocked over trees and damaged roofs in Bandera.
March 1999Thunderstorm WindBandera$15,000Trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm winds..
May 2001Flash FloodCountywide$15,000no account filed
November 2000Flash FloodWest Portion$15,000no account filed
June 1999Thunderstorm WindBandera$15,000no account filed
July 1999Flash FloodCountywide$15,000no account filed
January 1998Flash FloodSoutheast Portion$15,000no account filed
August 2025Thunderstorm WindBandera$10,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 65 mph that knocked down trees and peeled back the metal roof of a motel in Bandera.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindBandera$10,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 70 mph that blew down some large Oak trees and damaged a barn northwest of Bandera.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindVanderpool$10,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 50 knots which blew a large tree onto a roof and knocked down a chimney.
June 2007Flash FloodMedina$10,000Thunderstorms produced 2 to 3 inch totals from Leakey in Real County eastward to Medina and Vanderpool in Bandera County. Highest totals in Bandera County were 5 inches at Vanderpool. FM187 and FM337 were closed to high water, with severe flooding along FM187.
January 2004Flash FloodEast Portion$10,000Bandera County reported a general rainfall of between 1 and 2 inches over the county, with isolated totals with isolated amounts to 3 inches between Pipe Creek and Bandera. Numerous roads were closed in and around Pipe Creek.
September 2003Flash FloodSouth Portion$10,000After several days of widespread general showers, soils were generally saturated across South Central Texas. On September 5, additional rainfall developed from the southern part of Bandera County across the Bexar and Atascosa Counties and into the western part of Wilson County. Repeated showers and thunderstorms produced general rainfall of 1 to 2 inches over the southern part of the county, with isolated totals of up to 4 inches in the southwest part. Damage was limited to roads and bridges.
February 2003Flash FloodCountywide$10,000General 1 to 2 inch rainfall with isolated totals to 3 inches fell shortly after midnight in the county. Flash flooding developed very quickly, as area soils were already saturated from previous rainfall.
October 2000Flash FloodSouth Portion$10,000General rainfall of 2 inches was reported across Bandera County, with widespread totals of up to 5 inches and the maximum amount of just over 7 inches at Tarpley. Widespread flash flooding was reported over roads and low water crossings across the southern half of the county from early morning until the mid morning.
November 2000Flash FloodWest Portion$10,000no account filed
November 2000Flash FloodWest Portion$10,000no account filed
July 1999Flash FloodEast Portion$10,000no account filed
October 1998Flash FloodCountywide$10,000no account filed
August 1998Flash FloodCountywide$10,000no account filed
March 1998Flash FloodCountywide$10,000no account filed
June 1997Flash FloodCountywide$10,000no account filed
September 2001Flash FloodCountywide$5,000no account filed
June 1999Flash FloodCountywide$5,000no account filed
April 1997Flash FloodCountywide$5,000no account filed
June 1997Flash FloodCountywide$5,000no account filed
April 1997Thunderstorm WindPipecreek$5,000no account filed
May 1996HailBandera$5,000no account filed
May 1996Thunderstorm WindBandera$5,000no account filed
October 1996Flash FloodWestern$5,000no account filed
January 1995HailVanderpool$3,000Hail up to 0.75 in diameter was reported by a cooperative observer as covering the ground near Lost Maples State Park.
October 1996Flash FloodWestern Part$3,000no account filed
May 1974Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
February 2024Thunderstorm WindBandera$2,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 70 mph that knocked down a tree which blocked a street in Bandera.
April 2022Thunderstorm WindMedina$2,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 65 mph that knocked down some tree limbs and small poles in Medina.

The county's history books

74,581 words

One book written about this county, cut here where the book itself is cut, at its printed chapters: 1 chapter in all. Every chapter is public domain, machine-read from the scan and reproduced complete. A chapter already given under one of the county's towns is not repeated in this list.

Pioneer History of Bandera County, Seventy-five Years of Intrepid History (1922)

ChapterLength
The whole text74,581 words in 5 parts

Every populated place in the county

13

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on. The 1 place that was also surveyed for fire insurance comes first, with the number of atlases and photographs held for them.

Recorded here

Bandera, Texas

9 topographic sheets and 1 fire insurance atlases, 1950

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.