matador

[mat-uh-dawr]

In bullfighting, the principal performer, who works the capes and attempts to dispatch the bull with a sword thrust between the shoulder blades. Most of the techniques used by modern matadors were established in the 1910s by Juan Belmonte (b. 1894–d. 1962) of Spain. The matador's traditional costume, which offers no protection, is known as the “suit of lights.” The audience judges the matador according to his skill, grace, and daring. Almost every matador is gored at least once a season with varying degrees of severity, and many have received fatal wounds in the ring.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.

Matador, Texas

Matador is a town in Motley County, Texas, United States. The population was 740 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Motley County. In 1891, it was established by and named for the Matador ranch.

History

The Matador Ranch was founded in 1879 by a Scottish Business Syndicate, and a post office opened in 1886, named Matador.

At the end of the 19th Century, townspeople freed the community from the domination by the Matador Ranch by moving in non-ranch families and electing their own officials.

The community was incorporated in 1912.

The highest population occurred in 1940: 1,302.

Geography

Matador is located at (34.013996, -100.821646).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all of it land.

Matador is at the junction on conjoined US Route 62 and US Route 70 and Texas State Highway 70.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 740 people, 308 households, and 222 families residing in the town. The population density was 569.5 people per square mile (219.8/km²). There were 395 housing units at an average density of 304.0/sq mi (117.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 83.92% White, 5.68% African American, 1.22% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.27% Pacific Islander, 6.76% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.24% of the population.

There were 308 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,778, and the median income for a family was $32,054. Males had a median income of $26,042 versus $12,639 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,001. About 16.3% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.4% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Town of Matador is served by the Motley County Independent School District.

Notable natives

Gary Campbell, singer and songwriter who wrote the song "Matador, Texas"
Karen Elliott House, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former executive at Dow Jones International.