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Matagorda Island: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 28°13′38″N 96°38′25″W / 28.22722°N 96.64028°W / 28.22722; -96.64028
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/* Entire island is a wildlife refuge and park.
 
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{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
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[[Image:matagorda_island_0001.png|thumb|right|300px|A map of Matagorda Island.]]
{{Infobox islands
[[Image:Matagorda_island_texas_0001.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Sunset on Matagorda Island, Texas.]]
| name = Matagorda Island
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'''Matagorda Island''', ''Spanish for'' "thick brush," is a 38 mile (61 km) long [[barrier island]] on the [[Texas]] Gulf coast, located approximately seven miles south of [[Port O'Connor, Texas|Port O'Connor]], in the southernmost part of [[Matagorda County, Texas|Matagorda County]]. Traditional homeland of the Karankawa Indians. The island is oriented generally northeast-southwest, with the [[Gulf of Mexico]] on the east and south, and [[Espiritu Santo Bay]] on the west and north. It is separated from [[San José Island (Texas)|San José Island]] to the south by [[Cedar Bayou]], and is separated from the [[Matagorda Peninsula]] to the north by [[Pass Cavallo (Texas)|Pass Cavallo]]. It has no permanent residents and is accessible by bridge. It has a land area of 157.25 km² (60.7 sq mi).
| image_name = Matagorda island 0001.png
| image_alt = Map of Matagorda Island and San Antonio Bay
| image_caption = Matagorda Island and [[San Antonio Bay]]
| image_size =
| map = Texas#USA
| map_caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_link =
| nickname =
| location = [[Gulf of Mexico]]
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| coordinates = {{coord|28|13|38|N|96|38|25|W|type:landform_scale:250000|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago = [[Texas barrier islands]]
| total_islands =
| major_islands =
| area_sqmi = 60.7
| length_mi = 38
| width_mi =
| highest_mount =
| elevation_ft =
| country = United States
| country_admin_divisions_title = State
| country_admin_divisions = [[Texas]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = County
| country_admin_divisions_1 = [[Calhoun County, Texas|Calhoun County]]
}}
[[File:MatagordaIslandsignfinal.jpg|thumb|Matagorda Island sign]]
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[[File:Matagorda island texas 0001.jpg|thumb|right|Sunset on Matagorda Island, Texas.]]


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'''Matagorda Island''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-Matagorda.ogg|ˌ|m|æ|t|ə|ˈ|g|ɔər|d|ə|}}<ref name=DictionaryMatagordaBay>{{cite web|title=Matagorda Bay|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/matagorda%20bay|website=Dictionary.com|publisher=Random House, Inc|access-date=9 November 2014}}</ref>), ''Spanish for'' "thick bush," is a 38-mile (61&nbsp;km) long [[barrier island]] on the [[Texas]] Gulf coast, located approximately {{convert|7|mi|spell=in|abbr=off|sp=us}} south of [[Port O'Connor, Texas|Port O'Connor]], in the southernmost part of [[Calhoun County, Texas|Calhoun County]]. The traditional homeland of the [[Karankawa people]], the island is oriented generally northeast-southwest, with the [[Gulf of Mexico]] on the east and south, and [[Espiritu Santo Bay]] on the west and north. It is separated from [[San José Island (Texas)|San José Island]] to the south by [[Cedar Bayou]], and is separated from the [[Matagorda Peninsula]] to the north by [[Pass Cavallo (Texas)|Pass Cavallo]]. It is accessible by boat only. It has a land area of {{convert|60.7|mi2|km2|abbr=off|sp=us}}.
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[[Matagorda Island State Park]] occupies 7325 acres (29.64 km²) on the northeastern end of the island. The remainder of the island is devoted to [[wildlife refuge]]s managed by the [[Texas Parks and Wildlife Department]] and the [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service]] and is known as '''Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge and State Natural Area'''.


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Matagorda Island is devoted to [[wildlife refuge]]s managed by the [[Texas Parks and Wildlife Department]] and the [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service]] and is known as '''Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge and State Natural Area'''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Matagorda Island (WMA) |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/wma/find_a_wma/list/?id=48 |publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref>
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The land that is now Matagorda Island State park was acquired in 1940 by condemnation from the Hawes, Hill, and Little families (but not the Wynne-Murchison interests) for use as a temporary training facility for the WWII era.<ref>[http://www.matagordaisland.com/history.htm "A True History" ''Matagorda.com'']</ref>

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The land that is now Matagorda Island State Park was acquired in 1940 by condemnation from the Hawes, Hill, and Little families (but not the Wynne-Murchison interests) for use as a temporary training facility for the World War II era.<ref>[http://www.matagordaisland.com/history.htm "A True History" ''Matagorda.com'']</ref>

[[Matagorda Island State Park]] was featured as a "survival location" by the main characters in the book ''[[Day by Day Armageddon]]'' by J.L. Bourne. The island is also featured as a principal location in the book ''[[Grand Tour (novel series)|Powersat]]'' by [[Ben Bova]]. Life on the island in the late 1800s is described in the book ''A Texas cowboy, or, Fifteen years on the hurricane deck of a Spanish pony'' by [[Charlie Siringo|Charles A. Siringo]]


[[Matagorda Island State Park]] was featured as a "survival location" by the main characters in the book, '[[Day by Day Armageddon]]' by J.L. Bourne.
==Climate==
==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, Matagorda Island has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=74637&cityname=Matagorda+Island%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Matagorda Island]</ref>
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Matagorda Island has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=74637&cityname=Matagorda+Island%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Matagorda Island]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Matagorda Island Air Force Base]]
*[[Matagorda Island Light]]
*[[Matagorda Peninsula Army Airfield]]


==References==
==References==
'''Notes'''
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

*[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-context=dt&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-CONTEXT=dt&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_P001&-tree_id=4001&-transpose=N&-redoLog=false&-all_geo_types=N&-geo_id=100$10000US480579905002201&-search_results=01000US&-_showChild=Y&-format=&-_lang=en&-show_geoid=Y Matagorda Island: Block 2201, Census Tract 9905, Calhoun County, Texas] United States Census Bureau
'''Sources'''
*2004 Rand McNally Atlas
*[https://www.census.gov Matagorda Island: Block 2201, Census Tract 9905, Calhoun County, Texas] United States Census Bureau


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.matagordaisland.com/index.htm Matagorda Island History]
*[http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/wma/find_a_wma/list/?id=48 Texas Parks and Wildlife: Matagorda Island Wildlife Management Area]
*[http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/wma/find_a_wma/list/?id=48 Matagorda Island State Park (Texas Parks and Wildlife)]
*[http://www.fws.gov/southwest/REFUGES/texas/aransas/matagorda.html Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Complex: Matagorda Island Unit]
*[http://www.fws.gov/southwest/REFUGES/texas/aransas/matagorda.html Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Complex: Matagorda Island Unit]
* {{Internet Archive short film|id=gov.fws.aws.1.2|name=Aransas and Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuges (2005)}}
* {{Internet Archive short film|id=gov.fws.aws.1.2|name=Aransas and Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuges (2005)}}
*[http://www.matagordaisland.com/index.htm Matagorda Island History]
*[https://archive.org/details/texascowboyorfif00siri A Texas cowboy, or, Fifteen years on the hurricane deck of a Spanish pony on the Internet Archive]
* {{cite web|url=http://res.dallasnews.com/interactives/oilkings/part1/ |title=Islands of the Oil Kings |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |author=Alan Peppard |date=December 4, 2014}}
* {{Gnis|1381130|Matagorda Island}}


{{Texas-geo-stub}}
{{Protected areas of Texas}}
{{Texas barrier islands}}

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{{coord|28|13|38|N|96|38|25|W|scale:250000|display=title}}


{{authority control}}
{{Protected Areas of Texas}}


[[Category:Barrier islands of Texas]]
[[Category:Barrier islands of Texas]]
[[Category:Landforms of Calhoun County, Texas]]
[[Category:Landforms of Calhoun County, Texas]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Calhoun County, Texas]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Calhoun County, Texas]]
[[Category:Nature reserves in Texas]]
[[Category:National Wildlife Refuges in Texas]]

Latest revision as of 14:01, 15 June 2024

Matagorda Island
Map of Matagorda Island and San Antonio Bay
Matagorda Island and San Antonio Bay
Matagorda Island is located in Texas
Matagorda Island
Matagorda Island
Matagorda Island is located in the United States
Matagorda Island
Matagorda Island
Geography
LocationGulf of Mexico
Coordinates28°13′38″N 96°38′25″W / 28.22722°N 96.64028°W / 28.22722; -96.64028
ArchipelagoTexas barrier islands
Area60.7 sq mi (157 km2)
Length38 mi (61 km)
Administration
United States
StateTexas
CountyCalhoun County
Matagorda Island sign
Sunset on Matagorda Island, Texas.

Matagorda Island (/ˌmætəˈɡɔːrdə/ ⓘ[1]), Spanish for "thick bush," is a 38-mile (61 km) long barrier island on the Texas Gulf coast, located approximately seven miles (11 kilometers) south of Port O'Connor, in the southernmost part of Calhoun County. The traditional homeland of the Karankawa people, the island is oriented generally northeast-southwest, with the Gulf of Mexico on the east and south, and Espiritu Santo Bay on the west and north. It is separated from San José Island to the south by Cedar Bayou, and is separated from the Matagorda Peninsula to the north by Pass Cavallo. It is accessible by boat only. It has a land area of 60.7 square miles (157 square kilometers).

Matagorda Island is devoted to wildlife refuges managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and is known as Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge and State Natural Area.[2]

The land that is now Matagorda Island State Park was acquired in 1940 by condemnation from the Hawes, Hill, and Little families (but not the Wynne-Murchison interests) for use as a temporary training facility for the World War II era.[3]

Matagorda Island State Park was featured as a "survival location" by the main characters in the book Day by Day Armageddon by J.L. Bourne. The island is also featured as a principal location in the book Powersat by Ben Bova. Life on the island in the late 1800s is described in the book A Texas cowboy, or, Fifteen years on the hurricane deck of a Spanish pony by Charles A. Siringo

Climate

[edit]

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Matagorda Island has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[4]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Notes

  1. ^ "Matagorda Bay". Dictionary.com. Random House, Inc. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  2. ^ "Matagorda Island (WMA)". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  3. ^ "A True History" Matagorda.com
  4. ^ Climate Summary for Matagorda Island

Sources

[edit]
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