
- Bandera County was founded in 1853 and is nicknamed the “Cowboy Capital of the World” due to a large number of dude ranches and working cowboys within the area.
- “Bandera” is pronounced as ban-DERR-a.
- The county covers an area of 798 sq. mi. (2,070 km2).
- The county is named after Bandera Pass, a mountain pass with a 1,745-foot elevation. The same can be said about Bandera Creek.
- The City of Bandera serves as the county seat.
- In the 17th century, the Native Americans of the Lipan Apache people settled in this area, and the Comanche did as well later on.
- Back in 1880, sheep and angora goats were amongst the most profitable goods; more-so than typical farming crops.
- The Frontier Times Museum offers a glimpse of what 1920’s Bandera County was like. The museum was started in the 1920s, and Bandera County residents had donated artifacts.
County Flag

Adjacent Counties
- Bexar County (Southeast)
- Kendall County (Northeast)
- Kerr County (North)
- Medina County (South)
- Real County (West)
- Uvalde County (Southwest)
Ghost Town
- Polly
- Tuff
Local Attractions
- Bandera Music History Project Hall of Fame Project
- Cowboy Festivities
- Frontier Times Museum
- Lone Star Motorcycle Museum
- Lost Maples State Natural Area
- Polly’s Chapel