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Marathon, Texas

Coordinates: 30°13′00″N 103°14′56″W / 30.21667°N 103.24889°W / 30.21667; -103.24889
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Marathon, Texas
CDP
Sign of Marathon
Sign of Marathon
Coordinates: 30°13′00″N 103°14′56″W / 30.21667°N 103.24889°W / 30.21667; -103.24889
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyBrewster
Area
 • Total5.3 sq mi (13.6 km2)
 • Land5.3 sq mi (13.6 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
[1]
4,101 ft (1,250 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total410
 • Density77/sq mi (30/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
79842
Area code432
FIPS code48-46572[2]
GNIS feature ID2408173[1]
A panoramic view of Marathon, Texas.

Marathon (/ˈmærəθən/)[3] is a census-designated place (CDP) in Brewster County, Texas, United States. The population was 410 at the 2020 census,[4] down from 430 in 2010,[5] 470 in 2007,[6] and 455 in 2000.

As of 2012 Marathon services tourists traveling to Big Bend National Park.[7]

History

[edit]
Fort Peña Colorado. The post park is five miles south of Marathon

In 1927 local rancher Alfred S. Gage commissioned El-Paso architect Henry Trost to build a hotel in Marathon. The Gage Hotel opened in 1927, and also served as Gage’s office until his death a year later.[8][9]

In 2022 Joe Holley of the Houston Chronicle wrote that Marathon is "proud to be the un-Marfa."[10]

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13 km2), all land.

Climate

[edit]

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Marathon has a semiarid climate, BSk on climate maps.[11]

Climate data for Marathon, Texas (Jul 1, 1896–Feb 28, 2013)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 88
(31) 		90
(32) 		94
(34) 		100
(38) 		105
(41) 		108
(42) 		105
(41) 		110
(43) 		102
(39) 		101
(38) 		97
(36) 		94
(34) 		110
(43)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 62.1
(16.7) 		65.7
(18.7) 		72.9
(22.7) 		80.3
(26.8) 		86.5
(30.3) 		91.1
(32.8) 		90.5
(32.5) 		90.0
(32.2) 		84.9
(29.4) 		78.6
(25.9) 		69.3
(20.7) 		63.0
(17.2) 		77.9
(25.5)
Daily mean °F (°C) 45.5
(7.5) 		48.6
(9.2) 		55.0
(12.8) 		62.5
(16.9) 		69.8
(21.0) 		75.5
(24.2) 		76.4
(24.7) 		75.6
(24.2) 		70.6
(21.4) 		62.5
(16.9) 		52.4
(11.3) 		46.4
(8.0) 		61.7
(16.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 28.8
(−1.8) 		31.5
(−0.3) 		37.2
(2.9) 		44.6
(7.0) 		53.1
(11.7) 		60.0
(15.6) 		62.4
(16.9) 		61.3
(16.3) 		56.5
(13.6) 		46.4
(8.0) 		35.5
(1.9) 		29.8
(−1.2) 		45.6
(7.6)
Record low °F (°C) −6
(−21) 		−3
(−19) 		9
(−13) 		19
(−7) 		32
(0) 		40
(4) 		49
(9) 		43
(6) 		35
(2) 		17
(−8) 		0
(−18) 		−3
(−19) 		−6
(−21)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.44
(11) 		0.40
(10) 		0.40
(10) 		0.74
(19) 		1.62
(41) 		1.87
(47) 		2.21
(56) 		2.14
(54) 		2.42
(61) 		1.40
(36) 		0.52
(13) 		0.51
(13) 		14.69
(373)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.6
(1.5) 		0.3
(0.76) 		0.4
(1.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.2
(0.51) 		0.2
(0.51) 		1.6
(4.1)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.001 in) 2.28 2.14 1.69 2.44 4.28 5.22 5.64 5.63 6.17 3.66 1.96 2.28 46.29
Source: Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute[12]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2010430—
2020410−4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1850–1900[14] 1910[15]
1920[16] 1930[17] 1940[18]
1950[19] 1960[20] 1970[21]
1980[22] 1990[23] 2000[24]
2010[25]

Marathon was first listed as a census designated place in the 2000 U.S. Census.[24]

2020 census

[edit]
Marathon racial composition[4]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 209 50.98%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 3 0.73%
Asian (NH) 3 0.73%
Some Other Race (NH) 2 0.49%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 3 0.73%
Hispanic or Latino 190 46.34%
Total 410

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 410 people, 217 households, and 174 families residing in the CDP.

2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 455 people, 198 households and 126 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 86.6 inhabitants per square mile (33.4/km2). There were 287 housing units at an average density of 54.6 per square mile (21.1/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 82.42% White, 0.88% African American, 13.19% from other races, and 3.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 53.19% of the population.

There were 198 households, of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 21.1% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 17.1% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.7 males.

The median household income was $22,273, and the median family income was $27,500. Males had a median income of $22,500 versus $20,938 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,884. About 13.2% of families and 23.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.7% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

Places of interest

[edit]
Gage Hotel (left) and Marathon School (right)

J.P. Bryan purchased the vacant Gage Hotel in 1978, which underwent a renovation and re-opened in 1982.[9] The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.[28] Bryan also acquired other buildings to further develop the town.[29]

The town was also a filming location for the movie Paris, Texas directed by Wim Wenders.[30] The 1985 Kevin Costner film, Fandango, shot scenes in Marathon.[31]

Transportation

[edit]

Marathon is located at the junction of U.S. Route 90 and U.S. Route 385. US 90 runs east-west through town along 1st St., leading 30 miles (48 km) west to Alpine and 53 miles (85 km) east to Sanderson. US 385 runs north-south, leading 40 miles (64 km) south to the entrance to Big Bend National Park near the Persimmon Gap Visitor Center and 58 miles (93 km) north to Fort Stockton.

Amtrak’s Sunset Limited passes through the town on Union Pacific tracks without stopping, with the nearest station located 30 miles (48 km) northwest in Alpine.

The closest commercial airline service is available at Midland International Air and Space Port (IATA: MAF, ICAO: KMAF, FAA LID: MAF), 154 miles (248 km) to the northeast.

Education

[edit]

Marathon is served by Marathon Independent School District for grades K-12.

Post office

Brewster County is within the Odessa College District for community college.[32]

Government and infrastructure

[edit]

Marathon Post Office is operated by the United States Postal Service.

Earthquake

[edit]

On April 14, 1995, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake occurred near Marathon. As of 2008, this was the second-largest earthquake recorded in Texas.[33]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Marathon, Texas
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "Towns M Texas Pronunciation Guide". www.texastripper.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  5. ^ Marathon at Texas Almanac
  6. ^ Marathon at City-Data
  7. ^ Breal, Jordan (August 27, 2012). "Marathon: Get Outta Town". Texas Monthly. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  8. ^ "Gage Hotel". www.henrytrost.org. Henry C. Trost Historical Organization. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "History". The Gage Hotel. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  10. ^ Holley, Joe (January 30, 2022). "Searching for history in the Trans-Pecos town of Marathon". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  11. ^ Climate Summary for Marathon, Texas
  12. ^ "MARATHON, TEXAS (415579), Period of Record Monthly Climate Summary". Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  13. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^ "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ a b "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  26. ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
  27. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  28. ^ "National Register Database and Research - National Register of Historic Places (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  29. ^ Jones, Kathryn (July 1998). "Marathon Man". Texas Monthly. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  30. ^ "Filming Locations for Wim Wenders' Paris, Texas (1984) in Texas, including Marathon and Big Bend National Park". The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  31. ^ "Fandango movie: Filming Locations". www.ultimatefandango.com. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  32. ^ "Texas Education Code Sec. 130.193. ODESSA COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA".
  33. ^ "Handbook of Texas Online: Earthquakes". www.tshaonline.org.
  1. ^ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[26][27]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marathon, Texas.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Marathon (Texas).
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