Matador is a town in and the county seat of Motley County, Texas, United States. Its population was 607 at the 2010 census. In 1891, it was established by and named for the Matador Ranch. It is located 95 miles (153 km) east of Lubbock, Texas.
Matador, Texas
The restored Hotel Matador was founded in 1914 as the Carter Hotel.
Matador City Hall
First State Bank in Matador, Texas
Motley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,063, making it the 10th-least populous county in Texas. Its county seat is Matador. The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1891. It is named for Junius William Mottley, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Mottley's name is spelled incorrectly because the bill establishing the county misspelled his name. Motley County was one of 30 prohibition, or entirely dry, counties in Texas, but is now a wet county.
Motley County Courthouse in Matador
Early Matador Ranch main building in Motley County
Work is proceeding in 2011 on the restoration of the old Matador jail. Pictured is former Motley County Judge Ed D. Smith.