“Small Town, Big Lake, Great People” is the motto of the city of Mathis (near Corpus Christi). The “big lake” (21,000 acres) is Lake Corpus Christi, formerly called Lake Mathis.
 
The Mathis motto has been promoted since 2002.
   
 
Wikipedia: Mathis, Texas
Mathis is a city in San Patricio County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,034 at the 2000 census.
   
City of Mathis, Texas 
City of Mathis
As our motto states, Mathis is a small town with a big lake and great people.
 
Small Town
The folks of Mathis would like to invite you out to celebrate this Christmas season with a variety of seasonal activities to delight the young and the young at heart. 
   
Big Lake
While in Mathis, visit our beautiful state park, home to a multitude of wildlife, a variety of fish, and over 400 different species of birds.
 
Great People
From academics to athletics, the students in Mathis shine.  In 2000, the Mathis High School football team and the UIL Debate team advanced to the State finals.The band qualified numerous students to the State meet and in 2002, and had the honor of playing in the Cotton Bowl.
 
City of Mathis Festival & Events Committee
“BIG Lake, Small Town, Great People”

In late winter of 2002, the city manager together with the City of Mathis City Council voted to form a Festivals and Events Committee (FEC) to bring tourism and quality of live to the City of Mathis.
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The first task the committee undertook was to help design a new city slogan. Small Town, Big Lake, Great People was produced to showcase the unique and friendly atmosphere found throughout all the citizen community.
 
City Town Info Forum
Mathis, Texas is on Farm Road 359 on Interstate Highway 37 in western San Patricio County. It was planned by Thomas H. Mathis, when the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway crossed the county in 1887. He chose the spot for the town on a slight hill and gave 300 acres for the town-site. He also gave land for the school and offered a lot to any church that would construct a building. Mathis and his brother, J. M. Mathis, helped start the Coleman, Mathis, Fulton Cattle Company and received 37,000 acres in the Mathis area in 1879, when the company was dissolved and the Coleman-Fulton Pasture Company organized. When the railroad left Skidmore and headed for the Rio Grande valley, T. H. Mathis owned 60,000 acres in the area. In order to keep cattle out of the new town site, he built a fence enclosing the area. As late as 1906 there were still two double gates at the north and south approaches to Mathis. Many of the early settlers and business owners in Mathis came from Lagarto, which was a thriving trading post until the railroad bypassed the town. A post office was established in Mathis in 1890 with S. B. Carnes as postmaster.
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In 1998 the city committed to economic growth and development. New city leadership and a new city motto; Small Town, Big Lake, Great People moved the city to promote a recruitment zeal for business growth.
 
Texas Coastal Bend Regional Tourism Council
MATHIS
Small Town, Big Lake
On Interstate 37 between Corpus Christi and San Antonio, Mathis has a population of about 5000, which can double during summer months. Established in 1885, Mathis is a commercial agriculture center for livestock, cotton, grain, sorghum, flax and truck crops. A beautiful lakeside city, Mathis is a major gateway to Lake Corpus Christi and to the popular state park on its shores. Families can go camping, fishing, boating and enjoy other outdoor activities. There is bird watching, fishing tournaments and many antique shops to explore. Festivals and events, restaurants, motels and RV parks add to the mix.
 
Officially named Lake Corpus Christi, the 21,000-acre lake is still known by many locals as Lake Mathis. The state park opened in 1934 and many of the park’s facilities were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, (CCC), in the 1930’s. The present site covers what was the disputed boundary between Texas and Mexico after the Texas Revolution. At the end of the war, the Rio Grande became the boundary. The park provides habitat to black bellied whistling duck, purple gallinule, white winged dove and long billed thrasher plus javelina and white tailed deer.
 
MySpace.com - Lupita
I am Chairman for the City of Mathis Festival and Events Committee. Together as a team we coordinate festivals and events for the City of Mathis and surrounding communities. I am a big promoter for OUR SMALL TOWN WITH A BIG LAKE AND GREAT PEOPLE. Our goals are to promote Mathis, promote the lake, bring business to the businesses in Mathis and last but not least to bring people together. I love to see people smiling and having a wonderful time. My personal goal for the committee is to continue to bring good fun memories, happiness and joy to all through all of our events. I believe that we have brought an interest to Mathis and I can see very positive things happening. Feel free to look at our website, http://www.cityofmathisfec.com