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History in
a Pecan Shell
Once known as Mink's Prairie (in the 1840s) the name was shortened
to Mink in 1850 but it wasn’t until 1885 when the town was granted
a post office under the name of Mink. By 1900 the population of Mink
had swollen to 25 people and two years later, with the arrival of
the International-Great Northern Railroad tiny Mink moved to the tracks,
creating a new town. The railroad wanted the town to be named Melton,
which was too close (in spelling) to Milton, Texas. To keep things
simple, the town was named after the abundant Magnolia trees – and
the new post office was so designated in 1903.
The 1915 population of Magnolia was 150 and the town had most essential
businesses. The town prospered – being close to Houston,
but not too close. The 1940 population had grown to 400, in part,
due to an oil discovery. Magnolia incorporated in late 1968. By 1971
the population was 1,150, dipping to 867 by 1980. It rebounded in
1989 to 1,132, and dipped again in 1990 to just under 1,000. |
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