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MANGUM, TEXAS


Texas Ghost Town
Eastland County, Texas Panhandle / Central Texas North


Just off Highway 6
About 5 Miles SW of Eastland county seat
SE of Cisco
Population: 15 est. (2000)

Book Area Hotel ›Eastland Hotels

History in a Pecan Shell

Mangum started in the early 1890s with a great advantage over most Texas towns. While most struggling communities would be happy with one railroad connection, Mangum had two. They were the Eastland, Wichita Falls and Gulf (East to West) and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas (north to south) lines.

The settlement was named for Robert Mangum and other Mangum family members. "Bob" was the community's first store owner who became postmaster in 1899 when the post office was opened in Mangum's store.

Pete Mangum became the depot agent for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas and used his position to ship bottled water to other parts of Texas. Texas was then going through its curative water boom times and Mangum had plenty of examples on how to capitalize on the water.

The Mangum Mineral Water Company shipped the bottled product while another man (Dave Switzer) a hospital and bathhouse under the name Maurice Mineral Water Company. Switzer also operated the Don Carlos Hotel to take in the visitors who weren't taking the waters.

Although the permanent population of the town was just 150, many found work associated with the town's most plentiful resource - at least until the fad started to fade. Competition was brutal and more advertised spas (like those in Mineral Wells and Marlin) siphoned off business.

The Magnum post office closed in 1929 and the Great Depression was Magnum's final blow. It was dropped from maps by the mid-1930s but fifteen hardy people (maybe it's the water) managed to be included on the 2000 census.



Mangum, TX - Eastland County, 1910 postmark
Mangum, TX - Eastland County, 1910 canceled postmark
Postcard canceled with Mangum, Texas 1910 postmark
Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection


TX Eastland County 1920s Map
1920s Eastland County map showing Mangum
SW of Eastland
From Texas state map #10749

Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Take a road trip

Texas Panhandle | Central Texas North

Mangum, Texas Nearby Towns:
Eastland the county seat
Cisco
Gorman
See Eastland County

Book Hotel Here:
Eastland Hotels | More Hotels

Related Topic:
Texas Railroads

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