Mangum, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mangum, Oklahoma
|
|
|---|---|
Mangum, Oklahoma Downtown Historic District, September 28, 2014. Courtesy CrimsonEdge
|
|
Location of Mangum, Oklahoma
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Greer |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.68 sq mi (4.36 km2) |
| • Land | 1.68 sq mi (4.36 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,608 ft (490 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 2,762 |
| • Density | 1,641.12/sq mi (633.47/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
73554
|
| Area code(s) | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-46050 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410917 |
Mangum is a city in Oklahoma, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Greer County, Oklahoma. In 2020, about 2,762 people lived there. Mangum was first part of Old Greer County, which was in the Texas Panhandle. The town got its name from A. S. Mangum, who owned the land where it was started in 1882. It became part of Oklahoma Territory in 1896. Then, on November 16, 1907, it officially became part of the state of Oklahoma.
Contents
History of Mangum
The community of Mangum started in 1882. Henry Clay Sweet founded it on land given to A. S. Mangum by the state of Texas. A post office opened in Mangum on April 15, 1886. This area, known as Old Greer County, became part of Oklahoma in 1896.
In its early days, Mangum's economy relied on large cattle ranches. These ranches were owned by companies like the Day Land and Cattle Company. Local cowboys called Mangum "Tin City." This was because many tin cans were flattened and nailed over wooden sidewalks.
Early Businesses and Growth
The Kiser Salt Works was one of the first businesses in the area. It was owned by Ben Kiser and made salt from the Elm Fork of the Red River. Other early businesses included the Oklahoma Granite Company, which opened in 1904. The Mangum Star newspaper started in 1887 and is still published today. The Mangum Brick Plant began in 1903 and has grown a lot since then.
By the time Oklahoma became a state, Mangum had 2,672 people. It had two school buildings and an opera house. The county courthouse was later added to the National Register of Historical Places. By 1930, Mangum's population reached its highest recorded number, with 4,806 people. Farming had replaced cattle ranching. The city had seven cotton gins, a cotton oil mill, a cotton compress, and a flour mill.
Railroads and Modern Times
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad built a line to Mangum in 1900. Another railway, the Wichita Falls and Northwestern Railway, also ran through Mangum by 1910.
Mangum is famous for having one of the longest-lasting light bulbs in the world. It is located in a fire station. The city was also the setting for the 2008 movie Beer for My Horses.
In May 2019, a strong EF2 tornado hit western Mangum. In 2020, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Mangum was in the news. A local church played a role in spreading COVID-19 in the town, leading to some deaths. The mayor at the time, Mary Jane Scott, put the town on lockdown.
Geography and Climate
Mangum covers about 1.8 square miles (4.36 square kilometers) of land. There is no water within the city limits. Lake Altus-Lugert is located to the east-northeast of Mangum.
Weather in Mangum
Mangum has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has mild winters and hot, humid summers. The coldest night of the year usually averages between 0°F (-18°C) and 5°F (-15°C).
On February 11, 2017, Mangum reached a very high temperature of 99.41°F (37.45°C). This was the highest temperature ever recorded in Oklahoma during winter. What's even more surprising is that snow fell in Mangum just three days later!
| Climate data for Mangum, Oklahoma (1981-2010 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 52 (11) |
56 (13) |
65 (18) |
75 (24) |
83 (28) |
91 (33) |
96 (36) |
95 (35) |
87 (31) |
76 (24) |
63 (17) |
52 (11) |
74 (23) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 39 (4) |
43 (6) |
51 (11) |
60 (16) |
75 (24) |
79 (26) |
83 (28) |
82 (28) |
74 (23) |
62 (17) |
50 (10) |
39 (4) |
61 (16) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 25 (−4) |
29 (−2) |
36 (2) |
45 (7) |
56 (13) |
66 (19) |
69 (21) |
68 (20) |
60 (16) |
48 (9) |
36 (2) |
26 (−3) |
47 (8) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.00 (25) |
1.19 (30) |
1.89 (48) |
2.45 (62) |
3.79 (96) |
4.33 (110) |
2.15 (55) |
2.93 (74) |
2.86 (73) |
2.74 (70) |
1.53 (39) |
1.08 (27) |
27.94 (710) |
People of Mangum
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 3,067 | — | |
| 1920 | 3,405 | 11.0% | |
| 1930 | 4,806 | 41.1% | |
| 1940 | 4,193 | −12.8% | |
| 1950 | 4,271 | 1.9% | |
| 1960 | 3,950 | −7.5% | |
| 1970 | 4,066 | 2.9% | |
| 1980 | 3,833 | −5.7% | |
| 1990 | 3,344 | −12.8% | |
| 2000 | 2,924 | −12.6% | |
| 2010 | 3,010 | 2.9% | |
| 2020 | 2,762 | −8.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 2,924 people living in Mangum. About 84% of the people were White, and about 7% were African American. About 8% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 24% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in Mangum was 42 years. The average income for a family in the city was about $30,547 per year.
Arts and Culture
Mangum has several interesting places to visit:
- The Old Greer County Museum and Pioneer Hall of Fame is in an old hospital building from 1907. It has over 60 rooms filled with items from the history of Old Greer County.
- The Margaret Carder Library was founded in 1922. It has many books and items for people to borrow.
- The annual Mangum Rattlesnake Derby usually happens in April. It includes a rattlesnake hunt, a festival, and a large flea market.
Historical Sites to Explore
Several places in Mangum are listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Greer County, Oklahoma. This means they are important historical sites. They include:
- Downtown Mangum Historic District
- Greer County Courthouse
- Hotel Franklin
- Mangum Armory
- Mangum Community Building
Transportation and Travel
Roads and Highways
Mangum is connected by U.S. Route 283 and Oklahoma State Highway 34. Oklahoma State Highway 9 is also nearby, just north of town.
Airports Near Mangum
Mangum has a local airport called Scott Field. It is on the western edge of the city, about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the center. This airport does not have regular passenger flights.
For commercial flights, people can go to Lawton–Fort Sill Regional Airport. This airport is about 81 miles (130 km) to the east-southeast. A larger airport is the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport, about 139 miles (224 km) to the west-northwest.
Train Service
There are no passenger train services in Mangum. There are also no train tracks left within the city limits.
Notable People from Mangum
Many interesting people have come from Mangum, including:
- Margaret Avery, an actress and singer.
- G. A. Brown, a judge.
- James P. Garrett, a justice on the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals.
- Clyde Hendrick, a dean at Texas Tech University.
- Braden Looper, a professional baseball player.
- Gale McArthur, a college basketball player.
- Gary McSpadden, a pastor and award-winning singer.
- Blake Ragsdale Van Leer, a president of Georgia Institute of Technology.
Images for kids
-
Mangum, Oklahoma Downtown Historic District
-
Location of Mangum, Oklahoma
See also
In Spanish: Mangum (Oklahoma) para niños
