Mangum, Texas facts for kids

Mangum was once a small, unincorporated town located in Eastland County, Texas, United States. An unincorporated town means it wasn't officially governed by its own local government. It was founded in the late 1890s.

Mangum got its start where two important railway lines crossed. These were the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway and the Eastland, Wichita Falls and Gulf Railroad. The town was named after the Bob Mangum family.

The Rise and Fall of Mangum

Mangum's population reached its highest point in 1915, with about 125 people living there. However, over time, the town began to shrink. By 1936, only a few residents remained.

The railways that helped the town grow eventually stopped operating. The Eastland, Wichita Falls and Gulf Railroad was abandoned in 1944. The Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway was abandoned in 1967. Without the railways, the town lost its main connections.

Mangum Today: A Ghost Town

By the late 1980s, Mangum was no longer shown on highway maps. In 2000, only about 15 people were estimated to live there. Today, the site of Mangum is considered a ghost town. A ghost town is a place where most or all of the people have left, and buildings are often deserted.