Megargel, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Megargel, Texas
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A row of abandoned shops in Megargel,
July 2009 |
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Location of Megargel, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Archer |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.62 sq mi (1.60 km2) |
| • Land | 0.61 sq mi (1.58 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,270 ft (390 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 174 |
| • Density | 280.6/sq mi (108.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
76370
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| Area code(s) | 940 |
| FIPS code | 48-47460 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412980 |
Megargel is a small town located in Archer County, Texas, in the United States. It is part of the larger Wichita Falls area. In 2020, about 174 people lived there. The town was named after Roy C. Megargel, who was the president of the railroad company that helped create the town.
Contents
History of Megargel
Megargel began in 1910 because a railroad, the Gulf, Texas and Western Railroad, was expanding. It was building new lines to nearby towns like Jacksboro and Seymour. To encourage people to move there, the railroad offered discounts on land if businesses were set up quickly. This helped the town grow fast.
Early Growth and Oil Boom
Within just three months of its founding, Megargel had many businesses. By 1914, about 350 people lived in the town. This number grew to 475 by 1923.
A big change happened when oil was discovered nearby. In 1925, oil was found about 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Megargel. This discovery made the town expand even more. By 1926, the population had jumped to 1,000 residents. In 1927, it reached its peak with about 1,200 people.
Population Decline and Changes
After 1927, the number of people living in Megargel started to go down. The railroad, which was so important to the town's start, stopped its operations in 1943.
The population continued to decrease over the years:
- 1950: 347 residents
- 1990: 244 residents
- 2000: 248 residents
- 2010: 203 residents
By 2014, many houses in Megargel were empty. A newspaper reported that the downtown area looked deserted, with old, crumbling buildings. Some people in Megargel believe that the closing of the local school district also played a part in the town's shrinking population.
Geography of Megargel
Megargel covers an area of about 1.6 square kilometers (0.62 square miles). All of this area is land. The town is located about 110 miles (177 km) northwest of a larger city called Fort Worth.
Population Details
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 813 | — | |
| 1940 | 531 | −34.7% | |
| 1950 | 347 | −34.7% | |
| 1960 | 417 | 20.2% | |
| 1970 | 373 | −10.6% | |
| 1980 | 381 | 2.1% | |
| 1990 | 244 | −36.0% | |
| 2000 | 248 | 1.6% | |
| 2010 | 203 | −18.1% | |
| 2020 | 174 | −14.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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The census is a count of the population. In 2000, Megargel had 248 people living in 104 households. A household is a group of people living together in one home. About 66 of these households were families.
The town had a population density of about 404 people per square mile (157 people per square kilometer). This means that, on average, there were that many people living in each square mile of the town.
Most of the people in Megargel in 2000 were White (93.55%). There were also small percentages of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 6.05% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Age and Income
In 2000, about 24.2% of the people in Megargel were under 18 years old. The average age in the town was 41 years.
The median income for a household was $30,000. This means half of the households earned more than $30,000 and half earned less. For families, the median income was $36,250. The average income per person in the town was $14,783. A small percentage of families and individuals lived below the poverty line.
Education in Megargel
Today, students in Megargel attend schools in the Olney Independent School District.
School Consolidation
Megargel used to have its own school district, called the Megargel Independent School District. However, by 2006, the school was struggling and running out of money. It had only 63 students, with just one student in seventh grade.
The school board decided to combine with the Olney Independent School District, which was a larger district nearby. People who supported this idea believed that a bigger district could offer more learning opportunities for students. Those who were against it worried that closing the school would cause the town to shrink even more.
In May 2006, the community voted, and the decision was made to combine the school districts. The Megargel school closed after that school year. For higher education, the community college for Archer County is Vernon Regional Junior College.
Economy
When Megargel was first founded, it quickly developed a strong economy. Within three months, it had a hotel, a bank, and 23 different stores. By 1986, the town still had nine businesses operating.
Media
In the past, Megargel had its own newspaper called the Megargel Times. It was established by 1914.
See also
In Spanish: Megargel (Texas) para niños
