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History
in a Pecan Shell
The community had been settled before the Civil War but wasn’t platted
until 1887. After a brief stint as Lawn City and then Lawndale,
Texas, the town underwent it’s last change of name in 1900 after
Lawndale was bypassed by the railroad.
Less than a mile separated Lawndale from the tracks of the Southern
Pacific. The landowners who gave the railroad right-of-way were
named Mason and Eubanks, so their names were cobbled together to
form Mabank, a new community.
Mabank
was platted in early 1900 and received a post office later that
year. For a short time Lawndale and Mabank
co-existed but as always, the economic clout of the railroad connection
doomed the unconnected community. In ten short years Mabank
had a respectable population of just over 400 residents and most
essential businesses, including a canning plan, newspaper and library.
The town became a cotton shipping point prior to WWI
although it declined after boll
weevil infestations in the 1920s. The population grew to over
950 – even as the Great Depression depleted other towns.
The community also retained its population after WWII.
It was just under 1,000 in the mid 1960s.
After the construction of Cedar Creek Lake in 1965, the population
swelled to 1,500 by the mid 1970s and the 1990 census counted over
1,700 residents.
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Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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