SCRANTON, TEXAS

Eastland County, Texas Panhandle / Central Texas North

FM 1864, S or I-20
10 miles SW of Cisco
20 miles SW of Eastland the county seat
9 miles SE of Putnam
38 miles SE of Abilene
Population: 44 est. (2017) 40 (1990 - 2000)

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"A vintage photo, date unknown, of what I believe is Scranton Academy. My grandfather, Alvin W Wilkinson, attended this school."
John McGilvray, January 28, 2008

History in a Pecan Shell

In 1875 three families began the settlement and a school and cotton gin were operating in the 1880s. The post office opened in 1891. The Scranton Academy opened in 1903 and the town had a newspaper in 1911.

The high-water mark seems to have been in 1904 when 150 people were reported, but it has slowly declined to the present 40 - as reported in 1980 and 1990. According to the Scranton entry in the Handbook of Texas, nothing much has happened in Scranton from the 20s through the 90s.

People standing on rooftop and balcony, Scranton Academy, Scranton Texas old photo

Close-up of Scranton Academy photo above

Men and Women on porch, Scranton Academy, Scranton Texas vintage photo

Another close-up of Scranton Academy photo

Scranton Today

Scranton school ruins
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2004
More Texas Schoolhouses

The closed gas station
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2004
More Texas Gas Stations

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