Editing Megargel, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Megargel, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| image_skyline      = Megargel02_old_shops.jpg
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = A row of abandoned shops in Megargel,<br>July 2009
| image_map          = TXMap-doton-Megargel.PNG
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Megargel, Texas
| image_map1         = Archer Megargel.svg
| mapsize1           = 250px
| map_caption1       = 
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Archer County, Texas|Archer]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 1.60
| area_land_km2      = 1.58
| area_water_km2     = 0.02
| area_total_sq_mi   = 0.62
| area_land_sq_mi    = 0.61
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.01
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 174
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| population_density_km2 = auto
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 1270
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|27|13|N|98|55|47|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 76370
| area_code          = [[Area code 940|940]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-47460<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2412980<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2412980}}</ref>
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Megargel''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|i:|g|ɑr|g|əl}} {{respell|MEE|gar-gəl}}) is a town in [[Archer County, Texas|Archer County]], [[Texas]], United States. It is part of the [[Wichita Falls, Texas]] [[Wichita Falls metropolitan area|metropolitan statistical area]]. Its population was 174 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. The town is named for Roy C. Megargel, the president of the [[railroad]] that developed the town.

==History==
Megargel was established as a result of the Gulf, Texas and Western Railroad extending services to [[Jacksboro, Texas|Jacksboro]] and [[Seymour, Texas|Seymour]]. The town was established in 1910. The community developed multiple businesses within three months because the purchasers of land who established businesses 60 days after acquiring their lots received discounts as an incentive to do so.<ref name=Handbook>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlm53|title=MEGARGEL, TX|encyclopedia=[[Handbook of Texas Online]]|access-date=December 29, 2016}}</ref>

The town had 350 residents in 1914. By 1923, the population had increased to 475. Around that time, H. Sheets drilled a new oil well in the Swastika oilfield, causing a population increase. Oil was discovered {{convert|4|mi|km}} east of Megargel in 1925, and the town expanded even more. One year later, the town had 1,000 residents, and in 1927, it increased by 200 more people.<ref name=Handbook/> About 1,200 people lived in Megargel in 1927, but the population began a decline after that point. The railroad stopped operations in 1943. The number of residents was 347 by 1950, 244 in 1990, 248 in 2000, and 203 in 2010.<ref name=Hannatiny>{{cite news|author=Hanna, Bill|url=http://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article3843235.html|title=Tiny North Texas town struggles to survive |newspaper=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]|date=January 19, 2014|access-date=December 29, 2016}}</ref>

In 2014, 130 water meters out of the 200 in Megargel were active, and many houses were unoccupied. That year, Bill Hanna of the ''[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]'' stated that downtown Megargel was "virtually empty, littered with crumbling and abandoned buildings and outdated gas stations."<ref name=Hannatiny/> Hanna stated that some Megargel residents believed that the demise of the [[Megargel Independent School District]] was a factor in recent population declines.<ref name=Hannatiny/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area around {{convert|160|ha|acre|abbr=on|disp=flip}}, all  land.

The town is {{convert|110|mi|km|abbr=on}} northwest of [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]].<ref name=Hannatiny/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population|align=left
| 1930 = 813
| 1940 = 531
| 1950 = 347
| 1960 = 417
| 1970 = 373
| 1980 = 381
| 1990 = 244
| 2000 = 248
| 2010 = 203
| 2020 = 174
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census">{{cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Census Bureau profile: Megargel, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Megargel%20town,%20Texas |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=Jun 10, 2024}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000,  248 people, 104 households, and 66 families were residing in the town. The [[population density]] was 404.4 people/sq mi (157.0/km<sup>2</sup>). The 132 housing units  averaged 215.3/sq mi (83.6/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race (U.S. Census)|racial makeup]] of the town was 93.55% White, 0.81% African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.21% Asian, and 4.03% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.05% of the population.

Of the 104 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were not families. About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38, and the average family size was 2.97.

In the town, the age distribution was 24.2% under 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65  or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,000, and for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $26,429 versus $23,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $14,783. About 4.2% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 1.8% of those under 18 and none of those 65 or over.

==Education==
Megargel is served by the [[Olney Independent School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48009_archer/DC20SD_C48009.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Archer County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-09-23}}</ref>

Megargel was once served by the [[Megargel Independent School District]]. By 2006, the school (along with the town) had been declining for years, and was running out of funds.  The school board has voted to consolidate with Olney ISD, the neighboring school district in [[Olney, Texas]] (about 12 miles southeast), subject to voter approval on May 13, 2006.  Proponents argued that the school (which had only 63 students, including only one in seventh grade) simply cannot continue to function, and consolidation with the neighboring district (which had nearly 800 students) would provide more opportunities for educational achievement. Opponents feared that closure of the school would cause the town to disappear.<ref name="DMNMegargel">{{cite news|author=McCain, Colleen |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/dmn/stories/041106dntexmegargel.d0e08a3.html |title=School, town facing demise |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |date=April 11, 2006 |access-date=July 17, 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311002609/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/dmn/stories/041106dntexmegargel.d0e08a3.html |archive-date=March 11, 2007 }}</ref> The vote was in favor of consolidation. The school and district closed after the school year ended.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kauz.com/news/local/2883291.html |title=Mergargel School Closes Its Doors |publisher=[[KAUZ-TV]] |access-date=July 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928064158/http://www.kauz.com/news/local/2883291.html |archive-date=September 28, 2007 }}</ref>

The designated community college for Archer County is [[Vernon Regional Junior College]].<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code Sec. 130.207.  VERNON REGIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]</ref>

==Government and infrastructure==
The community post office had opened within three months of Megargel's establishment.<ref name=Handbook/> The [[United States Postal Service]] continues to operate the Megargel Post Office.<ref>"[https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorDetailsAction!input.action?locationTypeQ=all&address=Megargel%2C+Texas&radius=20&locationType=po&locationID=1372561&locationName=MEGARGEL&address2=&address1=421+FM+210&city=MEGARGEL&state=TX&zip5=76370&zip4=9801&tollFree=800-ASK-USPS%26reg%3B%26nbsp%3B%28800-275-8777%29&fax=940-562-2015&tAddress=&tAddress1Ams=&tAddress2Ams=&tCityAms=&tStateAms=&tZipAms=&tCarrierRouteAms=&latitude=33.4464708&longitude=-98.92332&sWithin=20&&&&&&&&&& Megargel]." [[United States Postal Service]]. Retrieved on December 30, 2016.</ref>

==Economy==
Megargel had a hotel, a bank, and 23 stores within three months of its founding. By 1986, Megargel had nine businesses.<ref name=Handbook/>

==Media==
The community previously had a newspaper, ''Megargel Times'', established by 1914.<ref name=Handbook/>

==See also==
{{portal|Texas}}
* [[List of municipalities in Texas]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Megargel, Texas}}
* [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlm53 Handbook of Texas article]


{{Archer County, Texas}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:1910 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1910]]
[[Category:Towns in Archer County, Texas]]
[[Category:Towns in Texas]]
[[Category:Wichita Falls metropolitan area]]