Mingus, Texas Explained

Official Name:Mingus, Texas
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250px
Image Map1:PaloPinto County Mingus.svg
Mapsize1:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Texas
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Palo Pinto
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:4.01
Area Land Km2:4.01
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Total Sq Mi:1.55
Area Land Sq Mi:1.55
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:223
Population Density Km2:64.02
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:951
Coordinates:32.5394°N -98.4233°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:76463
Area Code:254
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:48-48720[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1341720
Pop Est As Of:2023
Pop Est Footnotes:[3]
Population Est:223
Population Density Sq Mi:165.81

Mingus is a city in Palo Pinto County, Texas, United States. The population was 223 at the 2020 census.

History

In the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, Mingus, known as a "wet" town, had a thriving set of liquor stores and bars patronized by those in "dry" areas in Palo Pinto County and other area counties. This era in Mingus history was memorialized in a comedic country song by John Clay and the Lost Austin Band called "Road to Mingus."[4] The lyrics tell of the deaths of three young men from Strawn, Texas, who travel to Mingus for beer, and, coming home in their '39 Ford, try to beat the Katy at a crossing and die when they are struck by the "reckless railroad train."

Area residents blamed aggressive law enforcement for the demise of the stores and bars. By the 2000s, the Cossacks Motorcycle Club patronized the remaining commercial establishments in the town.[5]

Geography

Mingus is located at 32.5394°N -98.4233°W (32.539489, –98.423449).[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.5sqmi, all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 246 people, 110 households, and 59 families residing in the city. The population density was 158.3sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 136 housing units at an average density of 87.5sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 89.84% White, 0.41% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 8.54% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.57% of the population.

There were 110 households, out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.5% were non-families. 41.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 18.7% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,750, and the median income for a family was $40,208. Males had a median income of $30,417 versus $25,625 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,591. About 7.5% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 19.6% of those 65 or over.

Education

The City of Mingus is served by the Gordon Independent School District.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Mingus has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[7]

References

  1. Web site: 2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. August 7, 2020.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  3. Web site: Population and Housing Unit Estimates. May 24, 2020. United States Census Bureau. May 27, 2020.
  4. Although Clay performed the song informally as early as 1963 at the Monterey Folk Festival, it was first recorded in 1976 for the album "Drifting Through The Seventies" by John Clay and the Lost Austin Band.
  5. Lyons, Julie. "Biker Kingdom: Who Are the Cossacks and What Happened in Waco?" (Archive). Houston Press. Tuesday January 19, 2016. Retrieved on January 25, 2016.
  6. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  7. http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=502714&cityname=Mingus%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Mingus, Texas