Mineola, Texas

History

Mineola came into existence when the railroads built lines through the eastern part of the state. In 1873, the Texas and Pacific and the International-Great Northern raced to see which could get to Mineola first. The I-GN reached the finish 15 minutes earlier. A city government was organized in 1873, a post office opened in 1875, and the town was incorporated in 1877, but a fire in the 1880s destroyed 18 buildings. The town's oldest paper, the Mineola Monitor, was founded in 1876. By 1890, the town had seven churches, several schools including a black free school, hotels, banks. In 1895, Mineola became the site of the Wood County Fair.

Since Mineola was in the heart of the East Texas timber belt, timber was plentiful for making railroad ties and lumber. Mineola provided most of the ties to complete the T&P RR west to El Paso in 1879; S. Zuckerman, a Mineola resident, filled contracts for 85,000 ties that were used in the construction. During the community's first 60 years, farm products included cotton, livestock, fruit, and berries. A chair factory opened in 1886, became a crate and basket factory in 1900, and operated until 1952. Highway improvement, the Magnolia Pipeline Company gas line, and the establishment of a railroad terminal caused growth during the 1920s, and the discovery of oil in parts of Wood County and construction of a T&P railroad shop spurred the economy during the 1940s. Diversified farming gave way to cattle raising and watermelon crops by 1950. The Mineola Watermelon Festival began in 1948. Subsequently, sweet-potato farming, a creamery, a nursery, and a company that supplies poles and pulpwood to the telephone company helped the economy.

The town remains a shipping center. The Mineola Memorial Library, largely financed by H. W. Meredith, was completed in 1960. Nearby Lake Holbrook, also completed in 1962, attracts residents and visitors. The Meredith Foundation has provided large sums for educational and cultural purposes since 1962. Meredith Hall Civic Center, completed in 1977, is used by large and small groups for varied events. The manufacture of women's clothing, sporting goods, electronic connectors, fertilizer, and cattle feed, and the packaging of dry beans and meat provide employment for many people. The Wood County Airport, 5 nmi north of Mineola, was completed in 1984. A new city hall complex was completed in 1986, and a two-school facility was completed in 1987.

In 2023, Max aired How to Create a Sex Scandal, a three-part documentary about charges of child sexual abuse that allegedly took place in Mineola in 2005.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.339 sqmi, of which 10.161 sqmi are land and 0.178 sqmi is covered by water.

Climate

Mineola enjoys weather typical of East Texas, which is unpredictable, especially in the spring. Mineola's humid subtropical climate is typical of the Southeast United States.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,823 people, 1,686 households, and 1,021 families residing in the city. The population density was 463.84 PD/sqmi. The 2,086 housing units averaged 376.5 /sqmi. Of the 1,686 households, 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were not families. About 30.1% were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48, and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city, the age distribution was under 18, from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and who were 65 or older. The median age was 39.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was , and for a family was . Males had a median income of versus for females. The per capita income for the city was . About 16.2% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

• First Baptist Mineola is one of the largest churches in the Wood County area, with enrollment record around 850.
• Sand Springs Baptist Church is located just west of Mineola. The church has a regular Sunday attendance around 350.
• Broad Street Church of Christ
• Mineola First United Methodist Church
• New Hope Baptist Church
• St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, founded October 1871, in Mineola
• Johnson Chapel United Methodist Church
• Sidney Temple Church of God
• East Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
• St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler.

Sports

Main article: Mineola Black Spiders

The Mineola Black Spiders were a non-league barnstorming African-American baseball team. In , the Texas Historical Commission erected a historical marker at the corner of Hwy. 69 S and South Johnson Street.

Parks and recreation

;The Mineola Nature Preserve Largest city-owned park per capita in the United States at 2,911 acres. "The Birding Capital of East Texas" established in 2005.

;Howard L. and Vivian W. Lott House Main article: Howard L. and Vivian W. Lott House

The Howard L. and Vivian W. Lott House is a house designed in the Prairie School style with classical details. It is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

;Iron Horse Square Iron Horse Square is a five-acre area in downtown Mineola that celebrates the railroad heritage of the city, county and East Texas area. Situated between Front and Commerce Streets and alongside the Union Pacific Railroad tracks the park is a joint effort between the Mineola Landmark Commission, the Parks & Open Spaces Board and the City of Mineola. It hosts a mini train, railroad-themed playground, and historical walking trail.

;Mineola Downtown Historic District Main article: Mineola Downtown Historic District

Mineola Downtown Historic District is home to a collection of buildings that were constructed between 1885 and 1960. The district comprises 88 properties and covers almost 23 acre.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 16, 2013.

;Lakes

• Lake Holbrook – located four miles west.
• Lake Fork – located 20 miles north, between the towns of Quitman, Alba, Emory, and Yantis, Texas.

Education

The City of Mineola is served by the Mineola Independent School District.

• Mineola High School

; Historically Black schools

• Mineola Colored High School
• McFarland Elementary

Media

;Newspaper Main article: Wood County Monitor

The Wood County Monitor is a weekly newspaper serving Mineola and Wood County, Texas. In , newspaper operations of the Mineola Monitor and the Wood County Democrat were merged by their owner, Bluebonnet Publishing, to form the Wood County Monitor.

;Radio Main article: KMOO-FM

KMOO-FM ( FM, "K-Moo") is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Mineola, Texas, United States, the station serves the Tyler-Longview area. The station is currently owned by Hightower Radio, Inc. Studios and transmitter are located in Mineola.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Roads

Mineola includes the intersection of two major U.S. highways; US 69 and US 80 intersect in the downtown area. Texas Highway 37 connects Mineola and Quitman off US 69.

;Major highways

• [[File:US 69.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 69
• [[File:US 80.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 80

;Farm to market roads

• [[File:Texas FM 49.svg|20px]] FM 49

;State highways

• [[File:Texas 37.svg|20px]] Texas State Highway 37
• [[File:Texas_Loop_564.svg|20px]] Loop 564 State Highway Loop 564 (large sections are outside city limits)

Railroads

Main article: Mineola (Amtrak station)

Mineola is currently served by Amtrak's Texas Eagle passenger railway line. The railroad tracks which run through the southern portion of Wood County and through Mineola are currently owned and operated by Union Pacific.

Airports

Mineola is served by two airports:

• Mineola Wisner Field is identified as 3F9. This airport was established in 1917, and has been operated by the same family owners since 1926.
• Wood County Airport (Mineola/Quitman Airport) is a public airport owned by Wood County.

Gallery

File:Mineola Select (1 of 1).jpg|Select Theater File:Mineola Train Depot (1 of 1).jpg|Amtrak Train Station File:Beckham Hotel Mineola (1 of 1).jpg|Beckham Hotel File:Downtown Mineola5 (1 of 1).jpg|Downtown File:Mineola Post Office (1 of 1).jpg|United States Post Office, now a museum File:Downtown Mineola 5 (1 of 1).jpg|Downtown

Notable people

• Willie Brown, former mayor of San Francisco attended Mineola Colored High School
• R.C. Hickman, a civil rights photographer during the 1950s
• Jim Hogg, Texas governor lived in Mineola and his daughter Ima Hogg was born in a house in this city.
• Bryan Hughes, member of the Texas House of Representatives and member of the Texas State Senate
• Bobby Ray Inman, former deputy director of the CIA and nominee for secretary of defense of the United States
• Adam Moore, professional baseball player
• Kacey Musgraves, Grammy-winning country music artist and performer
• Jack Rhodes, influential country music songwriter and inductee in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
• Noble Willingham, actor known for The Last Picture Show and Walker, Texas Ranger

Notes

References

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. {{GNIS. 2411118
3. BRUNER, ORA P.. (2010-06-15). "MINEOLA, TX".
4. (1879). "The Railway World". United States Railroad and Mining Register Company.
5. (2023-05-23). "How to Create a Sex Scandal". Talos Films, Texas Monthly.
6. "US Gazetteer Files 2016-Places-Texas".
7. "NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". NOAA.
8. "Explore Census Data".
9. https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific. (August 2022)
10. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin".
11. "KMOO-FM Facility Record". United States [[Federal Communications Commission]], audio division.
12. "Amtrak's Texas Eagle {{!}} Mineola, TX".
13. "Texas 2016 Freight Railway Map". Texas Department of Transportation.
14. "Texas Airport Directory". Texas Department of Transportation.
15. "MINEOLA-WISENER FIELD AIRPORT".
16. "AirportIQ 5010".
17. "McFarland Reunions".
18. Davis, Camille. "Rufus Cornelius Hickman [R.C.]".
19. Wood County Historical Commission. (2004). "Images of America: Wood County". link. [[Arcadia Publishing]]
20. Wood County Historical Commission. (2004). "Images of America: Wood County". link. [[Arcadia Publishing]]
21. (2020). "2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Mineola city, Texas - P1 {{!}} RACE".
22. (2020). "2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Mineola city, Texas - P2 {{!}} HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE".
23. (2020). "2019: ACS 5-Year Estimates Subject Tables - Mineola city, Texas - S0101 {{!}} AGE AND SEX".
24. (2020). "2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Mineola city, Texas - H1 {{!}} OCCUPANCY STATUS".
25. (2010). "Mineola Black Spiders".
26. {{NRISref. 2013a
27. "Uncovered Texas Historical Markers{{!}} Lott House".
28. {{NRISref. 2013a