Details for Mabank

Historical Marker — Atlas Number 5257008533

Data

Marker Number 8533
Atlas Number 5257008533
Marker Title Mabank
Index Entry Mabank
Address
City Mabank
County Kaufman
UTM Zone 14
UTM Easting 771669
UTM Northing 3584994
Subject Codes cities and towns; railroads
Marker Year 1979
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark No
Marker Location in traffic triangle of Business U.S. 175 and W. Market St., Mabank
Private Property No
Marker Condition In Situ
Marker Size 27" x 42"
Marker Text Originally part of the George T. Walters Survey, this acreage in the 1840s and '50s belonged to many absentee landowners including Sam Houston. In 1887 John R. Jones, a merchant from nearby Goshen, and his wife Joella platted and developed a town called "Lawn City" (1 mi. NE). Soon a post office was established and the name changed to "Lawndale". When the Texas & New Orleans Railroad bypassed Lawndale in 1900 on its route from Kemp to Athens, it ran through the northern part of the Mason-Eubank Ranch. The owners, Thomas H. Eubank (1859-1952) and rancher-banker G. W. ("Dodge") Mason (1858-1917), set aside one square mile of their holdings for a town. The name "Mabank" was formed by combining the names of the two landowners. Lawndale families and merchants began moving to Mabank. The town grew rapidly, boasting a park, depot, and stock loading pens. There was a gin, post office, cafe, hotel, and several mercantile businesses. Later, church lots were set aside for Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian congregations. The Baptist church erected a building for a community house and school. The economy of the area depended first on farming and later on ranching. The 1966 development of Cedar Creek Lake strengthened the community.