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History · Rankin

Rankin dates to 1911

Most of Rankin was built recently: 9% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1963. Below: maps from 1928 on and the census since 1930.

1911founded
0on the National Register
9%homes built before 1940
1famous people
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Quick answers

How Rankin began

When was Rankin founded?

1911

Rankin dates its founding to 1911 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1930.

First census: 935 in 19302020 census: 780115 years
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1912.The full story ↓

What stands out about Rankin’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Rankin are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Boom and bustPeaked at 1,216 in 1980; 780 people lived here in 2020.Old housesHalf of Rankin’s homes were built before 1963.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Rankin’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Rankin’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
People over time

Rankin, census by census

02004006008001,0001,20019401960198020002020Peak: 1,216

Peaked at 1,216 in 1980; 780 people lived here in 2020.

10 censuses, 1930–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Rankin’s Wikipedia page.

The story

How Rankin came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Rankin.

Read it all →

The town was founded in 1911, and the post office was built a year later. In 1921, this still-tiny community based around the ranching industry was designated the county seat. Rankin was served by the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Rankin, 1911 to 1980

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 20th century
  2. 1911
    FoundingRankin is established
  3. 1912Post officeThe Rankin post office opens
  4. 1928Born hereBud McFadin is born here
  5. 1928On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  6. 1980CensusPopulation peaks at 1,216
By decade

Rankin, decade by decade

Today2 recent
Rankin, Texas2021Rankin, TexasUpton county tx courthouse 20142014Upton county tx courthouse 2014
On the map

Rankin on the map, 1928 to 1986

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Rankin. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Rankin on the 1928 USGS mapRankin on the 1970 USGS mapRankin on the 1986 USGS map1928Rankin sheet · 1:125,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Rankin.

Questions about Rankin’s history

What year was Rankin founded?

In 1911, according to Wikidata. Rankin’s post office opened in 1912, and the census of 1930 counted 935 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (2), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.