Maud, Texas. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Prior to Texas Independence, this area this area of NE Texas was a wild and woolly place. Known as the Red River Country, the area didn�t get civilized until the railroad came through in 1870.

The town was granted a post office in 1881 and postmaster Sam Knapp filed out the application under his daughter�s Christian name. Sam Knapp was entitled to a little privilege since he donated the land where the community was platted.

The post office closed but was reopened in 1893.

Maud�s population in 1910 was a respectable 300 residents. By 1940 it had increased to 750. Just six miles N of the community the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant and the Red River Army Depot provided jobs for locals.

By the early 1980s the town had an estimated population of 1,059, falling slightly to 1.049 for the 1990 census and declind to just over 1,000 for the 2000 census.

The aforementioned Army installations remain the largest employers of Maudites. In 1990 the community population was 1,049.

1940s Bowie County map showing Maud
(Below "W" in "B-O-W-I-E")
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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