Bangs

History

Bangs was named after Samuel Bangs, who was given the land due to his services as a printer in the Texas Revolution, but he reportedly never saw the land. In 1886, tracks were laid from Brownwood to San Angelo with a depot in Bangs. The same year, a man opened a general store and applied to have a post office established there, with the application approved on May 24, 1886. In 1892, the first school was built with a population of 50 and eight established businesses. Bangs incorporated in 1915 with 600 residents and 21 businesses. The following year, a water system was installed followed by natural gas lines. Bangs Independent School District was formed in 1927, which eventually consolidated nine other school districts. In 1937, US Highway 67 was built through the town, and after World War II saw the development of new housing. In 1948, when the population of Bangs was 756, the arrival of senatorial candidate Lyndon Johnson by helicopter was greeted by a crowd estimated to number 700 by accompanying reporters.

Geography

U.S. Routes 67 and 84 run concurrently through the city, leading east to Brownwood, the county seat, and west to Santa Anna in Coleman County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  711
• Black-crested Titmouse

  Baeolophus atricristatus (Cassin, 1850) · Aves
  454
• Northern Mockingbird

  Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  436
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  417
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  376
• White-winged Dove

  Zenaida asiatica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  333
• Bewick's Wren

  Thryomanes bewickii (Audubon, 1827) · Aves
  275
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

  Tyrannus forficatus (Gmelin, 1789) · Aves
  273