Barnum is an unincorporated community in Polk County, in the U.S. state of Texas.[1]

Barnum
Barnum is located in Texas
Barnum
Barnum
Location within the state of Texas
Barnum is located in the United States
Barnum
Barnum
Barnum (the United States)
Coordinates: 30°56′42″N 94°40′22″W / 30.94500°N 94.67278°W / 30.94500; -94.67278
Country United States
State Texas
CountyPolk
Elevation76 m (249 ft)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
GNIS feature ID1379392[1]

History

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Barnum sprang up in 1881 around a sawmill built on a railroad line.[2] Some believe the community was named after P. T. Barnum, an American businessman and circus founder, while other hold it was named for another Texas sawmill owner named Barnum.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Barnum, Texas
  2. ^ Barnum from the Handbook of Texas Online
  3. ^ Tarpley, Fred (July 5, 2010). 1001 Texas Place Names. University of Texas Press. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-292-78693-6.