Rankin, TX
Music connected to Rankin
About Rankin
- • Singer and songwriter Larry Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers was born in Rankin.
- • Although no major inventions originated here, the town fostered a strong sense of community.
- • The Texas and Pacific Railway's arrival in 1903 established Rankin as a shipping point.
- • Legend says the Rankin High School mascot was chosen after a local rancher's prize bull.
- • Rankin experienced a significant oil boom in the 1920s, transforming its economy.
- • Named in 1907 for F.E. Rankin, a railroad official, it became the county seat.
- • With around 700 residents, the population is smaller than many high schools.
- • Sitting at 2,559 feet, the altitude provides panoramic views of West Texas.
- • Oil and gas remain vital industries, with many employed in extraction and support.
- • A quiet, slow-paced town, it feels like stepping back into a simpler time.
- • The Dallas Cowboys, 300 miles east, provide the closest pro sports connection.
- • Rankin High School's six-man football team fosters intense local pride.