1900s

1900

City population is 700.

Mansfield Academy1901

Mansfield Academy is opened.

President McKinley is assassinated. Theodore Roosevelt becomes President of the United States of America.

1902 

The neighboring town of Lillian is started.

1903

Wright brothers' first flight.

1904

First town marshal hired.

1905

R.S. Casals was awarded a 25-year contract to build and operate a lighting plant in town.

Operators at the Mansfield Switchboard1905

Joseph Edwards installs the first telephone lines in town. The switchboard was located in the McKnight buildling.

1906

Mansfield State Bank is chartered.

Ralph Man passes on November 18.

1909

The Mansfield Independent School District is incorporated. In September, the first classes of the new District are held in the old Mansfield Academy buildings which were purchased by Mansfield Independent School District.

Automobile Circa 19101910

On October 11, the city passes an ordinance to prevent autos from exceeding 10 miles per hour and also prevent persons from riding their bicycles on the sidewalks.

1912 Mansfield Street Scene1914

Mansfield is a bustling small town, with buildings designed in the current most popular architectural style. Many small towns in Texas, with surviving historical downtowns, look very similar in style.

Farr Best Theater Circa 1960s1917

The United States of America enters into World War I in April.

Mr. Milton Farr builds the first electric light plant and installs the first electric lights on Water Street (future Main Street). He rents a building in downtown and opens the Farr Best Theater. The theater features Saturday afternoon kiddy matinees, a movie on Friday night and a matinee and night movie on Saturdays.

1922 Mansfield Flood1922

A terrible flood hits Mansfield and surrounding cities, leaves 13 dead and 35 missing in the area. In Mansfield, flood waters pushes Walnut Creek totally out of its banks. It destroys bridges, tracks and many rail cars, but the railroad bridge by North Street is left intact. (Image from Museum collection.)

1924 Mansfield School1924

The cornerstone is laid for the new Mansfield Independent School District (MISD) school in September. When completed, the school houses white students grades 1-11 until 1953, when a new elementary school is built. The building was then occupied by grades 9 through 11. (Image from Museum collection.)

Famous singer Ella Mae Morse born on September 12.

Texas elected its first woman governor, Miriam "Ma" Ferguson.

1925

The sewage treatment plant is built. That location now is used as the north soccer field in Hardy Allmon park.

1925 Sewer Installation1926

Mr. Farr installs Mansfield's first sewer system, and natural gas was supplied to business and residential area of town.

1927

The first movie with synchronized dialogue is released. It is dubbed a "talkie".

1929

The city library is established.

The Stock Market Crash of 1929, in October signals the beginning of the 10-year-long Great Depression in the United States and in all Western industrialized countries.

1930 Through 1940

The decade of the Great Depression.

The Rock Gym1940

In May, construction begins on The Rock Gym, as W.P.A. project Number 40541. It is budgeted for $18,238, including a gym and two class rooms for Mansfield High School. (Image from Museum collection.)

State Highway 34 was changed to Highway 287.

US Battleships After 1941 Pearl Harbor AttackDecember 7, 1941

Japan attacks the American naval and air bases at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The next day, America declares war on Japan and so enters World War II.

1945

Crowds take to the streets on V-E Day (Victory over Europe), May 8, celebrating Germany's surrender in World War II.

Rotary Telephone Circa 19491949

Dial telephones are introduced. (Stock image.)

1952

The City Council hires a night watchman for $150 per month.

1953 Mansfield Depot1953

Railroad depot closes. Mr. W. E. Marshall, the second and last depot agent, locks the doors for the last time. (Image from Museum collection.)

1954

The U.S. Supreme Court rules on segregation in the landmark Brown vs Board of Education case.

The fine for driving without a license was raised from $5 to $10.

The Mansfield City council hires its first Police Chief. It is a low-paying job and the Chief has to furnish his own car.

1956 Downtown Mansfield1956

The city purchases its first police vehicle, a 1956 Chevrolet 4-door sedan, for $1,542. A few months later, the police radio is installed. Dispatching was done out of the Chief's home, by his wife.

The Mansfield Desegregation Incident leads to the passage of Texas desegregation laws in 1957.

A page from a local news broadcast carries the story of the new Mansfield City Hall and fire station. This City Hall is built on the site of the original Man and Feild feed mill (corner of Broad Street and Main Street, now a restaurant).

Aerial View of Kow Bell Rodeo1958

Kow Bell arena is established. (Aerial view, circa 1958, from Museum archives.)

On September 8, the City Council votes to change the name of Water Street to Main Street. (Stock image.)

1960 Through 1970 

City population reaches 1,375.

1963

A new high school is built. Grades 7 and 8 remain in the old school building. President Kennedy is assassinated on November 22.

1967

MISD integrated.

Red Ball Gas Storage Tank1968

Two Mansfield firefighters lose their lives fighting the fire at the Red Ball gas station in Kennedale. Photo shows the remains of the 10,000 gallon gas storage tank that exploded.

1969

Neil Armstrong sets foot on the moon.

1974

As the Dallas-Fort Worth area grew, the population of Mansfield increased from 1,375 in 1961 to 5,000 by 1974, when employees working in the larger neighboring cities transformed the town from a rural community into a modern suburb. Civic leaders promoted Mansfield and allowed graduate students from the Institute of Urban Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington to renovate the downtown area in the early 1970s.

1980 Through 1990

City population reaches 8,000.

1990 Through 2000

City population reaches 15,615.