About 100 miles (160km) southeast of Amarillo in Briscoe County is Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway, the state park is the home of the official Texas State Bison Herd, who were captured and taken care of by cattle rancher Charles Goodnight. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. It will accommodate six lanes at the mainlane bridge along with a complete stack interchange with direct connectors to and from I-27. The range was discovered by pioneer oilmen. He became an international expert on national petroleum and natural gas production and conservation. These storms can be severe: Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle are situated in the western portion of "Tornado Alley" and are prone to severe weather events, occurring primarily between April and July. The Baptist St. Anthony's Health Care System supports the growing need for all medical professionals. He joined the Texas Railroad Commission by appointment in 1933 and was elected to full terms in 1934, 1940, 1946, 1952, and 1958. [132] (The last president so honored was Grover Cleveland; though the city has expanded eastward, the pattern was not continued.) Amarillo operates one of the largest meat-packing areas in the United States. An area business would purchase a horse statue and a local artist paints on it.[85]. . Welcome to the City of Amarillo's Interactive Web Maps. In Amarillo, the southern plains meet the desert. [114] The American Quarter Horse Association publishes two monthly publications, The American Quarter Horse Journal and The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal, HISPANIC Newspaper El Mensajero owned by Dr. Ramon Godoy started printing in 1989. Read more about this topic: Amarillo, Texas, The totality of our so-called knowledge or beliefs, from the most casual matters of geography and history to the profoundest laws of atomic physics or even of pure mathematics and logic, is a man-made fabric which impinges on experience only along the edges. This is above the national average. Several country songs have touted the inexplicable draw of Amarillo. Freeways are easily accessible. Popular . The Amarillo Independent School District was next with 3,659 employees followed by Pantex, Baptist St. Anthony's Health Care System, City of Amarillo, Northwest Texas Healthcare System, Amarillo College, Wal-mart, and United Supermarkets. For a traditional dance club, 212 Club caters to dancers of all ages. Previously, the Texas Zephyr to Denver and Dallas, last served Amarillo in 1967. Former residents Evander "Ziggy" Hood and Montrel Meander are in the National Football League. [30] Similar to many towns in the Texas Panhandle, the city's downtown has suffered economic deterioration throughout the years. Due to the lack of developed drainage, much of the rainfall either evaporates, infiltrates into the ground, or accumulates in playa lakes. Interstate 40, the city's major eastwest thoroughfare was completed entirely through Amarillo in November 1968 across the center of the city. This 3-bedroom + loft, 3-bathroom cabin sleeps up to 9 guests and features nice amenities to relax in the trees or with seasonal mountain views in winter. [46] Amarillo is characterized by a winter season featuring large diurnal temperature variation, great day-to-day variability, possible sudden and/or severe Arctic air outbreaks (in Texas, called "blue northers"), possible blizzards and hot summers with generally low humidity. Driving Distance from Amarillo 2 hours, 25 minutes. That part of Amarillo within Randall County is represented by Swinford's Republican colleague, John T. Smithee, who has served in the 86th District since 1985. The Lone Star Football League team Amarillo Venom and the NAHL Jr. A hockey team, the Amarillo Bulls both play in the Amarillo Civic Center. In 1913, Amarillo became the first Texas city and the fifth in United States to use the council-manager form of municipal government, with all governmental powers resting in a legislative body, called a council (before 2014, it was called a commission). [121][122], On May 5, 2020, Amarillo ranked 13th in the nation for Highest Average Daily Growth Rate of COVID-19 cases by the New York Times.[123]. May have tunnels that go to the Pantex plant but I've never been out there as it is under security and monitored by camera. Electric power service is distributed by Xcel Energy, through its wholly owned subsidiary, the Amarillo-based Southwestern Public Service Company. [77], From 1932 to 1977, the Paramount Theater, originally built for $250,000, flourished in Amarillo. [24] The following decade, Amarillo's city limits encompassed 60 square miles (155km2) in Potter and Randall Counties. Funfest was held in Thompson Memorial Park during Memorial Day weekend. The Amarillo area is an outdoor playground. Availability of the railroad and freight service after the county seat election made the town a fast-growing cattle-marketing center. I've read articles, journals, wikis, you name ittrying to wrap my head around this. The city played a part in the plot of the episode, as it was a location used by series protagonist Jimmy McGill to solicit clients.[127]. The park was established to commemorate the volcano that's "considered extinct but could erupt again" according to nps.gov . You can still see evidence of the geologic event in the cavern walls . Natural gas is distributed by Atmos Energy. Amarillo's largest parks are Medical Park, Thompson Memorial Park, and Memorial Park, near Amarillo College's Washington Street Campus. And, the Public House is a modern American restaurant specializing in fusion comfort food, cocktails, wine & craft beer. Amarillo's primary and secondary education is handled by five different school districts:[111][112], From 1922 to 1938, the author Laura Vernon Hamner, who wrote a novelized biography of Charles Goodnight, served as the Potter County school superintendent. They are some thousands of feet underground. The Amarillo mountains are really a thing, and they're kind of confusing. [128] The airport was named after NASA astronaut Rick Husband, an Amarillo native and commander of the final flight of Space Shuttle Columbia, STS-107, which disintegrated on re-entry, killing Husband and his crewmates. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. A furnished studio apartment ranges from $650 to $750. He is the father of the farm-to-market road program in Texas. Known as the United States' third windiest city, the constant breeze makes even the hottest days bearable and contributes to Amarillo's suitability for wind farm development. [143] The BSA Hospice & Life Enrichment Center provides important services to the Amarillo area. By . And in Amarillo, there is plenty of football to go around. In the U.S. House, Amarillo is located in Texas's 13th congressional district, and is represented by Representative Ronny Jackson. was formed when an underground river collapsed. 15-Day Forecast [Updated: Feb 28 2023 / 03:22 PM CST ] Day. The Randall County Amarillo Annex building is located within the city limits and houses its Sheriff's Office and Justice of the Peace Court, Precinct 4. [59] Of the households, 60.8% lived in owner-occupied housing units and the median value of an owner-occupied housing unit was $140,030. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo is the largest of more than a dozen area rodeos that fuel a thriving rodeo industry. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. Walmart provides both part-time and full-time jobs for the area. Much of Amarillo's precipitation falls during heavy convective showers and thunderstorms during the late spring and summer months. U.S. Another part of Amarillo's sporting history was its roots in professional wrestling. Think about ice ages, volcanic eruptions, earthquakesand not to mention the Texas panhandle wind that I'm pretty sure could blow a mountain over on the right day. From awe-inspiring canyons to soaring mountains, Texas truly has it all. Ours are just better at playing hide and seek, I guess. They lie completely underground and are covered by. 14. In nearby Clarendon and Canyon, Texas, lived the Western artist Harold Dow Bugbee, whose early works were patronized by Ernest Thompson. The role of the commission is to pass ordinances and resolutions, adopt regulations, and appoint city officials, including the city manager. In contrast, the Amarillo Little Theater spotlights local plays and talent. Key word."yet.". A helipad is available. The consortium consist of public, college, and school libraries located in the Texas Panhandle that share resources and cooperate with one another. Married-couple families had a median income of $80,819, and non-family households had a median income of $31,663. What to Know Before Moving to Midland, Texas, What to Know Before Moving to Houston, Texas, Restaurants, Breweries, and Bars in Amarillo, Cost of Living in Amarillo, Texas - PayScale.com, Cost of Living Calculator Amarillo, Texas - Salary.com, Amarillo, Texas Cost of Living - AreaVibes.com, Amarillo 10-day Weather Forecast - Weather.com, Average Weather in Amarillo - WeatherSpark.com, List of Major Weather Events near Amarillo - Weather.gov, Amarillo Commuting Times - BestPlaces.net, Amarillo Drive Time Map - ViaMichelin.com, Amarillo Road Construction News - Amarillo.gov, Amarillo Independent School District (AISD), TEXAS REAL ESTATE COMMISSION CONSUMER PROTECTION NOTICE, TEXAS REAL ESTATE COMMISSION INFORMATION ABOUT BROKERAGE SERVICES, Professional and educational opportunities, Jeans and boots are the standard dress code, Minimal traffic provides easy access to major freeways. Used to be a military base close to where the airport is was told that the actual base goes many levels underground. The racetrack is associated with the United States Racing Association (USRA), and events run from April through September. Current Time: 07:00:29 PM CST 19 Weather Alerts. It's a deceptive altitude increase when coming from Oklahoma City. [78] Besides these works, one can find close to the city the final earthwork of Robert Smithson (and another commission by Marsh), Amarillo Ramp. The Amarillo Cadillac Ranch (also known as the Caddy Ranch ), is a public art work, created in 1974 exhibited in open ranchland which is used for farming and breeding cattle. [39] At the time, the festival included Amarillo's only 42.2-kilometre (26.2mi) foot race, the Funfest Marathon. The city commission holds its regular meetings on Tuesday of each week. St James's, England, United Kingdom 48 F Cloudy. The Pioneer Amphitheater, located in nearby Palo Duro Canyon, is the setting for the outdoor musical drama Texas, which plays nightly during the summer. County, state, and federal representation, Exhibit at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum at Canyon. Take a trip into the past with these spectacular vintage postcards, you'll be inspired to take a hike! The data shown is for information purposes only and except where noted, all of the data or features shown or depicted on this map are not to be construed or interpreted as accurate and/or reliable; the City of Amarillo assumes no liability or responsibility for any . Amarillo's non-hazardous solid waste is collected and disposed of through burial in the city's landfill. 1908), Yet America is a poem in our eyes; its ample geography dazzles the imagination, and it will not wait long for metres.Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882), Is not their climate foggy, raw, and dull,On whom, as in despite, the sun looks pale,Killing their fruit with frowns?William Shakespeare (15641616). Amarillo is located near the middle of the Texas Panhandle and is part of the Llano Estacado or Staked Plains region which has a surface that is relatively flat and has little drainage in the soil. The cost of living in Amarillo, including apartment rentals, is slightly less than its nearest Texas city, Dallas. [11], The United States government bought the Cliffside Gas Field with high helium content in 1927 and the Federal Bureau of Mines began operating the Amarillo Helium plant two years later. If so, you know that the panhandle of the Lone Star State isn't know for snow capped peaks. Wonderland Amusement Park. The chief city of the Texas Panhandle, Amarillo is located on a sandy playa, or dry lake bed, and the tawny colour of its soil lends the city its name (Spanish: Yellow). The tornado touched down southwest of Amarillo, near the town of Hereford, then tracked its way northward, on a collision course with Amarillo. The tornado, shortly after 8 pm, ripped through Amarillo's most densely populated areas, demolishing almost half of the city, causing catastrophic damage and loss of life. Most call it 'West Sixth Street' when its actually SW Sixth Avenue. I immediately thought of cowboys and cattle trails as I drove closer. The Amarillo metropolitan area is the 180th-largest in the United States with a population of 236,113 in four counties: Armstrong, Carson, Potter, and Randall. Now located on Interstate 40, The Big Texan Steak Ranch is famous by offering visitors a free 72ounce (2kg) beef steak if it (and its accompanying dinner) is eaten in under an hour. Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 30 miles southeast of the city, offers hiking, biking, horseback riding, and zip-lining. This family-owned eatery, found in a 20' x 20' downtown building, serves food-truck-inspired cuisine. One of the telling trends in Amarillo is the growing number of thrift shops inexpensive stores elevated by hipsters to trendy boutique status. [134], Amarillo is served by two interstate highways: Interstate 27 and Interstate 40. [91] Amarillo had a minor league indoor soccer team called the Amarillo Challengers that competed in the SISL and later the USISL.[92]. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010. Winter in the Panhandle is harsh. The streets in Amarillo's downtown area conform to a grid pattern. The strongest tornado to ever hit Amarillo was a deadly F4 tornado that struck the city in the night time hours of May 15, 1949. It is in the 87th District in the Texas House of Representatives, having been represented by Republican David A. Swinford since 1991. [34] Completed in the same year as the FirstBank Southwest Tower, the Amarillo National Bank Plaza One building houses the headquarters of Amarillo National Bank, the city's largest financial institution. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 37.0F (2.8C) in January to 78.3F (25.7C) in July. The city operates Amarillo City Transit (ACT) for localized bus transportation. [35][36] The Santa Fe Building, completed in 1930, was the regional offices of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, but was vacant for several years until Potter County bought the building for $426,000 in 1995 to gain new office spaces. High 64F.. is located in this small town near Amarillo, it is well-deserving of a spot on our list. Another three districts, Canyon Independent School District (CISD) to the south, Highland Park (HISD), and River Road Independent School District (RISD) immediately adjacent to Porter County, contribute additional educational options to the area. On the northern side of Amarillo, the loop will be completely reconstructed to an Interstate-Grade freeway with complete grade separations and will be expanded to four lanes. [84] The Amarillo Public Library's main branch is located in downtown and operates four neighborhood branches. Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Registered Historic Places in Potter County, Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport, List of notable people from Amarillo, Texas, U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Amarillo, Texas, "2000 Census: Population of Texas Cities", "Census profile: Amarillo, TX Metro Area", "History Makers of the High Plains: H.B. [10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 90.3 square miles (234km2), with 89.9sqmi (233km2) of it land and 0.4sqmi (1.0km2) of it (0.50%) covered by water. Another Amarillo industry and a substantial employer is the Pantex Plant, a newly built nuclear weapons manufacturing and assembly plant. [101], The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Amarillo District Parole Office in the city. [119] The movie Bomb City is based on the events surrounding Deneke's murder. While the fossil fuel industry, including oil, gas, and helium, remains supportive of the area, the availability of jobs related to renewable energy increases. There is also an American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame exhibited in the museum. River Road, Highland Park, and Bushland High Schools, also play football, in addition other sports. Amarillo | graveyardsandghosttowns Tag Archives: Amarillo Abandoned America, Bicycling, Escapism, Ghost Towns, Graveyards, Road Trips Plague Travels Under Open Skies October 13, 2020 Leave a comment In early 2020, our world was turned upside down with the news of a global pandemic. Best Thing On The Internet Today? Colloquially, though, most tend to dub the SW and SE avenues as W (west) and E (east), respectively. The Amarillo Film Commission is a division of the Amarillo Convention and Visitor Council that was created to provide film crews with locations and other assistance when filming in Amarillo. Two of the Amarillo area's higher education institutions have at least one museum in their campuses. Discovery of natural gas in 1918 and oil three years later brought oil and gas companies to the Amarillo area. In 2002, the city spent $200,000 to restore one block of brick street on Ninth Avenue between Polk and Tyler streets. While the mayor serves as a presiding officer of the commission, the city manager is the administrative head of the municipal government and is responsible for the administration of all departments. Amarillo is an affordable, vibrant, and growing community. Amarillo's Mountains Are Underground Mountains Leave it to a place known for its half-buried Cadillac collection to have mountains that don't make much sense. Amarillo's current name, thought to have been inspired by the yellow wildflowers near Amarillo Lake, means "yellow" in Spanish. The Amarillo area is an outdoor playground. Route 66 Motor Speedway, a 3/8 mile clay, high-bank oval track, sits east of the city. The Potter County portion had the nation's largest natural gas reserve. Golfing is a staple in Amarillo, with 12 public and municipal golf courses located within 20 minutes. With a little bit of patience, one can find Tex-Mex restaurants, Asian stir-fry, and delicious burgers, all housed in nondescript locations. Sip fresh ground coffee at 806, and you will forget all about chain store coffee. [70][71] The AEDC is largely responsible for bringing Bell Helicopter Textron's development of the V-22 Osprey hybrid aircraft and the future site of Marine One assembly in Amarillo. [131] The Union Pacific Railroad also sends substantial shipments to or through Amarillo. The Amarillo City Transit bus is scheduled Monday through Saturday, 6:20 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Amarillo City Transit (ACT) closes for major holidays. The age distribution of the city in 2020 was as follows: 7.6% of the population was under the age of 5, 26.8% was under the age of 18, 73.2% 18 and older, 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. Amarillo's nightlife combines eateries, music venues, jazz bars, and dance clubs. The Amarillo Mountains are underground. Amarillo's well-regarded orchestra makes these old walls sing with Symphony Underground events, and we found a display of Mondrian-ish color-block paintings that made an interesting contrast with the 1949 Art Deco building's curved lines. In the Texas Legislature, the city is in the 31st District in the Texas Senate, represented by Republican Kel Seliger, a former Amarillo mayor. In May 1982, a strong F3 tornado struck Amarillo's western suburbs, devastating parts of Dawn, and Bushland. At least, that's what's going on according to these guys. My Location: Amarillo, TX. As we looked at them, we thought to ourselves, "how fun would this be to actually have to GUESS what these places are?". Like most of the Texas Panhandle, Amarillo has a temperate semi-arid climate (Kppen climate classification BSk). The mayor and each commissioner serves a two-year term. A popular Americana bar, Leftwoods is a favorite spot for those 21 and older. In addition to intermodal and general goods, a big portion of rail shipments involve grains and coal. In 2020, there were 78,706 occupied households, out of which 26,945 were married couples living together, 4,327 had a female householder with no spouse present, and 1,858 were male householder, no spouse present. Amarillo and the surrounding counties are known for agriculture, medicine, and energy. [76] Palo Duro has a distinct hoodoo that resembles a lighthouse. The median age was 34.1 years. Weather Underground provides local & long-range weather forecasts, weatherreports, maps & tropical weather conditions for the Amarillo area. The depth from land surface to the base of the aquifer can range from the land surface to as much as 1000 feet below surface. One of the most unusual restaurants comes highly recommended Yellow City Street Food. Early residents originally pronounced the city's name more similar to the Spanish pronunciation /mrijo/ ah-m-REE-yoh, which was later displaced by the current pronunciation. North of downtown the highway becomes US 87 & 287 and continues northward to Dumas, Texas.[64]. Amarillo is simple to navigate. Reminder That Spring And Summer Are Close From Community Market, City Of Amarillo Went Live With Survey; Not Sending You Spam. The quarries enable access to the Amarillo Mountains, an underground mountain range that extends to the Arbuckles of Oklahoma. [7] A portion of the city extends into Randall County. Visit The Amarillo Civic Center for indoor stage productions home to the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra and the Lone Star Ballet. Amarillo's temperature typically varies from 25F to 91F. The English Field Air & Space Museum, which had been operated by the Texas Aviation Historical Society featuring aircraft and space exhibits, in 2007 closed its doors and lost many of its aircraft. Considered one of the United States' top cities to start a business, this Texas jewel offers outdoor activities, various education options, and a range of professional opportunities in a Lone Star suburban setting. [19] The U.S. National Helium Reserve is stored in the Bush Dome Reservoir at the Cliffside facility. [142] BSA was a result of a merger between the Texas Panhandle's first hospital, St Anthony's, with High Plains Baptist Hospital in 1996. The Amarillo Mountains are underground. [81] The nonprofit community theater group, Amarillo Little Theatre, has its season run from September to May. Furthermore, another triple-level interchange will be built to accommodate Soncy Road, Helium Road, I-27 and the new loop. Amarillo is also mentioned in the song "Route 66". The city encompasses 99.48 sqm in both, Potter and Randall Counties. Originally named "Oneida," Businessman J.I. So we started grabbing a bunch of these satellite pictures of cities and towns around Amarillo. It does not share similar weather characteristics with south and east Texas. These signs, bearing messages such as "Road does not end" or displaying a random picture, are scattered throughout the city of Amarillo. Previously, U.S. Highway 66 was the major eastwest highway through the city, generally following Amarillo Blvd. Notable Amarilloans include actress Ann Doran (19112000), old-style journalist Bascom N. Timmons, the Dory Funk wrestling family, former UFC Champions Heath Herring and Evan Tanner, astronaut Rick Husband, professional golfer Ryan Palmer, rockabilly pioneer Buddy Knox, actress Carolyn Jones, actress and dancer Cyd Charisse, actor and poet Harry Northup, State Senator Max Sherman, Republican state chairman Tom Mechler, politicians Beau Boulter and John Marvin Jones, businessman T. Boone Pickens, Jr., singer-songwriter J. D. Souther, gambler Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston, soldier and interior decorator Clyde Kenneth Harris, and music artist and composer Terry Stafford ("Amarillo by Morning"; "Suspicion"). The City of Amarillo also operates recycling collection centers, one located near the downtown area and four at fire stations in the city. [87] Outside of the building is a steel structure called the Helium Monument which has time capsules and designates Amarillo the "Helium Capital of the World. It isn't too far fetched to think that given enough time, mountain ranges could get covered up thanks to a variety of reasons. Thanks to the flat desert terrain, The Loop offers views of the entire metroplex, and at sunset, the experience is quite spectacular. They also happen to be shared with our neighbors to the east. [8] The Amarillo-Pampa-Borger combined statistical area had an estimated population of 308,297 as of 2020. South of the railyard (including the downtown-city center area), numbers are officially "SW" (southwest) west of Polk, and "SE" (southeast) east of Polk. Address: 1600 South Polk Street, Amarillo, Texas. The cost of eating out is comparable to most Texas cities. The Pantex Plant was reopened in 1950 and produced nuclear weapons throughout the Cold War.[11]. Amarillo has been mentioned in popular music such as George Strait's "Amarillo by Morning" by Paul Fraser and Terry Stafford (Stafford did his original version before Strait did his own cover), Mark Chesnutt's Blame It on Texas, Nat King Cole's "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66", Bob Dylan's "Brownsville Girl" (Amarillo was referred to as the "land of the living dead"), Rob Zombie's "Two Lane Blacktop", "Amarillo Sky" by Jason Aldean, "A Quick Death In Texas" by Clutch, Marty Robbin's "Running Gun", and the song "Is This the Way to Amarillo" written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, recorded famously by Yorkshireman Tony Christie and Sedaka, and revived in the UK by comedian Peter Kay through performances in the comedy series Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights and in a charity performance for Comic Relief.