It's always a fun time looking up address or cities and seeing them from a satellite point of view. The location of this facility also gave rise to the nickname "Bomb City". Texas State Highway Loop 335 encircles the Metroplex while I-27 (434) and I-40 neatly intersect Amarillo into compass-like North, South, East, and West sections. ACT operates bus services that include fixed route transit and demand response paratransit which are designed for people with disabilities. [146] The Ussery-Roan Texas State Veterans Home opened in 2007. Amarillo is located near the middle of the Texas Panhandle. The Amarillo mountains are really a thing, and they're kind of confusing. The Amarillo Art Center [1], opened in 1972, is a building complex with the Amarillo Museum of Art (AMoA)[86] and concert hall located on the Washington Street Campus of Amarillo College. [32] Since its conception in the 1990s, Center City has sponsored public art projects and started block parties in the downtown area. Approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of Amarillo is the canyon system, Palo Duro Canyon. Eat all 72 ozs of steak, and it's FREE! [133] As of 2003, the city still has 16.2 miles (26.1km) of brick streets in some parts of the downtown area. Out of the 77.83%, 74.53% identify as Christian. Texas Tech University Health Science Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine in Amarillo, Harrington Cancer Center, and Texas Oncology-Amarillo have added significantly to the prestige of the medical community. [147], Drinking water is provided by the City of Amarillo and its Utilities Division. In addition to intermodal and general goods, a big portion of rail shipments involve grains and coal. In 1949, a deadly F4 tornado devastated much of Amarillo, shortly after nightfall on May 15, tearing through the south and east sides of the city, killing seven people, and injuring more than 80 others. The consortium consist of public, college, and school libraries located in the Texas Panhandle that share resources and cooperate with one another. The Amarillo mountains are part of the Arbuckle/Ouichita/Wichita mountains in Oklahoma. Amarillo's non-hazardous solid waste is collected and disposed of through burial in the city's landfill. Funfest was held in Thompson Memorial Park during Memorial Day weekend. 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. Two of the Amarillo area's higher education institutions have at least one museum in their campuses. That doesn't mean that Amarillo doesn't have mountains. Interstate 40, the city's major eastwest thoroughfare was completed entirely through Amarillo in November 1968 across the center of the city. Read on to learn why Amarillo is such a hidden gem. This of course means they're very, very old. The United States government, through the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, provided the funding to build the facility, while the Texas government will run it after construction is completed. Canyons Flushing Playlist. The World Championship Ranch Rodeo sponsored by the Working Ranch Cowboys Association is held every November in the Amarillo Civic Center. Basically underneath us, a long long way underneath us, there is a section of the Earth's mantle that we don't know much about; other than that when there are deep earthquakes the shock waves give off some really interesting readings. Pulitzer-prize-winning author Mark E. Neely, Jr. was born in Amarillo on November 10, 1944. Beef production remains one of the largest industries in the Panhandle, producing 88% of Texas' beef and 30% of the nation's beef. [60], According to Sperling's BestPlaces in 2021, 77.83% of the population identified as religious, primarily adhering to Christianity. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 37.0F (2.8C) in January to 78.3F (25.7C) in July. Quick Facts - Visit Amarillo It is the 14th-most populous city in Texas and the largest city in the Texas Panhandle. 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. The underground structures known as Amarillo Mountains are an extension of the Arbuckles of Oklahoma and the Ouachita of Arkansas and Oklahoma. 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. Amarillo is infamous for its unpredictable weather patterns, with massive temperature changes on a daily basis, raging winds, devastating hailstorms and "northers", long periods of drought, late frosts, spring tornadoes, dust-storms, and floods. [148] Increased rainfall in recent years[when?] On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Depending on the climatologist's threshold. [120] A federal lawsuit directed at the officials responsible for the sting operation was held in Amarillo. The highway terminates at the city's main westeast highway, Interstate 40, just north of the PotterRandall county line. [15], On June 19, 1888, Henry B. Sanborn, who is given credit as the "Father of Amarillo",[16] and his business partner Joseph F. Glidden began buying land to the east to move Amarillo after arguing that Berry's site was on low ground and would flood during rainstorms. He authored the first state school loan programs for returning World War II veterans and college students. Approximately 14million acres (57,000km2) of agricultural land surrounds the city with corn, wheat, and cotton as the primary crops. Thanks to the flat desert terrain, The Loop offers views of the entire metroplex, and at sunset, the experience is quite spectacular. [29], Most of Amarillo's population growth and commercial development are occurring in the southern and northwestern parts of the city. At least, that's what's going on according to these guys. In 2021, about 0.1% of Amarillo's residents identified with Judaism and 2.1% were Muslim. Cadillac Ranch - theroute-66.com to the north of the downtown area and then curving southwest to leave the city near the Veterans Hospital. [149] Generally, the city's daily water production averages between 4050million US gallons (150,000190,000m3).[150]. [97], As the seat of Potter County, the city is the location of the county's trial, civil, and criminal courts. [17] Heavy rains almost flooded Berry's part of the town in 1889, prompting more people to move to Sanborn's location. [91] Amarillo had a minor league indoor soccer team called the Amarillo Challengers that competed in the SISL and later the USISL.[92]. River Road, Highland Park, and Bushland High Schools, also play football, in addition other sports. In the 20052006 television season, Amarillo is the 131st largest television market in the United States designated by Nielsen Media Research.[115]. [116] In order to attend the trial in Amarillo, she temporarily relocated her show to the Amarillo Little Theatre for nearly a year. The underground structures known as Amarillo Mountains are an extension of the Arbuckles of Oklahoma and the Ouachita of Arkansas and Oklahoma. Goodnight continued the partnership for a time after Adair's death with Adair's widow, Cornelia Wadsworth Ritchie Adair, who was then the sole owner from 1887 until her death in 1921. Amarillo previously hosted an independent league baseball team, the Amarillo Thunderheads of the American Association, which played its home games in Potter County Memorial Stadium from 2011 to 2015. The downtown part of the city was initially designed to be a grid pattern, providing numerous alternate routes to any location. [126] Amarillo was the setting for many motion pictures, including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Switchback 1997, and The Plutonium Circus, the 1995 South by Southwest Film Festival winner for best documentary feature. 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. [90] In 2019, the Texas League's San Antonio Missions relocated to Amarillo as the Amarillo Sod Poodles and play at the $45.5 million Hodgetown. In the U.S. House, Amarillo is located in Texas's 13th congressional district, and is represented by Representative Ronny Jackson. Sunny weather prevails year-round, with nearly 3300 hours of bright sunshine annually. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. 14. The higher education institutions in the city are Amarillo College, a two-year community college with over 10,000 students; Wayland Baptist University, a private university based in Plainview, has a branch campus in Amarillo; Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Amarillo Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Amarillo School or Medicine and School of Health Professions and Texas Tech University at Amarillo, a branch campus of Texas Tech University that offers selected master's degree programs. She was a ranch historian and radio personality. [139][140], Amarillo is home to medical facilities including Baptist St. Anthony's and Northwest Texas Hospitals, the Don & Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, Bivins Memorial Nursing Home, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Texas Tech School of Pharmacy, and Texas Panhandle Mental Health and Mental Retardation. Teams in competition prepare a feast of breaded beef cutlets, mashed potatoes, baked beans, and sourdough biscuits and attempt to duplicate the food served on western cattle trails of the 1860s and 1870s. Some of the peaks are believed to be 10,000 feet (3,000 m) high. Natural gas is distributed by Atmos Energy. Amarillo is also mentioned in the song "Route 66". The underground structures known as Amarillo Mountains are an extension of the Arbuckles of Oklahoma and the Ouachita of Arkansas and Oklahoma. 7 Cool National + State Parks Near Amarillo, TX Collection and disposal of the city's trash and garbage are the responsibilities of the City of Amarillo's Solid Waste Collection and Solid Waste Disposal Departments. The park was established to commemorate the volcano that's "considered extinct but could erupt again" according to nps.gov . Tornadoes have occurred in and around the city in 1968, 1970, 1982, 1986, 2001, 2007, and most recently in 2013, 2015 and 2016. He became an international expert on national petroleum and natural gas production and conservation. Another part of Amarillo's sporting history was its roots in professional wrestling. It had plush red carpet, murals, and a pipe organ, 1,433 seats, and was considered the finest theater north of Fort Worth. I'm always down for a good brain challenge. Previously, the Texas Zephyr to Denver and Dallas, last served Amarillo in 1967. As we looked at them, we thought to ourselves, "how fun would this be to actually have to GUESS what these places are?". Amarillo's temperature typically varies from 25F to 91F. Some of the peaks are believed to be 10,000 feet (3,000m) high. Swinford retired in January 2011 and was succeeded by fellow Republican Four Price, who is the current representative. [45] Both the city and most of the county as a whole lie in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a. providing easier access to the new freeway. Art, education, industry, and community intertwine, creating a dynamic community known as the "Yellow Rose of the Texas Panhandle.". In 1951, the army air base was reactivated as Amarillo Air Force Base and expanded to accommodate a Strategic Air Command B-52 Stratofortress wing. Boston, MA warning-7 F. The Potter County portion had the nation's largest natural gas reserve. For a memorable experience, try the delicious 72 oz steak challenge at The Big Texan Steak Ranch and Microbrewery, a cultural landmark off of Route 66. Colloquially, though, most tend to dub the SW and SE avenues as W (west) and E (east), respectively. [151] Other utilities are primarily provided by private organizations. One example of the numbering difference regards the former U.S. Highway 66 routing west of downtown and into the San Jacinto neighborhood. Wonderland Amusement Park is located in northern Amarillo at Thompson Park, named for Ernest Thompson. There's a solid chance that if you're reading this, you're more than likely in the Texas panhandle. About 15.4% of families were below the poverty line, including 20% of those under age 18, 14.1% ages 18 64, and 12.2% of those age 65 or over. Review: Is Leonard Farms The Best Bang For Your Christmas Bucks? The mayor and each commissioner serves a two-year term. [145] Construction began in 2006 for a new Texas State Veterans Home in northwest Amarillo. [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 $426,000 in 1995 to gain new office spaces. [28] Like most of the Texas Panhandle, Amarillo has a temperate semi-arid climate (Kppen climate classification BSk). In contrast, the Amarillo Little Theater spotlights local plays and talent. So Far", "Amarillo experiencing most economic development in 30 years", "Amarillo Chamber of Commerce announces Supporting Small Business Initiative", "Amarillo tourism industry offers plan for future success", "Palo Duro Trail Run - 50 Miles, 50k, & 20k Races", "Bison herd to be moved to Caprock Canyons", "amarillomuseumofart.org - Registered at Namecheap.com", "Mark Lee to be named revived Dillas' GM today", "Missions, Sky Sox, Brewers set for relocation", "NWIT show board of directors the money", "Randall County - Justice of the Peace 4 - Home Page", Post Office Location AMARILLO MAIN OFC DELIVERY, "Robyn Followwill-Line, 'Grady Hazlewood', "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Potter County, TX", "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Randall County, TX", "Handbook of Texas Online HAMNER, LAURA VERNON", "Ranchers Say Oprah Created Lynch Mob Mentality", "T. Cullen Davis: The Best Justice Money Can Buy", "Five Ways to Follow the Coronavirus Outbreak for Any Metro Area in the U.S.", "Transportation key to Amarillo's past, future", "Street names can honor past, embrace future", "TxDOT lays out proposed Loop 335 project", "State Loop 335 - AARoads - Texas Highways", "Officials unveil book about city's hospice care", "Thomas E. Creek Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (House of Representatives September 13, 2004)", "Texas drought leaves lake too low for cities' use", "Recent rains add ~1.5 Billion gallons of water to Lake Meredith", "${Instrument_CompanyName} ${Instrument_Ric} Company Profile - Reuters.com", Bibliography of the history of Amarillo, Texas, Amarillo Public Library Photoarchive Collection, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Amarillo, National Register of Historic Places Sites, cities with populations exceeding 100,000, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amarillo,_Texas&oldid=1138600570, Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from August 2022, Short description is different from Wikidata, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Vague or ambiguous time from September 2022, Articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Source: NOAA (sun, relative humidity, and dew point 19611990), This page was last edited on 10 February 2023, at 15:01. [84] The Amarillo Public Library's main branch is located in downtown and operates four neighborhood branches. 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. Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 30 miles southeast of the city, offers hiking, biking, horseback riding, and zip-lining. 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. Go ahead and try to see how many you can guess correctly! 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. The median income for a household in the city was $52,941, and the median income for a family was $64,632. Furthermore, another triple-level interchange will be built to accommodate Soncy Road, Helium Road, I-27 and the new loop. [18] The plant was the sole producer of commercial helium in the world for a number of years. [62][63], Amarillo is considered the regional economic center for the Texas Panhandle,[64][65] as well as Eastern New Mexico and the Oklahoma Panhandle. The streets in Amarillo's downtown area conform to a grid pattern. In addition to some of the more established restaurants, Amarillo is known for its "hidden gems." Holy Smoke! Texas Has Actual Volcanoes. Here's Where to See Ten of Them. Amarillo, TX 10-Day Weather Forecast | Weather Underground He is the father of the farm-to-market road program in Texas. Cable television is primarily provided by Suddenlink Communications. The Thomas E. Creek Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center is located east of Harrington Regional Medical Center. Rugged 'mountains' taller than Everest lurk deep inside Earth - Science Most call it 'West Sixth Street' when its actually SW Sixth Avenue. Two airports serve the region. Amarillo is an affordable, vibrant, and growing community. The locals cheer, "Fangs Up!". The range was discovered by pioneer oilmen. The canyon is a prominent mountain biking destination and hosts the annual 50-mile Palo Duro Canyon Trail Run. Amarillo's nightlife combines eateries, music venues, jazz bars, and dance clubs. The closest Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagan meeting officially advertised is located a 5-hour plus drive in Denton, TX despite there being a UU congregation in Amarillo it does not host a CUUPs chapater. A furnished studio apartment ranges from $650 to $750. The first is Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA), which lies 10 miles northeast of downtown. Amarillo is simple to navigate. Also located in Amarillo, the 113-year-old West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) is home to an international faculty and over 8,000 students. [20], Following the lead of the Fort Worth and Denver City Railroad, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad established services to and from Amarillo. 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. [129], Buffalo Airport is a public-use general aviation airport located in Randall County, 9 nautical miles (10mi; 17km) south of Amarillo's central business district. The city became a grain elevator, milling, and feed-manufacturing center after an increase in production of wheat and small grains during the early 1900s. [143] The BSA Hospice & Life Enrichment Center provides important services to the Amarillo area. Through the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas, the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce announced a new initiative to help local businesses rebound from the pandemic. 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. The range was discovered by pioneer oilmen. Siemens Government Technologies also operates in Amarillo, providing technological solutions for infrastructure, energy, and healthcare. The tornado devastated the south and east sides of the city, killing 7 people, and injuring more than 80 others. His incentives gradually won over people, who moved their businesses to Polk Street in the new commercial district. Tradewind is three miles southeast of the city's center. The roads and highways also name many areas or neighborhoods, such as "Route 66" or "The Loop.". Nate Blakeslee. [11], The settlement originally was called Oneida; it later changed its name to Amarillo, which probably derived from yellow wildflowers that were plentiful during the spring and summer or the nearby Amarillo Lake and Amarillo Creek, named in turn for the yellow soil along their banks and shores (Amarillo is the Spanish word for the color yellow). While the streets running northsouth honor past presidents and are designated 'streets', eastwest streets are numbered and are designated 'avenues'. The AISD partners with WTAMU and nearby Amarillo College to provide high-school vocational training. 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. Berry and Colorado City, Texas, merchants wanted to make their new town site the region's main trading center. [73] Amazon, Asset Protection Unit, and Texas Tech University Vet School were named some major organizations contributing to the city and metropolitan area's economic growth. If you're looking for an Amarillo home, contact The RealFX Group at (512) 956-7390 to get in touch with an experienced local real estate agent and discover your Amarillo dream home today. In the Texas Legislature, the city is in the 31st District in the Texas Senate, represented by Republican Kel Seliger, a former Amarillo mayor. Other notable radio stations around the area include the college stations KACV-FM 89.9 (Amarillo College), Active Rock KZRK-FM (107.9), and KWTS-FM 91.1 (West Texas A&M University) in nearby Canyon. The estimated population of Amarillo was 200,393 as of April 1, 2020. Due to the lack of developed drainage, much of the rainfall either evaporates, infiltrates into the ground, or accumulates in playa lakes. And don't forget the 806's "Southwest So What" festival each March a counter to Austin's SXSW Music and Film festival. The Globe-News Center was built in hope by city officials and others that it will revitalize the downtown area. Amarillo's water supply used to come from both from Lake Meredith and the Ogallala Aquifer. Driving Distance from Amarillo 2 hours, 25 minutes. During the trial, Winfrey hired Dallas-based jury consultant Phil McGraw to aid her attorneys on selecting and analyzing the members of the jury. [101], The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Amarillo District Parole Office in the city. Interstate 27 highway connecting Lubbock to Amarillo was built mostly during the 1980s.[11]. The facility opened in 1940 and was renamed in 2005, honoring the 18-year-old Amarillo Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. This family-owned eatery, found in a 20' x 20' downtown building, serves food-truck-inspired cuisine. [11], By the late 1890s, Amarillo had emerged as one of the world's busiest cattle-shipping points, and its population grew significantly. [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 city was the home of the Double-A Amarillo Gold Sox Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League off and on from 1939 to 1982. This Awesome Playground Was Built In 5 Days, By Volunteers. The median homeowner costs with a mortgage were $1,272 and without a mortgage $479. The airport covers 595 acres (241ha) and has two asphalt-paved runways and one helipad. After the end of the war, both of the facilities were closed. Weather Radar | Weather Underground So we started grabbing a bunch of these satellite pictures of cities and towns around Amarillo. The cost of eating out is comparable to most Texas cities. The secret, not so secret any more, tunnels of Amarillo TX - AR-15 [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. Weather Radar | Weather 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. And in Amarillo, there is plenty of football to go around. Amarillo was hit by the Dust Bowl and entered an economic depression. Visit these 10 Texas Texas towns with breathtaking scenery. [99][100], The Texas Seventh Court of Appeals is located in Amarillo. Living in Amarillo, Texas: 10 Reasons to Move to Amarillo - RealFX Unlike in the Rio Grande Valley or eastern portions of Texas, days where the low does not fall below 70F or 21.1C are relatively rare, due to the aridity and elevation.