Marianne Martinez
The Texas Panhandle is a region in the US state of Texas, consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The Panhandle is a nearly 200-mile stretch of flat plains, bordering New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east. With a land area of 25,823.89 square miles, it is slightly larger than the US state of West Virginia and makes up nearly 10% of Texas's total area. The region is known for its ranching and farming industries, as well as its history as the southern extent of the buffalo-rich grasslands of the Great Plains. Driving across the Panhandle can be done in one day, and travellers on the legendary Route 66 will find ghost towns and the city of Amarillo, the largest urban area in the region.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Shape | Rectangular or square-shaped |
| Geography | Flat plains |
| Area | 25,823.89 sq mi (66,883.58 km2) |
| Population | 427,927 (2010 census) |
| Percentage of state's population | 1.7% |
| Counties | 26 |
| Main City | Amarillo |
| Main Economic Activities | Oil and gas production, trucking, tourism, ranching |
| Main Highway | Route 66 |
| Grasslands | Buffalo-rich grasslands of the Great Plains |
| History | Part of the buffalo-hunting Indian culture, grazing economy, farming economy |
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What You'll Learn
The Texas Panhandle is a region of the US state of Texas
The Texas Panhandle is a distinct region of the US state of Texas, consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. It is a square-shaped area of 25,823.89 sq mi (66,883.58 sq km) or nearly 10% of the state's total area, and is bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east. The Texas Panhandle is part of the Great Plains and is often considered to have more in common with the Midwest than the South or Southwest.
Historically, the Texas Panhandle was the southern extent of the buffalo-rich grasslands of the Great Plains, populated by the Kiowa and Comanche people. The Compromise of 1850 removed territory north of the 36°30′ north latitude line from Texas, setting the border between the Texas Panhandle and the New Mexico Territory. The availability of affordable automobiles and fuel in the 1920s led to the development of highways in the region, including the iconic Route 66.
Today, the Texas Panhandle's economy is based on oil and gas production, trucking, Route 66 tourism, and ranching. The region is home to the second-largest canyon in the United States, the Palo Duro Canyon State Park, often referred to as the "Grand Canyon of Texas". The Amarillo Metropolitan Area is the largest and fastest-growing urban area in the Texas Panhandle, with more than 72% of the region's residents living there.
Driving across the Texas Panhandle can be done in one day, and the region is known for its flat plains and straight roads. The Panhandle is a unique part of Texas, with its own pace and attitude, and its towns are often small and quiet, holding fewer than 500 residents.
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It is a nearly 200-mile stretch of flat plains
The Texas Panhandle is a nearly 200-mile (320-km) stretch of flat plains. It is a distinct region with its own pace and attitude, known for its grasslands and buffalo-hunting Indian culture. The Panhandle is the northernmost part of Texas, bordering New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east. It is slightly larger in size than the US state of West Virginia, covering 25,823.89 sq mi (66,883.58 km2) or nearly 10% of the state's total area. The Panhandle is part of the Great Plains and is often associated with the Midwest rather than the South or Southwest.
The Texas Panhandle was once the southern extent of the buffalo-rich grasslands of the Great Plains, inhabited by roving bands of Kiowa and Comanche people. Over time, a grazing economy introduced by Americans displaced much of the grassland, giving rise to a farming economy. Today, the Panhandle's economy is based on oil and gas production, trucking, Route 66 tourism, and ranching. The availability of affordable automobiles and fuel in the 1920s led to the development of highways in the region, including the iconic Route 66.
Route 66 towns in the Texas Panhandle are typically small, quiet, and lined up along a lonely, two-lane highway. Most hold fewer than 500 residents, in contrast to larger Texas cities like Dallas or Houston, which are not located near Route 66. Amarillo, the largest city in the Panhandle, is about one-third the size of Austin and serves as the region's cultural, social, and commercial centre.
Driving across the Texas Panhandle on Route 66 can be done in one day. Along the way, travellers can experience the flat plains and explore ghost towns like Shamrock, McLean, and Vega. Palo Duro Canyon State Park, known as the "Grand Canyon of Texas", is also located in the Panhandle and offers a stunning natural landscape to visit.
Overall, the Texas Panhandle is a vast and unique region with a rich history and culture that differs from the rest of Texas. Its flat plains stretch for nearly 200 miles, providing a straight shot for those travelling through, whether it be by car, truck, or train.
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The Panhandle is bordered by New Mexico and Oklahoma
The Texas Panhandle is a distinct region from the area commonly referred to as "North Texas", despite being the northernmost part of the state. The Panhandle is bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east. The border between the Texas Panhandle and New Mexico was set at the 103rd meridian west by the Compromise of 1850, which removed territory north of the line from Texas. The eastern border at the 100th meridian west was inherited from the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819, which defined the border between the United States and New Spain.
The Texas Panhandle shares a border with the Oklahoma Panhandle, which is land that Texas previously claimed. The Northwest corner of the Texas Panhandle is located 2.2 miles west of the tri-state marker of Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. This distance is due to surveying errors in 1859 by the surveyor John H. Clark, which resulted in a notch in the northeast corner of New Mexico. Despite these border intricacies, the Texas Panhandle is a sizeable region, covering 25,823.89 square miles (66,883.58 square kilometres) or nearly 10% of the state's total area.
The Panhandle is a square-shaped area that juts north from the rest of Texas, consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. It is characterised by pancake-flat plains and was once the southern extent of the buffalo-rich grasslands of the Great Plains. Today, the region's economy is based on oil and gas production, trucking, ranching, and Route 66 tourism. The Amarillo Metropolitan Area is the largest and fastest-growing urban area in the region, with more than 72% of the Panhandle's residents calling it home.
The Texas Panhandle is a unique and significant region in the state, with a rich history and distinct geographical features. Its borders with New Mexico and Oklahoma have been influenced by historical compromises and treaties, shaping the landscape of this vast and diverse area.
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Amarillo is the largest city in the Panhandle
The Texas Panhandle is a region in the US state of Texas, consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The Panhandle is a square-shaped area bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east. It covers a land area of 25,823.89 sq mi (66,883.58 km2), or nearly 10% of the state's total area. As of the 2020 census, the population of the Panhandle was 434,358 people, with 53.6% being non-Hispanic White, 35.2% Hispanic, 4.8% African American, and 2.8% Asian.
Amarillo is the largest city in the Texas Panhandle, with an estimated population of 200,393 as of April 1, 2020, comprising nearly half of the Panhandle's population. The Amarillo metropolitan area had an estimated population of 308,297 as of 2020. The city, originally named Oneida, is situated in the Llano Estacado region. Amarillo's growth as a cattle-marketing centre in the late 19th century can be attributed to the railroad and freight services provided by the Fort Worth and Denver Railway. Amarillo was once known as the "Helium Capital of the World" due to its productive helium fields. The city is also referred to as "The Yellow Rose of Texas", "Yellow City", and "Rotor City, USA", and it operates one of the country's largest meat-packing industries.
The meat packing industry is a major employer in Amarillo, processing about one-quarter of the United States' beef supply. The city's largest employer in 2005 was Tyson Foods, with 3,700 employees. Amarillo is also home to the headquarters of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association. In addition to its meat-packing industry, Amarillo has a strong agricultural presence, with 14 million acres of agricultural land surrounding the city. Corn, wheat, and cotton are the primary crops, but other crops in the area include sorghum, silage, hay, and soybeans.
Amarillo serves as the regional economic centre for the Texas Panhandle, as well as Eastern New Mexico and the Oklahoma Panhandle. The city has a temperate semi-arid climate and is situated near the Panhandle Field, a productive gas and oil area covering 200,000 acres in several counties. The Potter County portion of this field has the nation's largest natural gas reserve. Amarillo is also known for its cultural attractions, such as the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and the Amarillo Museum of Art.
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![Historic Pictoric Map : Oklahoma 1921, [National Highways map of Oklahoma and The Texas Panhandle : Showing The Ozark Trails Route], Antique Vintage Reproduction : 24in x 18in](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81J3T-VW0+L._AC_UL320_.jpg)
![Historic Pictoric Map : Oklahoma 1921, [National Highways map of Oklahoma and The Texas Panhandle : Showing The Ozark Trails Route], Antique Vintage Reproduction : 24in x 18in](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/819ni63TrIL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
The Panhandle is known for its grasslands and buffalo
The Texas Panhandle is a region in the US state of Texas, consisting of 26 counties in the northernmost part of the state. It is a nearly 200-mile stretch of flat plains, bordering New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east. The Panhandle is known for its grasslands and buffalo, which have played a significant role in the region's history and culture.
Historically, the Texas Panhandle was the southern extent of the buffalo-rich grasslands of the Great Plains. These grasslands, covering much of North America, provided a habitat for large mammals, including buffalo or American bison, which roamed the region in herds until they were hunted to near extinction in the 19th century. The grasslands also supported a buffalo-hunting Indian culture, with bands of Kiowa and Comanche people residing in the area.
The Panhandle's grasslands are characterised by a variety of soil types, including loamy, clayey, deep, and calcareous soils in the High Plains, and loamy and sandy soils in the Rolling Plains. The region's physiography, or physical geography, has contributed to the preservation of these grasslands. For example, the short grasses of the Llano Estacado have protected the soil from erosion, inhibiting the growth of trees and maintaining the grassland ecosystem.
In addition to its natural significance, the Panhandle's grasslands have also shaped its economic activities. The presence of buffalo and other wildlife attracted hunters and traders, leading to conflicts with Native American communities over hunting grounds. Following the decline of buffalo herds, the region transitioned to a grazing economy, with ranchers introducing sheep and cattle grazing. Over time, oil and gas production, trucking, and tourism have also become important economic sectors in the Panhandle, alongside ranching.
Today, the Panhandle continues to be known for its grasslands and its association with buffalo, even as urban areas like the Amarillo Metropolitan Area have become the fastest-growing parts of the region. Efforts to protect and conserve grasslands, as one of the least protected biomes, are ongoing, recognising their ecological importance and the role they have played in shaping the Texas Panhandle's unique character.
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Frequently asked questions
The Texas Panhandle covers 25,823.89 sq mi (66,883.58 sq km) of land, with an additional 62.75 sq mi (162.53 sq km) of water.
Driving through the Texas Panhandle can be done in one day.
The Texas Panhandle is a stretch of around 200 miles (320 km).
As of the 2010 census, the population of the Texas Panhandle was 427,927 residents, or 1.7% of the state's total population.
The Texas Panhandle consists of the northernmost 26 counties in the state.
