Randall County

County Offices
501 16th Street
Canyon 806-468-5500
https://www.randallcounty.com/

Chamber of Commerce
1518 5th Avenue
Canyon 806-655-7815
https://www.canyonchamber.org/

With a south-central location in the Texas Panhandle, rural Randall County covers 933 square miles of largely flat land with rich loam soils broken by scenic Palo Duro Canyon, Buffalo Lake, and Bivins Lake. The primary sources of agricultural revenue in Randall County include grain sorghum, beef cattle, wheat, silage, cotton, dairies, and hay. At the same time, the region’s unique geological features have made tourism a major industry, along with agribusiness and education.

Nearly 783 miles of roads ensure efficient commutes within and beyond the county, including Interstate 27, U.S. Highways 60 and 87, and Texas State Highway 217 and Loop 335. The city of Canyon serves as the county seat but Randall County also claims a portion of the city of Amarillo. In fact, Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport stretches across the two counties. Three small villages have grown up around Palo Duro Canyon State Park, offering secluded small communities that excel in scenic splendor. Larger and more developed than Palisades and Timbercreek Canyon, Lake Tanglewood operates as a private club and gated community.

Services

Residents of Randall County have easy access to first-class educational opportunities from preschool through postgraduate studies. Local school districts are known for graduation rates as high as 99 percent, advanced placement and dual-credit opportunities, and national recognition like the Bronze Medal in U.S. News and World Report rankings. Higher education is available locally at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU), where accolades like “Best of the West” in Princeton Review are commonplace. Along with global leadership in wind energy research, WTAMU is expanding its leading role in agriculture and veterinary sciences with new centers of excellence. The most recent additions include the VERO Center (Veterinary Education, Research, and Outreach), WTAMU Agricultural Sciences Complex, and the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. Amarillo adds a wealth of options for postgraduate studies from associate through professional degrees. Serving an enrollment of 10,000, Amarillo College offers a first-class two-year institution that constantly rises to meet the future with investments in innovation like the new STEM Research Center and greenhouse. With its architecturally stunning flagship campus in Lubbock, Texas Tech University chose the city of Amarillo for the location of its Health Sciences Center, including the Jerry H. Lodge School of Pharmacy along with schools for medicine, nursing, health professions, and graduate school for biomedical sciences. The private institution of Wayland Baptist University also maintains an Amarillo campus.

The quality of healthcare facilities and resources are as exceptional as the educational advantages in Randall County, beginning with the dedicated professionals and staff of Family Medicine Centers of Canyon and the urgent care clinic where walk-ins are welcome 24 hours a day. Should the need for specialized or advance care arise, Amarillo is home to two leading healthcare systems. Known for heart, emergency, stroke, and children’s care, Northwest Texas Healthcare provides the lead trauma center for the top 26 Panhandle counties. Northwest Texas Hospital is designated as a tertiary care academic institution for leading-edge diagnosis and treatment, including highly specialized cardiac care at the Heart Hospital at Northwest. BSA Health System, including Baptist St. Anthony’s Hospital and Harrington Cancer Center, is consistently recognized as having one of the nation’s Top 100 Hospitals for clinical excellence and exemplary customer service. With a medical staff of more than 450 physicians and 3,400 employees, BSA Health provides comprehensive services from 24-hour emergency care to nuclear medicine, rehabilitation, rheumatology, robotics, a stroke center, and women’s services. Long-term acute care is the specialty of Vibra Hospital of Amarillo, dedicated to patients with critical or chronic illnesses. Another vital regional healthcare resource is the Thomas E. Creek Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the flagship hospital for the Amarillo VA Health System.

Lifestyle

Quality of life is more than a word in Randall County, where the stunning natural beauty of chiseled canyon walls and sparkling lakes combines with outstanding recreational, cultural, and entertainment opportunities. More than 30 miles of trails are available for deep exploration at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, designated as a top Texas mountain bike destination but equally popular with hikers, campers, and horseback riders. The pinnacle of natural beauty and wildlife diversity in West Texas is also on display at Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, the ideal setting for birding, hiking, camping, nature study, photography, and picnicking. The city of Canyon municipal park system encompasses more than 300 acres of green space and sports facilities including tournament-quality venues for soccer, baseball, softball, golf—and now the elaborate Canyon Aqua Park for water thrills under the sun. Amarillo’s expansive Thompson Memorial Park beckons families to a world of adventure including regional attractions like the Amarillo Zoo and Wonderland Amusement Park. Science becomes relevant and fun at the Don Harrington Discovery Center and Space Theater, filled with engaging interactive exhibits and programs for all ages. Spectator sports thrills range from football, baseball, soccer, and hockey teams in Amarillo to a full slate of NCAA Division II competition at West Texas A&M University in Canyon.

Those looking for cultural enrichment will find a world of renowned and hidden jewels in and near Randall County. With three million artifacts and 55,000 annual visitors, the Panhandle-Plains Historic Museum on the campus of West Texas A&M University is a cultural treasure trove of Texas history. One of the latest additions is “Red Landscape,” a painting of Palo Duro Canyon created by renowned artist Georgia O’Keeffe when she was a young instructor at the university. Metropolitan Amarillo is a mecca of exceptional museums, including Texas Air & Space Museum, Amarillo Museum of Art on the Amarillo College campus, American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian, and Amarillo Railroad Museum. For live-stage performances and concerts, the beautiful Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts in Amarillo hosts a star-studded lineup and serves as the permanent home for Amarillo Opera, Amarillo Symphony, and Lone Star Ballet. The beloved Amarillo Little Theatre was founded in 1927 and is distinguished as one of the oldest community theater groups in the nation. Palo Duro Canyon hosts one of the region’s most famous and long-standing cultural attractions at the Pioneer Amphitheater, where the outdoor musical drama Texas plays nightly all summer. For the finest of West Texas living in a region that blends breathtaking natural beauty with small-town charm and big-city advantages, few places can rival the appeal of Randall County.

 

COMMUNITIES

 

Amarillo

Municipal Offices
806-378-3000
https://www.amarillo.gov/

Chamber of Commerce
806-373-7800
https://www.amarillo-chamber.org/

Serving as the seat of government and center of healthcare, education, commerce, and population for Potter and Randall counties, the city of Amarillo shines brightly as a mecca of culture and entertainment. The Route 66-Sixth street Historic District with its Art Deco and Spanish Revival architecture stands as a tribute to the best of yesterday while it plays host to some of the city’s liveliest venues for great food, good times, and antique treasures. Modern Amarillo is a city known for its youthful attitude, business-friendly environment, and fertile ground for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Along with leading regional healthcare resources, the city is home to Amarillo College and campus centers for major public and private universities. More than 50 city parks dot the landscape with recreational facilities, amenities, and greenspace, including the vast attraction-filled expanse of Thompson Memorial Park. Many of Amarillo’s events and attractions honor the cowboy and Texas culture, from the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo to the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum. The city also serves as the gateway to the spectacular Palo Duro Canyon State Park, adding opportunities for mountain biking, hiking, and camping to the exhaustive list of recreational opportunities close to home.

 

Canyon

Municipal Offices
806-655-5000
https://www.canyontx.com/

Chamber of Commerce
806-655-7815
https://www.canyonchamber.org/

Serving as the seat of government for Randall County, the city of Canyon draws newcomers to a vibrant college town that made the #1 spot on Dish Network’s list of the nation’s “Best Small Town Gems to Visit.” Less than a 20-minute drive from the bright lights and expanded amenities of downtown Amarillo, Canyon claims its own nationally recognized attractions. Residents and visitors alike appreciate the charming Historic Downtown Square, lined with boutiques from the antique to chic, restaurants serving widely varied cuisines, lively night spots, and DaVinci Gourmet’s choice for “America’s Best Coffee House.” With the elegantly restored Randall County Courthouse as its centerpiece, the square makes an ideal venue for the many annual events including the July 4th Celebration & Hometown Independence Day Parade, Canyon Farmer’s Market, Canyon Main Street’s summer concert series, Movie Nights, and Christmas on the Square. Other highlights include the grandeur and recreational opportunities at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, exceptional local schools, the presence of West Texas A&M University, and the spectacular Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. Adding to this list of advantages, Canyon is a city known for beautiful neighborhoods and handsome homes, from older properties to luxurious manors with golf-course views. With housing costs well below the national average, little wonder that the city of Canyon elevated Randall County to the status of “2019 best counties to buy a house in Texas.”