Tulia-Swisher County

County Offices
119 S Maxwell Avenue
Tulia 806-995-3504
http://www.co.swisher.tx.us/

Municipal Offices
127 Southwest 2nd Street
Tulia 806-995-3547
http://www.tuliatexas.org/

Chamber of Commerce
127 Southwest 2nd Street
Tulia 806-995-2296
http://www.tuliatexas.org

Straddling the transition between the South Plains and the Panhandle of West Texas, Swisher County is 30 minutes from Plainview, less than an hour from Amarillo, and approximately 70 miles north of Lubbock. Covering 896 square miles, the county’s topography is level plain land broken only by Tule Creek and its branch tributaries. The area’s rich soil has long supported diverse agricultural activity from crops to livestock along with related industries. Other major employers include those in healthcare, government, education, retail, and manufacturing.

Major thoroughfares that ensure quick and easy commutes within and around the region include Interstate 27, U.S. Highway 87, and Texas State Highway 86. While the county seat of Tulia serves as the hub city, several very small communities dot the landscape including Kress, Claytonville, Virgo Park, and Happy. The closest commercial airline service is available in Amarillo at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport, with expanded options available at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport in Lubbock.

Services

Outstanding educational opportunities begin close to home in Swisher County with quality local school districts that excel in personalized attention and low teacher/student ratios. Two-year degrees, certificates, and career training is available just 30 minutes from home at the Plainview Center for South Plains College or approximately an hour’s drive away at Amarillo College in Amarillo. Plainview is also home to the flagship campus for the private college of Wayland Baptist University with more than 65 undergraduate and graduate programs. The leader in West Texas higher education is Texas Tech University (TTU) in the city of Lubbock. Recognized as a Tier One Carnegie Designated University, TTU maintains preeminent research partnerships in a variety of areas. Students can choose from 150 undergraduate majors, 100 master programs, and 50 doctoral programs in 13 colleges that include a school of law, a medical school, and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Lubbock is also home to Lubbock Christian University, recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Top 20 Comprehensive College in the Western Region.

Access to first-rate healthcare is available locally at Swisher Memorial Healthcare System in Tulia. Anchored by Swisher Memorial Hospital, the system provides general inpatient and outpatient medical and surgical care that includes 24/hour emergency, cardiology, skilled nursing, radiology, and laboratory services. Should the need for advanced care arise, residents can choose from several outstanding regional resources. Covenant Health Plainview in the city of Plainview delivers comprehensive care and a full continuum of specialties including orthopedics, women’s health, cardiology, and primary care clinics. Northwest Texas Healthcare System in Amarillo is the lead trauma center for the top 26 Panhandle counties. Known for heart, emergency, stroke, and children’s care, the hospital is designated as a tertiary care academic institution for leading-edge diagnosis and treatment. Amarillo is also home to BSA Health System, consistently recognized as one of the nation’s Top 100 Hospitals for clinical excellence and exemplary customer service. The largest healthcare hub for West Texas is located in Lubbock, home to University Medical Center Health System and the flagship facilities and specialty centers of Covenant Health.

Lifestyle

The GO TEXAN designation of Tulia as a Certified Retirement Community underlines the appeal to Swisher County, where the altitude modifies summer temperatures, the nights are cool and clear, and sunshine is abundant. It also recognizes the area’s blend of affordable rural and small-town living within easy access to the best that West Texas has to offer. Local treasures include Swisher County Museum, where eclectic displays and exhibits combine with photographs and written, oral, and video histories for a fascinating journey into the past. The nearby campus of Wayland Baptist University in Plainview fills the calendar with performances and events at Harral Memorial Auditorium. The elegantly restored 1920s venue of Fair Theatre in downtown Plainview hosts plays, musicals, films, and special events including Plainview Symphony Orchestra concerts. Amarillo adds another layer of cultural enrichment with Amarillo Little Theatre, Amarillo Symphony, Amarillo Opera, and the Amarillo Museum of Art on the Amarillo College campus. For premier arts and entertainment, Lubbock serves as a cultural mecca for all of West Texas.

The Amarillo area is a popular destination for Swisher County residents who are looking for expanded shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Colorful and lively attractions include Historic Route 66, Cadillac Ranch, Wonderland Amusement Park, Texas Air & Space Museum, Amarillo Botanical Gardens, the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, and the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum. The entire family will enjoy interactive exhibits at Don Harrington Discovery Center and Space Theater and the 15-acre Amarillo Zoo with more than 60 species of animals in well-kept habitats. For hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding in a spectacular natural setting, Palo Duro Canyon State Park and Caprock Canyons State Park are an easy drive from home. Water-sport lovers will want to explore Lake Mackenzie, where facilities support camping, boating, fishing, hiking, and riding ATV trails. Another jewel of the Texas Panhandle region is Lake Meredith National Recreation Area for swimming, fishing, boating, camping, and picnicking. For the best of country living surrounded by a world of amenities and attractions, few places can rival Swisher County.