Amarillo is a city in the Texas Panhandle that is home to the famous Palo Duro Canyon State Park. This town is also known for its graffiti-decorated cars. The Sixth Street Historic District is a hub for shopping and dining. In addition to the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, visitors can tour the city’s numerous art galleries. It is also a great place to learn about the history of the horse breed and enjoy the famous Quarter Horse Hall of Fame.
Amarillo’s railroad arrived in 1887, bringing with it cattle buyers, merchants, and settlers from across the region. Although the town site was initially located on low ground, it was later elevated to a higher location after spring 1889 rains. It was then that rancher Henry B. Sanborn and barbed wire fencing magnate Joseph F. Glidden helped the town’s growth by moving the town to a higher location. In 1893, the city was named the county seat. In 1913, the town government established a council-manager form of government.
Amarillo’s streets are laid out in a grid pattern. The original street layout was set by William H. Bush. He started at the west end of town and worked his way eastward. He then named the streets of the city from north to south in honor of past presidents. The first president to be honored was John Quincy Adams. The last president was Grover Cleveland. Today, all the streets are named after historical figures.
Amarillo is known as the “Helium Capital of the World.” The city once became the self-proclaimed helium field capital of the world. In addition, it is called the “Yellow Rose of Texas” (from Spanish, “amarillo is yellow) and is home to the largest meat packing area in the United States. In addition, Pantex, the country’s only nuclear weapons assembly plant, has created many art pieces in the city.
One of the biggest employers in Amarillo is the Bell Helicopter assembly plant, which is home to the V-22 Osprey hybrid aircraft. This unique aircraft has a history of blending human and animal species, and is one step closer to Transformer-style transformations. Other local businesses are also taking advantage of Amarillo’s natural assets. The third windiest city in the nation is home to several wind turbines that are being put to use by local residents. These solar and wind energy projects will reduce utility bills and create jobs.
The climate in Amarillo is semi-arid. It lies in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a. It experiences large diurnal temperature variation and has a relatively low humidity. The average year is characterized by hot, dry weather and a few blizzards. Amarillo receives a variety of types of precipitation. Some of the precipitation falls in the form of thunderstorms, while others are heavy convective showers.