Amarillo is a city located in Texas, USA and is part of the West Texas region. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 173,627. It is the county seat of Potter County6 and a portion the city extends to Randall County. The famous Route 66 passes through Amarillo. Amarillo's name derives from 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 yellow, the color).
History
Geography
Amarillo is located at 35°11'57" North, 101°50'43" West (35.199252, -101.845163)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 233.9 km² (90.3 mi²). 232.7 km² (89.9 mi²) of it is land and 1.2 km² (0.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.50% water.
Economy
The city is the self-proclaimed "Helium Capital of the World" and is one of the largest beef producing cities in the United States. The city also has major industry plants such as Bell Helicopter (a helicopter plant), Owens Corning (a fiberglass plant), Iowa Beef Packers, and Pantex (a nucluear weapons plant). The city is also surrounded by farmers with wheat as the main crop. In the past Amarillo was home to a US Air Force base but was closed in the seventies.
Airport
Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport is located in Amarillo, and was named after the Amarillo native Rick Husband, whom died aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia.
List of major freeways
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 173,627 people, 67,699 households, and 45,764 families residing in the city. The population density is 746.0/km² (1,932.1/mi²). There are 72,408 housing units at an average density of 311.1/km² (805.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 77.50% White, 5.97% African American, 0.78% Native American, 2.05% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 11.32% from other races, and 2.34% from two or more races. 21.86% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 67,699 households out of which 33.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% are married couples living together, 12.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% are non-families. 27.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.53 and the average family size is 3.10.
In the city the population is spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $34,940, and the median income for a family is $42,536. Males have a median income of $31,321 versus $22,562 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,621. 14.5% of the population and 11.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.6% of those under the age of 18 and 9.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Sites of interest
Amarillo is the home of The Big Texan, which was made famous by offering visitors a free 72 ounce beef steak if they eat it (and the rest of the full dinner, including roll and salad) in under an hour.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park is America's second largest canyon, after the Grand Canyon. The canyon is located south of Amarillo.
In Palo Duro Canyon, an outdoor musical called Texas Legacies plays nightly during the summer.
Near I-40, the Cadillac Ranch is a monument of painted Cadillac automobiles that were dug into the ground head first.
The Amarillo Museum of Art is located in the campus of Amarillo College. It underwent a major renovation in early 2004.
Notable natives
Colleges and universities
Amarillo has 2 higher education institutions. Amarillo College is a two-year fully-accredited community college. Wayland Baptist University , a private university which is based in Plainview, has a campus in Amarillo and offers various 4-year degrees. [1] http://www.wbu.edu/a/a06b05/am/default.htm Another university close to Amarillo is West Texas A&M University which is in nearby Canyon, Texas.
Sports teams
The city is home to the indoor minor league football team called the Amarillo Dusters , which play in the AF2. There is also the Amarillo Gorillas which is part of the Central Hockey League.
Media and journalism
Amarillo's primary newspaper is the Amarillo Globe-News .
- The Watchman Herald http://www.texaspanhandleplains.com/newspaper/ - Christian World News & Media.
Television stations
Amarillo featured in entertainment
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Cast Away - Tom Hanks' character was near the Amarillo part of I-40.
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George Strait - Had a country hit called "Amarillo By Morning."
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The Grapes of Wrath - The Joad Family passed Amarillo during their trip.
- "(Get Your Kicks) on Route 66" - popular jazz song written by Bobby Troup and sung by Nat King Cole in 1946.
- "Is this the way to Amarillo?" - song written by Howard Greenfield , recorded famously by Yorkshireman Tony Christie , and Neil Sedaka.
External links
- City of Amarillo's Website http://www.ci.amarillo.tx.us/
- The Handbook of Texas - Amarillo Entry http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/AA/hda2.html
- Amarillo Globe-News' Website http://www.amarillo.com/
| Maps and aerial photos |
Street map http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=NaodW29-item55
d470bc55310589&longitude=-101.845163&zoom=6 | Topographic map http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=35.199252&lon=NaodW29-item
36dc0239428497fc&s=200&size=m&layer=DRG100 | Aerial photograph http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=NaodW29-item472da1c861253
b3c&lat=35.199252&w=750&h=500 |