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CHANNING, TEXAS
Hartley
County Seat, Texas
Panhandle
35°41'1"N 102°19'55"W (35.683612, -102.331817)
US 385, FM 767 and Hwy 354
30 miles S of Dalhart
29 miles SW of Dumas
51 miles NW of Amarillo
35 miles N of Vega
ZIP code 79018
Area code 806
Population: 281 (2020)
363 (2010) 356 (2000) 277 (1990) |
"Channing
City Limit. Pop. 356"
"Historical Markers in City"
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2009 |
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History
in a Pecan Shell
Originally called Rivers, after a railroad paymaster,
the name was first rejected by postal authorities. The change (to
George Channing Rivers middle name) was made in 1888. Channing developed
directly from its association with the XIT
Ranch, the legendary property that once included most of ten Panhandle
counties.
The business district was platted in 1891, and Channing was general
headquarters of the ranch. When the wild and wooley town of Tascosa
was abandoned, several businesses moved to Channing. By 1900 Channing
had two general stores, one grocery and a school. Channing's fight
with Hartley for
county seat status was bitter and it took two separate elections to
decide the matter. Finally in 1903 the frame courthouse was pulled
to Channing on wheels by mounted XIT
cowboys. The courthouse was later turned into a hotel when the brick
courthouse
was built in 1906. Two years later a woman's club established a public
library.
When the XIT
was dissolved in 1911, it devastated the local economy and in 1931,
a fire destroyed much of downtown. By 1940 Channing's population was
475 with a high school and five businesses. Postwar mobility and the
improved highways have drained Channings population down to the current
281. |
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Hartley
County jail in Channing
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, March 2008 |
The
Current Hartley County Jail
"The current Hartley County jail was built in 1906, at the same
time as the current courthouse and with the same materials. It is
still in use today.
The privately owned 1892
brick and sandstone jail in the first county seat of Hartley
also still stands." - Terry
Jeanson, March, 2008 |
Railroad
Avenue - Downtown Channing
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2009 |
Channing Texas
Forum
Subject:
Another note on Channing
It's worth noting that Channing might be the least populated city
in Texas to maintain an independent K-12 school. Channing fields
a basketball and track team that always fares well, it is the highlight
of their town! As of 2001 Channing had at least 4-5 businesses.
There are at least 3 streets in Channing that Boys Ranch own, and
settle their employees there. - James Feagin, September 15, 2005
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Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
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