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Known as the gateway to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Canyon, Texas is nestled in Randall County in the center of the Texas Panhandle, 10 miles west of Palo Duro Canyon and 15 minutes south of the city of Amarillo. Canyon real estate boasts a bustling community rich in history and small town friendly charm captivating the imaginations and hearts of visitors from around the globe. It's home to the outdoor musical drama TEXAS, 24 historical sites, West Texas A&M University and the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum. Excellent schools, 250 days of annual sunshine and low crime make Canyon real estate a great place to call home.
Education for Canyon Students
The Canyon Independent School District serves students residing in Canyon real estate. There are six elementary, four junior high and two high schools in the district. The district has implemented a Best Practices program for kindergarten through 12th grades. The Best Practices program focuses on writing and reading and the study of letters and words and how they work. The program was a big success when it was released in the 2003-2004 school year and is now being used by other school districts.
Alternatives for public education are provided by several private schools in the area, while higher education needs are met by West Texas A&M University.
Things to See and Do in Canyon
With Canyon real estate being only 12 miles from Palo Duro Canyon State Park and 15 minutes from Amarillo, there are several opportunities for recreation. The Palo Duro Canyon State Park is home to TEXAS, the outdoor musical, which runs June through August. Other great points of interest in Canyon include West Texas A&M University, Cherish Texas Studios, Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, the St. Benedict Monastery, Canyon Creek Soap Company and Sagebrush Galleries. There are also 24 historical sites in the City of Canyon.
Shopping areas and dining spots are abundant in Canyon. Shops include specialty, antique and everything in-between. A variety of restaurants can be found, such as coffee shops, cafes, fast-food and fine-dining. There's a restaurant for every taste-bud.
History of Canyon, Texas Real Estate
Cattle ranching was a big part of Canyon's history. The JA Ranch was the first ranch in the area, started by Colonel Charles Goodnight in 1876. He gradually built his ranch to cover over one-million acres of land, which held 100,000 cattle. In 1887, Lincoln Guy Conner bought land from Charles Goodnight and Canyon real estate was established on December 25, 1887. The town of Canyon was laid out and Conner built his home along with a post office and a general store. The town was named after Palo Duro Canyon.
Conner attracted other settlers to Canyon by offering them a free lot to build a home or business on. And Canyon City became the county seat of Randall County in 1889. When the Northern Texas Railway and the Pecos came in 1898, Canyon real estate became a major point for shipping cotton and cattle. It was also a major receiving center for lumber and coal. Conner donated several acres of cattle pens and land, saloons and a wagon yard to the city. Canyon was the largest shipping point in the nation by 1902.
In 1904, the First National Bank of Canyon and the Stockman's National Bank opened with the rise of the population to 504 people that same year. Canyon experienced a building boom after the City went through a drought that lasted from 1911 to 1920. New schools, businesses, houses, churches and a Santa Fe Depot were built. The city also began developing streets and highways. Street lights and natural gas were put in. In 1932, the largest history museum in the state was built, the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.
In 1965, TEXAS, Paul Green's Musical Drama, began performing at Palo Duro Canyon. It has been the biggest outdoor attraction in the country since. Canyon was chosen as a Texas Main Street City in 2002 for its 24 historical markers and continues to grow everyday. Today, the town is thriving with a great school system and wonderful tourist attractions.
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Canyon Demographics:
Population: 12,875
Median Household Income:
$35,500
Median Home Value:
$106,500
Canyon Chamber of Commerce
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