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Hartley County TX
Hartley County

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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
Population: 363 (2010) 356 (2000) 277 (1990)

Channing Area Hotels › Amarillo Hotels | Dalhart Hotels
Channing Tx  - Road Sign
"Channing City Limit. Pop. 356"
"Historical Markers in City"

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

Channing Texas Topics:

History in a Pecan Shell
Channing Landmarks & Attractions Photo Gallery
Hartley County Courthouse next page
Hartley County Jail
XIT General Office next page
Channing United Methodist Church next page
Channing Tx - XIT General Office
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
XIT General Office
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
517 Railroad Avenue, Channing
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 277.
Hartley county courthouse, Channing, Texas
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Hartley County Courthouse
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
Hartley County jail summer scene
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
More Texas Jails
Channing Tx -  Channing United Methodist  Church

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

Channing United Methodist Church
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark

Channing Tx Baptist Church

Channing Baptist Church
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
More Texas Churches

Channing Tx School
Channing School
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Channing Tx - School Eagle
Channing School Eagle
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
See Eagle Eyes of Texas
Channing Tx - Residence
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Channing Tx Downtown Buildings
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

  • Take a road trip

    Channing, Texas Nearby Towns:
    Dalhart | Dumas | Vega | Amarillo
    See Hartley County | Texas Panhandle

    Book Hotel Here:
    Amarillo Hotels | Dalhart Hotels | Dumas Hotels | More Hotels
    Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact us.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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