Canyon, TX
Music connected to Canyon
About Canyon
- • Singer Carolyn Hester, who performed with Bob Dylan, was born in Canyon.
- • The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in Texas, originated here.
- • Canyon's location along the railroad and agricultural boom established it as a hub.
- • Legend says a local ghost named 'The Canyon Cowboy' haunts Palo Duro Canyon.
- • The Dust Bowl of the 1930s devastated Canyon's agriculture-based economy.
- • Named for Palo Duro Canyon, it was established in 1889 and incorporated in 1906.
- • With a population of around 16,000, it's smaller than nearby Amarillo.
- • Sitting at 3,671 feet, Canyon's air is noticeably thinner than sea level.
- • Agriculture and education, with West Texas A&M University, drive the local economy.
- • Canyon has a friendly, small-town feel with a strong sense of community.
- • The Amarillo Sod Poodles, a Double-A baseball team, are the closest pro sports.
- • West Texas A&M's Buffaloes football team has a rich history in Division II athletics.
- • The area's red soil is characteristic of the Permian-age Quartermaster Formation.
- • Palo Duro Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the United States, is nearby.
- • The Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River flows through Palo Duro Canyon.
- • Texas horned lizards, also known as 'horny toads,' are found in the area.
- • Blue grama grass is a common native grass species found in the region.
- • The area was historically inhabited by the Apache, Comanche, and Kiowa tribes.
- • In 1874, the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon took place, marking a turning point in the Red River War.
- • The Randall County Courthouse, built in 1909, is a notable example of Beaux-Arts architecture.
- • U.S. Route 60 passes through Canyon, connecting it to Amarillo and other regional hubs.