Channing, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Channing, Texas
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XIT Ranch General Office in Channing
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Location of Channing, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Hartley |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.99 sq mi (2.57 km2) |
| • Land | 0.99 sq mi (2.57 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,803 ft (1,159 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 281 |
| • Density | 283.8/sq mi (109.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
79018
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| Area code(s) | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-14260 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409436 |
Channing is a small town located in Hartley County, Texas, in the United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Hartley County. In 2020, about 281 people lived there.
Contents
History of Channing
Channing was started in 1888 by George Channing Rivers. He worked for the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway. The town was first called Rivers. However, because another town in Texas already had that name, it was changed to Channing later that year.
Channing grew because of its connection to the XIT Ranch. This huge ranch once covered land in as many as 10 counties in the Texas Panhandle.
Early Growth and the XIT Ranch
In 1891, Willis D. Twitchell planned out Channing's business area. At that time, Channing was the main office for the XIT Ranch. Albert Boyce, who was the ranch's general manager, built the first house in the community. By 1900, Channing had two stores, a post office, a lumber yard, and a school.
Becoming the County Seat
Channing needed two elections to become the county seat instead of Hartley. The first election was in 1896, and the second was in 1903. In 1903, the original wooden courthouse was moved to Channing. XIT cowboys pulled it on wheels!
A new brick courthouse was finished in 1906. The old courthouse became a famous place called the Hotel Rivers. In 1908, a local women's club started one of the first public libraries in the Panhandle area. Around this time, about 600 people lived in Channing.
Changes Over Time
The XIT Ranch was very important to Channing's economy. Most of its business was done from the town. When the ranch closed down in 1911, it greatly affected the town. However, selling the XIT lands helped the real estate market for a while.
On September 6, 1931, a fire destroyed seven buildings in the business district, including the Hotel Rivers. By 1940, Channing had about 475 people, several businesses, a high school, and three churches. Today, a restored XIT office building in Channing serves as a museum.
Channing officially became a city in 1960. At that time, its population was 390. The number of people living there slowly went down over the years. This was mainly because larger cities like Dalhart and Amarillo were easy to reach. By 2000, the population went up again to 356.
Geography and Climate
Channing is located where U.S. Highway 385, State Highway 354, and FM 767 meet. This is in the southeastern part of Hartley County. It is about 30 miles south of Dalhart.
The United States Census Bureau says that Channing covers about 0.99 square miles (2.57 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.
Channing's Climate
Channing has a semiarid climate. This means it is generally dry, but not a desert. It gets more rain than a desert, but not enough to be considered a humid area.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 351 | — | |
| 1970 | 336 | −4.3% | |
| 1980 | 304 | −9.5% | |
| 1990 | 277 | −8.9% | |
| 2000 | 356 | 28.5% | |
| 2010 | 363 | 2.0% | |
| 2020 | 281 | −22.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The table above shows how Channing's population has changed over the years. This information comes from the U.S. Decennial Census, which counts people every ten years.
Population in 2020
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 281 people living in Channing. There were 124 households and 91 families in the city.
Education in Channing
The Channing Independent School District serves the city of Channing. All students, from the youngest grades to high school, attend one building. This building is called Channing School and is located in the western part of the city.
Notable Person from Channing
- Walt Schlinkman: An American football player, coach, and scout.
See also
In Spanish: Channing (Texas) para niños
