Goodnight, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Goodnight, Texas
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 Goodnight, Texas
Location in Texas
Goodnight, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Armstrong |
| Elevation | 3,150 ft (960 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 806 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1358160 |
Goodnight is a small, unincorporated community in Armstrong County, Texas, United States. An unincorporated community means it's a place with a shared identity but no local government of its own. It is part of the larger Amarillo area. In the year 2000, only 18 people lived there.
Contents
Discovering Goodnight's Past
Goodnight was named after a famous rancher named Charles Goodnight. He settled on a ranch near the community in 1887. This ranch was the very first building in the area.
Charles Goodnight's Influence
Charles Goodnight was a very important person in the community. He even kept a buffalo herd on his ranch. This was to help protect these amazing animals. He was a major leader in Goodnight until he passed away in 1929.
Early Community Life
A train station was built in Goodnight by the Fort Worth and Denver Railway. A post office opened in November 1888, helping people send and receive mail. It stayed open until 1969. A blacksmith, R.A. Hathorn, also opened his shop around the same time.
A local newspaper called the Goodnight News started in 1890. Later, it joined with another paper to become the Claude News. The Goodnight Baptist Church was officially started in 1904.
Growth and Decline
In 1940, Goodnight was much bigger. It had nine businesses and about 300 people living there. However, the town started to shrink. Nearby Claude became the main business center for the county. Also, better roads and ways to communicate made Goodnight less important.
By 1969, the population dropped to just 25 people. Even when the movie Hud was filmed in the area in 1963, the population continued to decline. In 1984, only the Goodnight Ranch buildings, a church, and a cemetery remained. By 2000, the population was only 18.
A Band's Inspiration
A folk-rock band called Goodnight, Texas was named after this very town! The town is located about 1,415 miles (2,277 km) between the band members' hometowns of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and San Francisco, California. The band has even performed in Goodnight three times.
Historic Ranch House
The Charles and Mary Ann (Molly) Goodnight Ranch House is a very important historical site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized for its historical value.
Where is Goodnight Located?
Goodnight is found on U.S. Highway 287. It sits at the edge of a flat, high plain called the Llano Estacado. It is about 14 miles (23 km) southeast of Claude. It is also about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Amarillo, in the northeastern part of Armstrong County.
Learning in Goodnight
The first school in Goodnight opened in 1891. There was even a special school called Goodnight College. It operated from 1898 to 1917 and worked with the local Baptist church. Today, students in the Goodnight area attend schools in the Clarendon Independent School District.
