Amarillo History Timeline

Time Line History


1887 ― FORT WORTH-DENVER CITY RAILROAD WAS CONSTRUCTED ACROSS THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.
1887 ― A RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION CAMP ON AMARILLO CREEK GREW INTO A SMALL TENT CITY NAMED RAGTOWN.
1887 ― IN APRIL, J.T. BERRY PLATTED A TOWNSITE AND NAMED IT ONIEDA.
1887 ― IN JUNE, THE TUCK CORNELIUS FAMILY ARRIVED TO SETTLE IN THE NEW TOWN.
1887 ― IN AUGUST, ONIEDA WAS VOTED THE COUNTY SEAT OF POTTER COUNTY AND RENAMED AMARILLO.
1887 ― FREIGHT SERVICES WERE ESTABLISHED BY THE RAILROAD MAKING AMARILLO A MAJOR CATTLE SHIPPING CENTER.
1887 ― IN NOVEMBER, THE FIRST POST OFFICE WAS ESTABLISHED AND ROBERT M. MOORE WAS THE FIRST POSTMASTER.
1887 ― NANCY CORNELIUS, WIFE OF MR. S. CORNELIUS, WAS THE FIRST RECORDED DEATH IN AMARILLO.
1888 ― THE METHODISTS ORGANIZED THE FIRST CHURCH.
1888 ― THE FIRST DISTRICT COURT WAS ESTABLISHED.
1888 ― THE FIRST DANCE, A “GRAND BALL”, CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF THE NEW COURTHOUSE.
1888 ― AMARILLO CITIZENS ESTABLISHED THE FIRST SCHOOL IN THE COURTHOUSE.
1888 ― MAYVI AMARILLO CORNELIUS WAS THE FIRST RECORDED CHILD BORN IN AMARILLO.
1889 ― HENRY SANBORN, CALLED THE “FATHER OF AMARILLO” PLATTED A NEW AMARILLO SITE.
1889 ― MOST OF AMARILLO MOVED ONE MILE EAST TO THE NEW GLIDDEN SANBORN ADDITION.
1889 ― PANHANDLE LOAN ASSOCIATION WAS FOUNDED BY GLIDDON AND SANBORN.
1889 ― FIRST HOTEL, THE AMARILLO HOTEL, WAS BUILT BY HENRY SANBORN.
1889 ― FIRST NATIONAL BANK WAS THE FIRST BANK TO RECEIVE A CHARTER.
1889 ― AMARILLO PUBLIC WAS ESTABLISHED AT 800 S. HARRISON STREET.
1889 ― FIRST WAGON YARD ESTABLISHED BY EDWARD TRIGG AND JOHN MILLER.
1890 ― FIRST CITY PARK WAS PLATTED; LATER NAMED ELLWOOD.
1890 ― POPULATION 482
1890 ― AMARILLO HAD 14 SALOONS AND 11 GAMBLING HOUSES.
1890 ― THE RED BRICK SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1700 S. POLK STREET AS THE CITY’S SECOND PUBLIC SCHOOL.
1890 ― BUSINESS BOOM BEGAN WITH 20 NEW ESTABLISHMENTS IN TWO YEARS.
1891 ― THE “INDIAN SCARE”, A FALSE NEWS REPORT OF HOSTILE NATIVES CAUSED GREAT NUMBERS OF PANHANDLE SETTLERS TO SEEK REFUGE IN AMARILLO.
1892 ― AMARILLO NATIONAL BANK FOUNDED.
1892 ― AMARILLO INCORPORATED.
1892 ― WARREN WETSEL ELECTED AS FIRST MAYOR.
1892 ― POPULATION 674
1892 ― AMARILLO CITY LIMITS WAS ONE SQUARE MILE.
1892 ― J.A. WILLIAMS WAS THE FIRST CITY MARSHALL.
1892 ― AMARILLO NATIONAL BANK WAS FOUNDED.
1894 ― AMARILLO HIGH SCHOOL HELD ITS FIRST GRADUATION.
1896 ― THE FIRST TELEPHONE SYSTEM WAS ESTABLISHED BY WAYNE C. WRIGHT.
1897 ― WHITE AND KIRK DEPARTMENT STORE WAS ESTABLISHED.
1897 ― POPULATION 1154.
1897 ― AMARILLO HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY WAS FORMED.
1898 ― PECOS VALLEY RAILROAD WAS BUILT INTO AMARILLO.
1898 ― UNION STATION WAS BUILT.
1898 ― RAILROADS AND FREIGHT ROADS ESTABLISHED AMARILLO AS A MAJOR TRANSPORTATION CENTER.
1899 ― AMARILLO-PANHANDLE FAIR AND LIVESTOCK ASSOCIATION WAS ORGANIZED.
1899 ― SANTA FE RAILROAD WAS BUILT INTO AMARILLO.
1900 ― ST. ANTHONY’S SANITARIUM WAS FOUNDED.
1900 ― POPULATION 1442.
1900 ― BOND ISSUE PASSED TO BUILD A CITY HALL.
1901 ― A FIRE DESTROYED ONE-FOURTH OF DOWNTOWN.
1902 ― ST. ANTHONY’S HOSPITAL WAS ESTABLISHED.
1902 ― AMARILLO ELECTRIC POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY WAS ORGANIZED.
1903 ― THE ROCK ISLAND RAILROAD ARRIVED.
1904 ― AMARILLO HARDWARE COMPANY WAS FOUNDED.
1905 ― WESTERN STOCKYARDS CORPORATION WAS ESTABLISHED.
1905 ― BUSHLAND SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT THIRD & WELLS IN WESTERN COUNTY.
1906 ― AMARILLO GAS COMPANY WAS FORMED.
1906 ― JOHNSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 500 S. JOHNSON STREET.
1906 ― BLACKBURN BROTHERS CLOTHING STORE OPENED FOR BUSINESS.
1907 ― AMARILLO CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE.
1908 ― AMARILLO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WAS ORGANIZED.
1910 ― AMARILLO PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS FOUNDED BY THE JUG (JUST US GIRLS) CLUB.
1910 ― ELIZABETH NIXSON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1300 S. POLK STREET.
1910 ― HORACE MANN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 600 N. BUCHANAN STREET ON THE SITE TO THE OLD NORTH SIDE SCHOOL.
1910 ― POPULATION 9957
1910 ― WEST TEXAS STATE NORMAL SCHOOL ESTABLISHED IN NEARBY CANYON, TEXAS.
1912 ― PANHANDLE TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH WAS PURCHASED BY SOUTHWESTERN BELL TELEPHONE.
1912 ― PANHANDLE PACKING COMPANY OPENED A PLANT IN AMARILLO.
1913 ― NORTHWEST TEXAS HOSPITAL WAS FOUNDED.
1913 ― ST. MARY’S ACADEMY WAS ESTABLISHED AS THE FIRST PAROCHIAL SCHOOL.
1916 ― SANBORN PARK WAS ESTABLISHED AT S.E. 14TH & FILLMORE
1917 ― FIRST TEXAS CALVARY, AMARILLO TROOP B., WAS CALLED TO ACTION IN WORLD WAR I.
1917 ― AMARILLO OIL COMPANY WAS FORMED.
1917 ― AMERICAN RED CROSS WAS ORGANIZED.
1917 ― WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1700 S. TAYLOR STREET.
1917 ― McKINLEY ELEMENTARY WAS ESTABLISHED AT 700 S. ADAMS STREET.
1918 ― NATURAL GAS WAS DISCOVERED IN POTTER CO.
1918 ― AMARILLO WAS ESTABLISHED AS A STOP ON MAJOR U.S. AIR ROUTES.
1919 ― AMERICAN LEGION WAS FOUNDED.
1920 ― POPULATION 15,494
1920 ― J.C. PENNEY OPENED A STORE HERE.
1920 ― PANHANDLE PIPELINE COMPANY BUILT THE FIRST PIPELINE INTO AMARILLO.
1921 ― THE BASE FOR THE AMARILLO ECONOMY WAS TRANSPORTATION, CATTLE, AND GRAIN.
1921 ― GLENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 2400 S. MIRROR STREET.
1921 ― ROUTE 66 WAS BUILT THROUGH AMARILLO.
1922 ― TRI-STATE FAIR WAS INAUGURATED.
1922 ― AMARILLO’S FIRST RADIO STATION, WDAG, WAS ON THE AIR.
1922 ― SANBORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 700 S. ROBERTS STREET.
1922 ― WILL ROGERS PARK WAS ESTABLISHED AT AMARILLO BLVD. & BUCHANAN STREET.
1922 ― EAST PARK WAS ESTABLISHED AT S.E. 8TH & WILLIAMS STREET.
1922 ― AMARILLO HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1200 S. POLK STREET.
1923 ― AMERICAN SMELTING AND REFINING COMPANY LOCATED IN AMARILLO.
1925 ― AMARILLO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WAS ORGANIZED.
1925 ― AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK WAS ORGANIZED.
1926 ― FURR FOOD STORES WERE ESTABLISHED.
1926 ― AN OIL BOOM MADE AMARILLO THE BUSINESS CENTER FOR THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.
1926 ― WOLFLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS ESTABLISHED AT 2100 S. HUGHES STREET.
1926 ― SAN JACINTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ORGANIZED AT 400 S. CAROLINA STREET.
1926 ― COL. C.T. HERRING BUILT THE HERRING HOTEL.
1927 ― HUMPHREY’S HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1300 S. DALLAS DRIVE.
1927 ― SUMMIT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 901 N. FLORIDA STREET.
1927 ― RIVER ROAD SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT RIVER ROAD & MOBLEY DRIVE.
1928 ― SEARS AND ROEBUCK OPENED A STORE HERE.
1928 ― MONTGOMERY WARD OPENED A STORE HERE.
1928 ― ENGLISH AIRPORT WAS ESTABLISHED BY LEE BIVINS AND HAROLD ENGLISH.
1928 ― MARGARET WILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3500 S. TAYLOR STREET.
1928 ― ALICE LANDERGIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3209 S. TAYLOR STREET.
1929 ― AMARILLO COLLEGE WAS FOUNDED.
1929 ― PANHANDLE AIR SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION COMPANY WAS CREATED.
1930 ― POPULATION 43,132
1930 ― THOMPSON PARK WAS ESTABLISHED ON ONE SECTION OF LAND AT N.E. 24TH & FILMORE STREET; THE PARK WAS NAMED FOR COL. ERNEST O. THOMPSON.
1930 ― PLEASANT VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 4415 RIVER ROAD.
1930 ― SAN JACINTO PARK WAS ESTABLISHED AT S.W. 2ND & LOUISIANA STREET.
1930 ―  
1930 ― LEE BIVINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS ESTABLISHED AT 1500 S. FANNIN STREET.
1930 ― FREDERICK DOUGLASS ELEMNTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 103 S. JACKSON STREET.
1930 ― FOREST HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3600 EAST 8TH AVENUE.
1930 ― DWIGHT MORROW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1600 S. CLEVELAND STREET.
1930 ― SAM HOUSTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 800 FOREST STREET.
1931 ― THE AMARILLO CREDIT ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED.
1931 ― OLIVER EAKLE PARK LOCATED AT 28TH & POLK STREET WAS DEDICATED.
1932 ― POTTER COUNTY COURTHOUSE OPENED.
1932 ― AMARILLO BECAME A MAJOR CROSSROADS AS HIGHWAYS 60-66-287-87 WERE NAMED U.S. HIGHWAYS BY 1935.
1933 ― HAGY, HARRINGTON AND MARSH OIL COMPANY WAS FORMED.
1934 ― PALO DURO BECAME A STATE PARK.
1934 ― CAL FARLEY AND RALPH DYKEMAN FOUNDED THE MAVERICK BOYS CLUB.
1933 ― THE AMARILLO LIVESTOCK AUCTION WAS ESTABLISHED.
1934 ― APRIL 15 WAS CALLED “BLACK SUNDAY” FOR THE HUGE CLOUDS OF DUST THAT BLACKED OUT THE AMARILLO SKY.
1934 ― CAL FARLEY’S BOYS RANCH WAS FOUNDED.
1935 ― NOVEMBER 25TH, AMARILLO UNITS OF TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD, 36TH DIVISION WERE MOBILIZED FOR SERVICE IN WORLD WAR II.
1940 ― POPULATION 51,686
1940 ― EMERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 700 N. LINCOLN STREET.
1942 ― SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE WAS ORGANIZED.
1942 ― AMARILLO ARMY AIRFIELD WAS ESTABLISHED.
1942 ― PANTEX ORDINANCE PLANT WAS OPENED.
1945 ― EL ALAMO PARK WAS ESTABLISHED AT S. E. 16TH & HOUSTON.
1946 ― AMARILLO AIR TERMINAL WAS ESTABLISHED.
1948 ― THE AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION MOVED TO AMARILLO.
1948 ― GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 611 N. HUGHES STREET.
1948 ― DICK BIVINS STADIUM WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3301 E. 10TH AVENUE.
1948 ― NORTH HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 607 N. HUGHES ST.
1949 ― A TORNADO CROSSED AMARILLO CAUSING THREE MILLION DOLLARS OF PROPERTY DAMAGE AND THE LOSS OF SEVEN LIVES.
1950 ― THERE WERE 60 ORGANIZED CHURCHES IN AMARILLO.
1950 ― MEMORIAL PARK LOCATED AT 24TH & WASHINGTON WAS DEDICATED.
1950 ― POPULATION 74,246
1951 ― WONDERLAND AMUSEMENT PARK WAS FOUNDED AT THOMPSON PARK.
1951 ― PANTEX WAS SELECTED AS THE SITE FOR NUCLEAR WEAPON ASSEMBLY.
1951 ― STEPHEN F. AUSTIN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1808 WIMBERLY ROAD.
1951 ― LAMAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3800 S. LIPSCOMB ST.
1951 ― ROBERT E. LEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 119 N.E. 15TH AVENUE.
1951 ― AVONDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1500 AVONDALE STREET.
1953 ― CANADIAN RIVER MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY WAS FORMED.
1953 ― HILLTOP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1330 N. W. 18TH AVENUE.
1953 ― AMARILLO’S FIRST TV STATION, KGNC, WAS ESTABLISHED.
1954 ― PIONEER NATURAL GAS COMPANY WAS ORGANIZED.
1954 ― SUNRISE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 5123 E. 14TH AVENUE.
1954 ― SOUTH LAWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 4719 S. BOWIE STREET.
1954 ― WHITTIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 2004 N. MARRS STREET
1954 ― PALO DURO HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1400 N. GRANT STREET
1955 ― CORONADO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3210 WIMBERLY ROAD.
1955 ― JAMES BOWIE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED 3001 E. 12TH AVENUE.
1956 ― PARAMOUNT TERRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3906 W. 40TH AVENUE.
1956 ― LAWNDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 2215 S. BIVINS STREET.
1956 ― OLSEN PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 2409 ANNA STREET.
1957 ― TASCOSA HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3921 WESTLAWN CIRCLE.
1957 ― JAMES W. FANNIN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 4627 S. RUSK STREET
1958 ― WILLIAM B. TRAVIS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 2815 MARTIN ROAD.
1958 ― A NEW GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1905 N.W. 12TH AVENUE.
1959 ― HAMLET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 705 SYCAMORE STREET.
1960 ― OAK DALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 2711 S. HILL STREET.
1960 ― DAVID CROCKETT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 4720 FLOYD AVENUE.
1960 ― POPULATION 137,969.
1960 ― EASTRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1314 EVERGREEN STREET.
1960 ― RIDGECREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 5306 W. 37TH AVENUE.
1960 ― MESA VERDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 4011 BEAVER DRIVE.
1960 ― SOUTH GEORGIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 5018 SUSAN DRIVE.
1961 ― WESTERN PLATEAU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 4927 SHAWNEE TRAIL.
1961 ― CAPROCK HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3001 E. 34TH AVENUE.
1963 ― BELMAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 6324 ADIRONDACK TRAIL.
1964 ― MESA PETROLEUM WAS ORGANIZED.
1964 ― WILLOW VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 7600 PAVILLARD DRIVE.
1964 ― ROLLING HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 2800 W. CHERRY AVENUE.
1965 ― ALIBATES FLINT QUARRY DECLARED A NATIONAL MONUMENT.
1965 ― AMARILLO MEDICAL COMPLEX WAS ORGANIZED.
1965 ― GENE HOWE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 5108 PICO BOULEVARD.
1965 ― SOUTHEAST REGIONAL PARK WAS DEVELOPED AT S. E. 46TH & OSAGE.
1965 ― MEDICAL CENTER PARK WAS DEVELOPED AT S.W. 9TH & WALLACE BOULEVARD.
1966 ― MUSICAL DRAMA “TEXAS” OPENED IN PALO DURO STATE PARK.
1967 ― JAMES B. BONHAM JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 5600 S.W. 49TH AVENUE.
1968 ― AMARILLO AIR FORCE BASE WAS CLOSED.
1968 ― THE TALLEST BUILDING, THE TEXAS AMERICAN BANK AND THE SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE TOWER, WAS BUILT AT 6TH & TYLER.
1968 ― INTERSTATE 40 HIGHWAY WAS DEDICATED.
1968 ― AMARILLO MEDICAL CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED.
1970 ― TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE OPENED AT THE SITE OF THE OLD AIR BASE.
1970 ― AMARILLO HIGH SCHOOL AT 1200 S. POLK WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.
1970 ― POPULATION 127,010
1971 ― MARTIN LAKE PARK WAS DEVELOPED AT N.E. 15TH & MIRROR.
1972 ― AMARILLO ART CENTER WAS OPENED.
1973 ― RIVER ROAD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT RIVER ROAD & MOBLEY DRIVE.
1973 ― AMARILLO HIGH SCHOOL WAS REBUILT AT 4225 DANBURY DRIVE.
1974 ― SOUTHWEST REGIONAL PARK WAS DEVELOPED AT S.W. 48TH & BELL.
1975 ― THE DON HARRINGTON DISCOVERY CENTER-PLANETARIUM WAS ESTABLISHED.
1975 ― NINE BANKS WERE OPERATING IN AMARILLO.
1976 ― AMARILLO AIR TERMINAL WAS DESIGNATED AN INTERNATIONAL PORT OF ENTRY.
1977 ― PUCKETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 6700 OAKHURST DRIVE.
1977 ― SUNDOWN LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 4715 SUNDOWN LANE.
1978 ― RIVER ROAD JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT RIVER ROAD. & MOBLEY DR.
1979 ― BUSHLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS ESTABLISHED.
1979 ― HIGHLAND PARK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS ESTABLISHED.
1980 ― POPULATION 149,230
1980 ― SLEEPY HOLLOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3433 REEDER DRIVE.
1982 ― WINDSOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS ESTABLISHED AT 6700 HYDE PARKWAY.
1983 ― VALLEYVIEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 9000 VALLEYVIEW DRIVE.
1985 ― FALLING OIL PRICES STAGGERED THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
1985 ― HIGHLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT HIGHWAY 60 & FM 1912.
1986 ― THE UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES HIT AN ALL TIME HIGH OF 7.9%.
1986 ― INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 27 WAS DEDICATED.
1986 ― POPULATION 159,600
1987 ― ARDEN ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 6801 LEARNING TREE AVE.
1987 ― POPULATION 160,380
1987 ― ORGANIZATIONS AND CITIZENS BEGAN A YEAR OF PROJECTS AND EVENTS TO CELEBRATE THE AMARILLO CENTENNIAL.