Amarillo - Texas - United States. Guide & Hotel Reservations from Cheap Hotels

Within the high plains of Texas, on the border of the Potter and Randall Counties, is the city of Amarillo. Conveniently the city is positioned at the junction of Interstate Highway 40 and Interstate Highway 27. The climate in Amarillo is generally dry and semi-arid with very little average precipitation and rather warm summers. It is considered, by Money Magazine, one of the best cities in the nation to reside.

The railroad played a very significant role in the settlement of Amarillo. The Fort Worth and Denver Railroad, under construction in 1887, paved the way for settlers in the area. Interestingly, the first streets of the city were fashioned parallel to the railroad lines. The economy at that time was cattle based, and the city rapidly grew into one of the major cattle shipping centers in the world. The city's growth quickly flourished upon the completion of the railroad in 1898 and it is now in an area considered to be the Cattle Feeding Capital of the World.

Education is a valued asset in Amarillo as evidenced by the many public schools and institutions of higher learning in the area, such as Amarillo College and, in nearby Canyon, West Texas A&M University. The city takes great pride in these establishments and the achievements therein.

Parks and recreation are also of tremendous importance in the city of Amarillo. Aside from the countless number of neighborhood and community parks and clubs, such as the Maverick Club and the YMCA, the city also has a zoo, displaying animals, indigenous to the area, in a natural setting. The parks and recreation committee in Amarillo strive to make the city as attractive as it can possibly be and improve the quality of life in the region.