Canyon, Texas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Canyon, Texas
settlement_type = City
nickname = Gateway to Palo Duro Canyon


imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

image_blank_emblem = Canyon logo.pngblank_emblem_size = 250px


mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in the state of Texas,

---

mapsize1 = 250px
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Texas
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Randall
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Quinn Alexander
unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_total_sq_mi = 4.95
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 12.82
area_land_sq_mi = 4.95
area_land_km2 = 12.82
area_water_sq_mi = 0
area_water_km2 = 0
population_as_of = 2000
population_note =
population_total = 12875
population_density_km2 = 1005.9
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
latd = 34 |latm = 58 |lats = 46 |latNS = N
longd = 101 |longm = 55 |longs = 33 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 1080
elevation_ft = 3543
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 79015-79016
area_code = 806
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-12532GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1353772GR|3
footnotes =
website = [http://www.canyon-tx.com/ www.canyon-tx.com] |

Canyon is a city in Randall County, Texas, United States. The population was 12,875 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randall CountyGR|6. It is the home of West Texas A&M University and Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. Palo Duro Canyon State Park is some twelve miles east of Canyon. To the east of Canyon is the JA Ranch founded in 1877 by Charles Goodnight and John George Adair and still under the ownership of the Adair heirs.

Canyon is part of the Amarillo, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.

From 1926-1969, the Olympic Theater operated in Canyon. The air conditioned Olympic was known as the "best modern theater of any town twice its size in the state." [Exhibit at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Canyon, Texas]

The town's public education is served by the Canyon Independent School District.

Geography

Canyon is located at coor dms|34|58|46|N|101|55|33|W|city (34.979326, -101.925849)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.9 square miles (12.8 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 12,875 people, 4,802 households, and 2,924 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,600.0 people per square mile (1,004.3/km²). There were 5,091 housing units at an average density of 1,028.1/sq mi (397.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.33% White, 1.92% African American, 0.54% Native American, 2.05% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.69% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.73% of the population.

There were 4,802 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 25.6% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 15.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,361, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $34,338 versus $25,255 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,292. About 8.1% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents

*Harold Dow Bugbee, Western artist, former curator of Panhandle-Plains Museum
*Blair Garner, syndicated radio host
*Terry Funk, professional wrestler/actor
*Will Bigham, winner of Fox's reality series "On the Lot"
*J. Evetts Haley, historian of the American West, lived in Canyon and later Midland
*Georgia O'Keeffe, artist, lived first in Amarillo (1912-1914) and then Canyon (1916-1918), having been inspired by the natural beauty of the Palo Duro country.
*Robert Ezra Dixon, Athlete

National Register of Historic Places

*L. T. Lester House

References

External links

* [http://www.canyon-tx.com/ Official Site]