Why you'd want to live in Amarillo

Amarillo serves as the cultural and financial center of the sprawling Texas Panhandle, a 26-county region slightly larger than West Virginia. The city is famous for its cattle production and rugged ranching landscape, but that Western heritage balances against a thriving arts community and vibrant downtown scene. While agriculture and energy remain dominant industries in the region, Amarillo’s central location has helped shape it into a rapidly diversifying economy. And despite the relatively low cost of living, locals enjoy many of the attractions and benefits of larger metropolitan areas – including a popular Double-A baseball franchise, attention-getting murals and public art, and outdoor recreation in the spectacular Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 25 miles south of the city. Interstate 40 and the Route 66 legacy bring more than 2 million visitors through the city each year. Visitors and locals alike are quick to tout the city’s open skies and open arms, as the expansive horizons result in epic sunsets and residents have a reputation for friendliness. Beyond those highlights, visitors are often surprised at Amarillo’s diversity. The local calendar boasts plenty of annual rodeos, but this is far more than a cowboy town. Decades of refugee resettlement have brought new flavors and faces to the area. Tex-Mex cuisine and barbecue are prominent here, but the local food scene also includes family-owned Somali cafes, Ethiopian markets and Thai restaurants. Amarillo’s population is about 200,000, but that number only tells part of the story. For decades, the city has been the shopping, entertainment and health care hub for the 430,000-plus residents of the Texas Panhandle. Both a gateway to the West and a regional destination, Amarillo is a growing city with a laid-back, small-town feel. via realestate.usnews.com