Amarillo is one place where you can visit the real Old West, only minutes away. Amarillo is located at the crossroads of America, right in the middle of both coasts. Air travelers reach the city through connecting flights from every major air terminal in the central U.S. Motorists simply take Interstate 40; one of the most traveled routes in the country, used by locals, tourists and industry to transport goods from food and grain to Allis Chalmers pump parts.
Since around about the 16th century, Amarillo and the entire Texas Panhandle area have drawn visitors from all corners of the globe. The first of the European settlers arrived, looking for fresh grazing land and a place to start anew approximately 80 years before the Pilgrims famously landed at Plymouth Rock. Landseekers, cattlemen and sheep herders from all points of the compass were drawn to this region and so began the community and industry followed soon after.
When the oil boom exploded in Texas, it reached across the entire Texas Panhandle. The discovery of black gold created fortunes overnight and not surprisingly, the region's economy grew quickly. Since the 1940s, the Panhandle economy has dramatically diversified to include heavy manufacturing, automotive dunnage, petrochemicals, farming and cattle ranching. In the last few decades, ranches have been the key to a new industry: tourism. Old West enthusiasts from all around the globe now see Amarillo as a major travel destination.
With any industry, the horizons and growth potential expand with increased travel capabilities, allowing greater ease for export and import, from livestock to cooling water treatment chemicals. The Fort Worth and Denver City railroad and freight service made available to industries contributed the city's growth as a major cattle marketing center in the late 19th century, and continues to be a source of transport for businesses and tourists alike.
Amarillo was once the (self-proclaimed) 'Helium Capital of the World' since they have one of the country's most productive helium fields. The city has also been crowned 'Beef City' for the city's growth as a cattle marketing center in the late 19th century. Former beef industry giants are now owned by Tyson Foods, a major employer. Recently, Amarillo has been dubbed Rotor City, USA for its V-22 Osprey hybrid state of the art aircraft assembly plant, and active ETF. Amarillo operates one of the largest meat packing industries in the United States. Also, Pantex which is the only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility in the United States is also a major employer.
With any growing city, construction is always going to be part of the city's industry. The Chase Tower is one great example and it opened in Amarillo's downtown in 1971. Completed in the same year, the Amarillo National Bank Plaza One building is home to the head offices of Amarillo National Bank, the city's largest and most well known financial institution. Another gem of construction is the Santa Fe building, completed in 1930. At that time it housed the regional offices of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, and a prosperous bulb keel company. The building was vacant for several consecutive years until Potter County purchased the building to gain new office spaces. Construction and architecture are both great sources of employment and wealth for the citizens of Amarillo, and in this growing city this trend is sure to continue for generations.
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