Channing, Texas
Encyclopedia
Channing is a city in Hartley County, Texas
, in the United States
.It is the county seat
of Hartley County. As of the 2000 census
, the city population was 356. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau
estimate placed the population at 327.
, and FM 767 in southeastern Hartley County, approximately 30 miles south of Dalhart
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.3 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
, a property that once included land in as many as ten counties in the Texas Panhandle
. In 1891, Willis D. Twitchell platted Channing's business district. At that time, Channing was the headquarters of the XIT. Albert Boyce, the ranch's general manager and one of the most prominent early citizens, built the first house in the community. By 1900, Channing had two stores, a post office, lumber yard, and school. Two elections, one in November 1896 and the other in 1903, were required for Channing to replace Hartley
as county seat. The frame courthouse was pulled to Channing on wheels by mounted XIT cowboys in 1903. A brick courthouse was completed in 1906 and the original courthouse was converted into a hotel. One of the first public libraries in the Panhandle was established in 1908 by a local women's club.
The XIT, which conducted most of its business from Channing, was the town's chief customer until liquidation of the ranch in 1911. The local economy was severely impacted, although the real estate market temporarily thrived from the sale of XIT lands. A fire swept through the business district on September 6, 1931, destroying seven buildings. By 1940, Channing had an estimated population of 475 with several businesses, a high school, and three churches. A restored XIT office building is located in Channing as a museum.
Channing was incorporated in 1960. At the time of incorporation, the population was 390. The number of inhabitants declined to 336 in 1970, 304 in 1980, and 277 in 1990, mainly because of its accessibility to larger communities like Dalhart
and Amarillo
. By 2000, the population rose to 356, a 28.5 percent increase over the 1990 figure.
City government consists of a mayor and two city council members. Mayor Karen Schulz was elected to fill a vacancy in May 2009. Current council members are Ms. Janie Ray and Ms. Betty Edwards.
Law enforcement is provided by the Hartley County Sheriff's Office as the City does not have a police force of its own. Fire protection for the City, and much of southern Hartley County is provided by an all volunteer fire department, headquartered in the City. Fire Chief as of October 2009 was Jeremy Tunnell.
As of October 2009 there were a limited number of businesses operating in the City, a cafe, mercantile and a rendering plant. Most citizens were either involved in ranching, dairy or other agricultural professions, or were employed in businesses in surrounding communities.
of 2000, there were 356 people, 135 households, and 103 families residing in the city. The population density
was 357.9 people per square mile (138.8/km²). There were 154 housing units at an average density of 154.8 per square mile (60.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.94% White, 1.12% African American, 0.56% Native American, 1.69% from other races
, and 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.02% of the population.
There were 135 households out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.1% were married couples
living together, 2.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,167, and the median income for a family was $42,188. Males had a median income of $29,250 versus $22,679 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,824. About 3.5% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
. One school building houses all grades and is located in the western part of the city.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Hartley County. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the city population was 356. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
estimate placed the population at 327.
Geography
Channing is located at 35°41′1"N 102°19′55"W (35.683612, -102.331817). It is situated at the junction of U.S. Highway 385, State Highway 354Texas State Highway 354
State Highway 354 or SH 354 is a state highway in the Texas Panhandle. This route is a replacement of a portion of SH 5, which was replaced by U.S. Routes in 1944. This section was bypassed, and was renumbered to keep state highway status....
, and FM 767 in southeastern Hartley County, approximately 30 miles south of Dalhart
Dalhart, Texas
Dalhart is a city in Dallam and Hartley counties in the U.S. state of Texas, and the county seat of Dallam County. The population was 7,237 at the 2000 census. Founded in 1901, Dalhart is named for its location on the border of Dallam and Hartley counties. Dalhart sits at the intersection of U.S....
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 0.3 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
History
Channing was founded in 1888 by George Channing Rivers, a paymaster for the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway. The settlement was originally called Rivers. Since the name Rivers duplicated another community in Texas, the name was changed to Channing later that year. Channing developed directly from its association with the XIT RanchXIT Ranch
The XIT Ranch was a cattle ranch in the Texas Panhandle which operated from 1885 to 1912. Comprising over 3,000,000 acres of land, it ran for two hundred miles along the border with New Mexico, varying in width from 20 to 30 miles...
, a property that once included land in as many as ten counties in the Texas Panhandle
Texas Panhandle
The Texas Panhandle is a region of the U.S. state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The panhandle is a rectangular area bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east...
. In 1891, Willis D. Twitchell platted Channing's business district. At that time, Channing was the headquarters of the XIT. Albert Boyce, the ranch's general manager and one of the most prominent early citizens, built the first house in the community. By 1900, Channing had two stores, a post office, lumber yard, and school. Two elections, one in November 1896 and the other in 1903, were required for Channing to replace Hartley
Hartley, Texas
Hartley is a census-designated place in Hartley County, Texas, United States. The population was 540 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hartley is located at ....
as county seat. The frame courthouse was pulled to Channing on wheels by mounted XIT cowboys in 1903. A brick courthouse was completed in 1906 and the original courthouse was converted into a hotel. One of the first public libraries in the Panhandle was established in 1908 by a local women's club.
The XIT, which conducted most of its business from Channing, was the town's chief customer until liquidation of the ranch in 1911. The local economy was severely impacted, although the real estate market temporarily thrived from the sale of XIT lands. A fire swept through the business district on September 6, 1931, destroying seven buildings. By 1940, Channing had an estimated population of 475 with several businesses, a high school, and three churches. A restored XIT office building is located in Channing as a museum.
Channing was incorporated in 1960. At the time of incorporation, the population was 390. The number of inhabitants declined to 336 in 1970, 304 in 1980, and 277 in 1990, mainly because of its accessibility to larger communities like Dalhart
Dalhart, Texas
Dalhart is a city in Dallam and Hartley counties in the U.S. state of Texas, and the county seat of Dallam County. The population was 7,237 at the 2000 census. Founded in 1901, Dalhart is named for its location on the border of Dallam and Hartley counties. Dalhart sits at the intersection of U.S....
and Amarillo
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
. By 2000, the population rose to 356, a 28.5 percent increase over the 1990 figure.
City government consists of a mayor and two city council members. Mayor Karen Schulz was elected to fill a vacancy in May 2009. Current council members are Ms. Janie Ray and Ms. Betty Edwards.
Law enforcement is provided by the Hartley County Sheriff's Office as the City does not have a police force of its own. Fire protection for the City, and much of southern Hartley County is provided by an all volunteer fire department, headquartered in the City. Fire Chief as of October 2009 was Jeremy Tunnell.
As of October 2009 there were a limited number of businesses operating in the City, a cafe, mercantile and a rendering plant. Most citizens were either involved in ranching, dairy or other agricultural professions, or were employed in businesses in surrounding communities.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 356 people, 135 households, and 103 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 357.9 people per square mile (138.8/km²). There were 154 housing units at an average density of 154.8 per square mile (60.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.94% White, 1.12% African American, 0.56% Native American, 1.69% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.02% of the population.
There were 135 households out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 2.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,167, and the median income for a family was $42,188. Males had a median income of $29,250 versus $22,679 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,824. About 3.5% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The City of Channing is served by the Channing Independent School DistrictChanning Independent School District
Channing Independent School District is a public school district based in Channing, Texas .The district serves southern and western portions of Hartley County as well as northern Oldham County....
. One school building houses all grades and is located in the western part of the city.