Why visit Panhandle
Townapedia lists 25 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 9 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Buffalo Grass Music Hall, Carson County Square House Museum and Panhandle Inn.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 93°F; January lows average 24°F.
Weather in Panhandle
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Panhandle
Panhandle is a city in and the county seat of Carson County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,378 at the 2020 census. Panhandle is part of the Amarillo metropolitan statistical area.
From the Wikipedia article Panhandle, Texas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks25
Carson County Square House Museum
Museum · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Panhandle, Carson County, Texas
503 Elsie Avenue, Panhandle
Panhandle Inn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Panhandle, Carson County, Texas
301 Main Street, Panhandle
Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railroad Depot
Monument and historic site · 0.4 mi
1 Main Street, Panhandle
13 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes9
History
Panhandle derives its name from its central location in the Texas Panhandle. Originally named "Carson City", it was later changed to "Panhandle City".
In 1887, Panhandle obtained a post office, and in 1888, the city was planned as the terminus of the Panhandle and Santa Fe Railway. At that time, the city was surrounded by several large cattle ranches. The community soon acquired a bank, a mercantile store, a wagonyard, a school, a newspaper, and three saloons.
In 1888, Carson County was organized, and Panhandle became the county seat. The area's cattlemen were reconciled to the arrival of farmers because they produced needed forage crops, such as hay, and introduced more families with eligible young women for the cowboy bachelors of the cattle kingdom.
Panhandle was scandalized in 1897 after George E. Morrison, a preacher at the Methodist Episcopal Church, poisoned his wife Minnie with a strychnine-laced apple so that he could marry his mistress Miss Annie Whittlesey of Topeka, Kansas. Morrison was sentenced to die in the gallows at Vernon in Wilbarger County, Texas, his last words being: "Jesus, Lover of My Soul".
In 1909, Panhandle voted to incorporate with a mayor-council government.
The population grew in the 1920s when Panhandle became the center of a natural gas field.
From the History section of Panhandle, Texas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship9
First United Methodist Church
Church · United Methodist
600 Main Street, Panhandle
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries7
Healthcare2
Family Care Clinic of Panhandle
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.5 mi
102 West US Highway 60, Panhandle
Map of Panhandle
62 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°F | 24°F | 0.5 in | 2.2 in |
| Feb | 54°F | 27°F | 0.5 in | 2.1 in |
| Mar | 64°F | 34°F | 1.2 in | 1.4 in |
| Apr | 72°F | 42°F | 1.6 in | 0.1 in |
| May | 80°F | 52°F | 2.7 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 89°F | 62°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 93°F | 66°F | 2.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 91°F | 65°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 84°F | 57°F | 1.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 73°F | 45°F | 2.0 in | 0.4 in |
| Nov | 60°F | 33°F | 0.8 in | 2.0 in |
| Dec | 50°F | 25°F | 0.9 in | 5.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Panhandle (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Carson County has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2021-12-15: North 207 Fire (Fire)
- 2021-02-19: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2021-02-14: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2011-07-01: Wildfires (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 21 miles away.
- White Deer 13 mi northeast, about 21 min by car
- Claude 17 mi south, about 27 min by car
- Borger 22 mi north, about 35 min by car
- Fritch 24 mi northwest, about 38 min by car
- Amarillo 27 mi west, about 44 min by car
- Pampa 27 mi northeast, about 44 min by car
- Canyon 39 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Bushland 40 mi west, about 1 h by car
- Clarendon 40 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Dumas 48 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Square House 06-30-2008 09;48;51PM, The original uploader was Billy Hathorn at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.