Shamrock, Texas
Shamrock is a city of 1,710 people in Wheeler County, Texas, founded in 1890.
Why visit Shamrock
Townapedia lists 12 museums and landmarks, 2 parks and trails, 4 places to eat, 4 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Texas Theater and U-Drop Inn.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 94°F; January lows average 24°F.
Weather in Shamrock
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Shamrock
Shamrock is a city in Wheeler County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 1,789. The city is located in the eastern portion of the Texas Panhandle, centered along the crossroads of Interstate 40 (formerly U.S. Route 66) and U.S. Route 83. Due to its location at this intersection, Shamrock has been called the gateway to the Southwest.
From the Wikipedia article Shamrock, Texas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks12
U-Drop Inn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Building in Shamrock, Wheeler County, Texas
1242 North Main Street
Parks, trails and playgrounds2
Restaurants and cafes4
Big Vern's Steakhouse
Restaurant · Steak House · 0.7 mi
200 East 12th Street, Shamrock
Taco Bell
Fast food · Tex-Mex · 1.2 mi
1629 North Main Street, Shamrock
Mo-Th 09:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 09:00-23:00; Su 09:00-22:30
History
Located in south-central Wheeler County, Shamrock was the largest town in the county in the late 19th century. George and Dora Nickel consented to keep the first post office in their dugout in 1890. The mail was to be carried once a week from Mobeetie. The neighbors decided to let George name the office. His Irish-American mother had told him always to depend on a shamrock to bring him good luck, so holding true to his Irish descent, he suggested "Shamrock" for the name of the office. When a mysterious fire destroyed his dugout, however, George Nickel's post office never opened. Mary Ruth Jones became Shamrock's first postmistress, running the Shamrock post office out of the Jones family home.
In 1902, the Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf Railway set up a station in the town, calling it "Wheeler" like the county, but later changing it back to the original name of Shamrock in 1903, which prompted the reopening of the Shamrock post office. By 1907, the town was competing with the towns of Story and Benonine as trade centers.
From the History section of Shamrock, Texas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay4
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Motel and hotel · 0.9 mi
101 East 13th Street, Shamrock
Churches and places of worship4
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries8
Healthcare1
Map of Shamrock
40 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 | 0.8 in | 2.7 in |
| Feb | 54°F | 27°F | 0.9 in | 2.1 in |
| Mar | 64°F | 35°F | 1.7 in | 1.6 in |
| Apr | 72°F | 43°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 80°F | 53°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 89°F | 63°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 94°F | 68°F | 2.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 92°F | 66°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 85°F | 58°F | 2.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 73°F | 45°F | 2.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 61°F | 34°F | 1.3 in | 0.8 in |
| Dec | 51°F | 26°F | 1.0 in | 1.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Shamrock #2 (0 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
Wheeler County has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 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)
- 2016-02-09: Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2011-07-01: Wildfires (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Elk City Regional Business Airport (ELK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 50 miles away.
- Wheeler 16 mi north, about 25 min by car
- McLean 20 mi west, about 32 min by car
- Sayre 35 mi east, about 57 min by car
- Memphis 38 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Hollis 41 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Clarendon 41 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Pampa 47 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Elk City 48 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Mangum 48 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Canadian 49 mi north, 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
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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
- Restored Conoco station in Shamrock, TX IMG 6140, Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
- U-Drop Inn, Clinton Steeds from Los Angeles, USA, CC BY 2.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.