Texas Panhandle, Geographic region in northern Texas, United States
The Texas Panhandle covers a wide stretch of northern Texas with flat terrain and a notable escarpment rising in the east. This zone spreads across many counties and borders Oklahoma to the north and New Mexico to the west.
Nomadic peoples lived across this prairie for centuries before Spanish explorers passed through in the 16th century. Later, ranchers and rail lines arrived, creating small towns across the wide plains.
The name comes from the area's shape on a map, which looks like the handle of a frying pan. Along the old Route 66, travelers pass through small towns with grain elevators and windmills standing over open fields.
Weather shifts sharply between hot summers and cold winters, so travelers should pack clothes for both conditions. Distances between places are wide, and a car makes moving around much easier.
Near Amarillo, an art piece made from ten upright cars planted in the ground marks the roadside prairie. Further north, large underground water reserves allow farming in this dry area.
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