What Are The Actual Amarillo, Texas City Limits? Really Weird.

Recently, I found myself at one of the branches of the Amarillo Public Library signing up to get my library card. I've almost been here a decade. It was time. I was surprised to find out that my address wasn't in Amarillo city limits, despite my address and zip code.

What are the actual Amarillo city limits? It turns out, they're really weird.

Amarillo, TX City Limits Aren't Neat And Tidy

If you look at a map of the Amarillo city limits, it looks like someone tried to draw a rectangle during an earthquake. It's not a clean-cut square.

There are some places where the city limit is trucking along in a straight line and then it juts inward for a bit before resuming its original course. It's a lot of odd twists and turns that make for a shape that resembles a ray gun from a 1950s sci-fi movie.

Pew pew, indeed.

City of Amarillo

Amarillo, TX Southern City Limit

For instance, the southernmost point in the city limit map is just beyond Sundown Lane. However, it's only for part of Sundown Lane.

It doesn't make it all the way McCormick.

It gets a little wacky around the southern edge of Soncy near the loop. There's a bubble that just appears before the boundary resumes its original course.

Amarillo, TX Northern City Limit

The northern most portion of the Amarillo city limit, according to this map on the City's website, is E Cherry Ave and Dumas Drive. Keep in mind though, it's only a portion of E Cherry Ave, and it doesn't stray too far east or west from Dumas Drive.

Again, this map is a head-scratcher.

When it comes to the eastern borders and western borders, FM1912 makes up a small portion of the easternmost border. In the west, it goes as far as a weird little outcropping from Arden Road, just west of Helium Road.

If None Of This Is Making Any Sense...

don't worry. You're not alone. I've stared at this map for an hour trying to figure out what the hell is going on and how I could have missed getting a free library card by two blocks. It's a pretty wacky map, and honestly, most city limit maps are.

Don't believe me? Click on this link to go to the City of Amarillo's website where I used one of their provided maps to highlight the Amarillo city limits. See it for yourself.

Then join me in the head scratching.

Say You're From Amarillo Without Saying You're From Amarillo

Amarillo is a pretty quirky place. We've got the Big Texan, the weird signs, and (obviously) the famed Cadillac Ranch. But more than that, there's a distinct culture of close-knit community, eccentrics, a thriving arts scene, and much more.

The point is, living in Amarillo is a unique experience. Because of that, it's really pretty easy to tell who's a native or a long-time resident. And I can prove it.

Here's a couple of ways you can say you're from Amarillo.....without saying you're from Amarillo.

Check Out The Original Names For These Amarillo Streets

It's hard to imagine these well-known Amarillo streets as any other name. Try to imagine giving directions to someone while using their original names. Gets tricky, doesn't it?

The new names (that we currently know them by) came mostly from associates of Henry Luckett, who drew the first map of the area. When this took place exactly, records do not show, but the street name revamp is covered extensively in 'Old Town Amarillo' by Judge John Crudgington, published in the Plains Historical Review in 1957.

Cool Off This Summer at Amarillo Pools and Splash Pads

Filed Under: Amarillo Texas, city limits

Categories: Amarillo News