Did You Know Amarillo Once Called Itself “The Friendly City”?

Amarillo goes by, and has gone by, several nicknames. Depending on how old you are, what part of town you grew up in, whether you were born here or not; it all influences how you see Amarillo. That being said, once in a while one of these nicknames will surprise me.

For instance, did you know that Amarillo once called itself "The Friendly City"?

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You Have To Go Way Back, Almost 100 Years, For The Friendly City

I had never heard Amarillo be referred to as "The Friendly City." The other nicknames get tossed around a lot.

• Bomb City
• Yellow City
• H806 (hate-oh-six in case you're scratching your head)
• Yellow Rose of Texas (I've only ever encountered this one on Wikipedia)

"The Friendly City" is a moniker that Amarillo wore for a relatively short period of time. It was mainly used in the 1930s.

In 1938, there was even an ad in the paper that welcomed people "...to the Friendly City."

The Name Stuck Until The Late 1960s

Even in the late 1950s and the early '60s, the nickname appears. There is one instance where the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce is pointed at as the entity that picked up using the term "The Friendly City."

There is one time where the name pops up, where it is suggested to be more of a slogan than a nickname. That was in 1961.

Does Amarillo Live Up To That Name?

I think that would depend on who you ask. No offense intended; just a reality of life. Our experiences are different.

However, when you dig around on various message boards you find many people comment on how friendly the people of Amarillo can be. That comes from visitors and long-time residents alike.