Adrian

History

The community originated in 1900, when the Rock Island Railroad survey marked the site as a future station and shipping point. Former Texas Ranger Calvin G. Aten was one of the area's first settlers. He built a dugout west of the site for his family. The town was named after another early settler, Adrian Cullen. In 1909, the Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf Railway was completed through Adrian. The Iowa-based American-Canadian Land and Townsite Company attracted prospective farmers and businessmen to the community. J.P. Collier set up a printing press and dug a water well, running water pipe for the town's first infrastructure. By 1910, Adrian had a post office, several stores, and a newspaper – the Adrian Eagle. Approximately 50 people were living in the community in 1915. The slow growth rate was attributed to a lengthy drought and the difficulty of maintaining a sufficient water supply. Adrian became a stopping point for travelers on Route 66 and a shipping point for area wheat growers. A grain elevator was built in 1929 and the community organized a volunteer fire department during the 1940s. Adrian was incorporated in 1953 and adopted a mayor-council form of government. During the latter half of the 20th century, the population hovered around 220. By 2000, Adrian's population had declined to 159. It is one of two incorporated places in Oldham County; the other is the city of Vega.

Geography

Adrian is situated along Interstate 40 (formerly U.S. Route 66) in south central Oldham County, approximately west of Amarillo. Adrian is the geo-mathematical midpoint of Route 66, positioned from both Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of . Adrian, Texas bills itself as the midway point between Chicago and Los Angeles on historic Route 66. The city has signage proudly declaring "← Los Angeles 1139 miles — Chicago 1139 miles →" to travellers on the old highway who arrive from as far afield as Europe. The "US 66 midpoint" branding was adopted in 1995 on the advice of travel author and Route 66 Association founder Tom Snyder. Fran Houser, owner of the Midpoint Café restaurant, antique and souvenir shop from 1990 until 2012, is the basis for Flo of the "Flo's V-8 Café" diner in Cars. The café, built in 1928 and located between a motel and a former filling station, operated 24 hours a day during Route 66's heyday. The most recent Bent Door restoration efforts were made in 2009.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  53
• Chihuahuan Raven

  Corvus cryptoleucus Couch, 1854 · Aves
  52
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  44
• Great-tailed Grackle

  Quiscalus mexicanus (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  43
• Western Meadowlark

  Sturnella neglecta Audubon, 1844 · Aves
  38
• Common Raven

  Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  37
• Swainson's Hawk

  Buteo swainsoni Bonaparte, 1838 · Aves
  31
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  29

Most recent

• M 2.5 — 2026-02-10
  8 km NE of Amarillo, Texas
• M 2.7 — 2026-01-12
  8 km NE of Amarillo, Texas
• M 2.8 — 2026-01-10
  15 km NE of Amarillo, Texas
• M 2.6 — 2025-05-21
  13 km NNE of Amarillo, Texas
• M 2.6 — 2024-09-08
  34 km NNW of Nara Visa, New Mexico
• M 2.8 — 2024-06-26
  14 km ESE of Amarillo, Texas