Channing

History

Channing was founded in 1888 by George Channing Rivers, a paymaster for the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway. The settlement was originally called Rivers. Since the name Rivers duplicated another community in Texas, the name was changed to Channing later that year. Channing developed directly from its association with the XIT Ranch, a property that once included land in as many as 10 counties in the Texas Panhandle. In 1891, Willis D. Twitchell platted Channing's business district. At that time, Channing was the headquarters of the XIT. Albert Boyce, the ranch's general manager and one of the most prominent early citizens, built the first house in the community. By 1900, Channing had two stores, a post office, lumber yard, and school. Two elections, one in November 1896 and the other in 1903, were required for Channing to replace Hartley as county seat. The frame courthouse was pulled to Channing on wheels by mounted XIT cowboys in 1903. A brick courthouse was completed in 1906 and the original courthouse was converted into the once-famous Hotel Rivers. One of the first public libraries in the Panhandle was established in 1908 by a local women's club. The estimated population at this time was about 600. The XIT, which conducted most of its business from Channing, was the town's chief customer until liquidation of the ranch in 1911. The local economy was severely impacted, although the real-estate market temporarily thrived from the sale of XIT lands. A fire swept through the business district on September 6, 1931, destroying seven buildings, including Hotel Rivers. By 1940, Channing had an estimated population of 475 with several businesses, a high school, and three churches. A restored XIT office building is located in Channing as a museum. Channing was…

Geography

Channing is situated at the junction of U.S. Highway 385, State Highway 354, and FM 767 in southeastern Hartley County, approximately 30 miles south of Dalhart. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.3  sq mi (2.6 km2), all land. According to the Köppen climate classification, Channing has a semiarid climate, BSk on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Red-tailed Hawk

  Buteo jamaicensis (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  48
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  45
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

  Tyrannus forficatus (Gmelin, 1789) · Aves
  44
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  38
• Great-tailed Grackle

  Quiscalus mexicanus (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  37
• Western Meadowlark

  Sturnella neglecta Audubon, 1844 · Aves
  36
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  36
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  33

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