Cowboys and college students in the Texas Panhandle
Anyone traveling west into Canyon will glimpse the Palo Duro Canyon, the country's second-largest canyon and the city’s namesake. Visitors driving along U.S. Route 60 from Amarillo will instead be greeted by Tex Randall, a 47-foot-tall cowboy standing over the highway. Both sights showcase how the Texas Panhandle landscape and small-town pride have shaped Canyon’s identity. “Think of all the cute small towns in Hallmark movies, and that’s Canyon,” says Megan Nelson, the city’s community engagement director and resident of over 10 years. “It’s somewhere that once you leave, all you want to do is come back.” Thanks to employment opportunities from West Texas A&M University, the city’s population has grown from 13,000 in 2010 to an estimated 16,000 in 2023. This growth has also brought a still-expanding boom in new housing and small businesses.
Downtown Canyon is walkable and has shops and botiques.
There's constant new development making for plenty of opportunities.
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The canyons of Palo Duro Canyon State Park
The Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 12 miles outside city limits, offers many ways to explore the 800-foot-deep canyon system, second in size only to the Grand Canyon. The park has campsites and 30 miles of hiking and biking trails, and equestrians can explore the 1,500 acres set aside for horseback riding. The park’s Pioneer Amphitheater hosts the Texas Outdoor Musical every summer, which has been running for nearly 60 years.
Canyon’s parks and trails provide outdoor activities with stunning West Texas views.
The city sits near Palo Duro Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the U.S.
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West Texas A&M University brings thousands to Canyon
West Texas A&M University is the city’s biggest employer and brings 9,000 students to Canyon each school year. “It’s a very growing town. I came up here for school, and I’ve lived here for 10 years. A lot of people I work with now also went there,” Nelson says. The university is known for its business programs and its alternative energy research. The West Texas Wind Turbine, the tallest turbine in the country, anchors its research program. The campus also features a cattle and equine research center, the Buffalo Sports Park athletic complex, and the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in Texas.
Canyon, TX, is home to West Texas A&M University, a key part of the community.
The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest in Texas, is in Canyon.
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Spring Canyon and Clifton Ridge are building custom homes
New housing developments have popped up as the city grows. Developments like Spring Canyon and Clifton Ridge offer tracts of land and custom home designs, making them some of the most in-demand communities in the city. Canyon’s median home price is $315,000, compared to the Amarillo median of $238,000. Homes leave the market after an average of 35 days, compared to the national average of 45 days.
Many new homes feature modern ranch and farmhouse designs with open floor plans.
Canyon, TX offers homes with large lots, perfect for space and privacy.
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Canyon Independent School District earns an A
The city is part of the Canyon Independent School District, with an A on Niche. Niche also named it the top school district in the Amarillo area. The A-minus-rated Canyon High School offers four on-campus career academies, including an agriculture program where students can become certified in welding and cattle feedyard tech.
Canyon High School 1
Canyon Junior High School
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23rd Street and Fourth Avenue form “Main Street”
Texas Historical Commission recognized Canyon as a Texas Main Street City in 2002 for its small businesses on 23rd Street and Fourth Avenue. This district has over 30 locally owned stores, including bookstores, clothing shops and specialty stores like Canyon Popcorn Co., which sells over 60 flavors of homemade popcorn. The “Main Street” district also has over two dozen independent restaurants, from lattes at Palace Coffee to burgers and nachos at Feldman’s Wrong Way Diner and Italian cuisine at Mickey’s Place.
Canyon, TX, has a thriving small business scene with unique local shops.
Downtown Canyon features boutiques, cafés, and specialty stores.
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Less than 20 miles from downtown Amarillo
Interstate 27 connects Canyon to Amarillo, about 20 miles to the north, and Lubbock, 106 miles to the south. U.S. Highways 60 and 87 also run through the city. While Amarillo City Transit’s bus routes do not reach Canyon, residents can still request on-demand transportation through Panhandle Community Services. Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport is the closest commercial airport and offers American, Southwest and United flights.
Unpredictable weather in the Panhandle
The Texas Panhandle is known for extreme weather. Summers are hot and sunny, while winters are cold and snowy. Canyon has high winds year-round and has experienced many tornadoes, with large tornado outbreaks in 2021 and 2024. Severe thunderstorms and flash flooding are common in spring and summer, while frost and “blue northers” — sudden outbreaks of Arctic air — can sweep through in winter.
The Canyon Police Department reported an overall decline in crime between 2021 and 2023, including a 39% decrease in property crime and a 23% decrease in violent crime.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
