Texas Porch
Economy Stories & local character

Amarillo Is a Regional Hub With a Diverse Economy

Potter County History & Culture

The 2020 Census counted 118,525 people in Potter County and 200,393 in Amarillo. Amarillo is the county seat, but the city also crosses into Randall County. An Amarillo mailing address does not always mean Potter County.

Amarillo works as a regional center, not a one-industry town. Its job base includes factories, defense work, food plants, shipping and distribution, health care, ranching, and schools. Cattle and energy remain part of the picture, but they share it with a much wider set of work.

Content last revised 2026-07-11

Keep reading

More stories and useful context near Potter County

A balanced next shelf: local character first, with practical context close by.

Stories & local character

The 1932 Courthouse Carries Amarillo's Art Deco Era

Amarillo's eight-story Potter County Courthouse turns local history into geometric Art Deco stonework.

Read note →

Stories & local character

Amarillo Grew as a Cattle and Railroad Hub

Railroad construction helped establish Amarillo in 1887, and cattle shipping quickly gave the new town a reason to grow.

Read note →

Practical

Lake Meredith Offers Boating, Fishing, and Camping Near Amarillo

About 40 miles north of Amarillo, Lake Meredith spreads through the Canadian River breaks with boat ramps, campgrounds, trails, and fishing access.

Read note →

Stories & local character

Amarillo Was Once the Helium Capital of the World

A major natural gas field was discovered northwest of Amarillo in 1918, and the high helium content of the Cliffside field led to a federal helium plant opening in 1928.

Read note →

Place pages in Potter County

AmarilloBishop Hills

Nearby county shelves

Randall (29) Moore (13) Carson (8) Oldham (5) Hutchinson (15) Armstrong (6)