Canyon : Texas

Canyon is a vibrant small town and the county seat of Randall County, Texas. The population was 14,432 during the 2014 census, and because it is home to West Texas A&M University, the median age is just 25 years. The town is known as the gateway to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, one of the state's most popular tourist attractions. The Park offers hiking, camping, biking and birdwatching, all with beautiful views, and is the setting for the world-famous outdoor musical drama TEXAS. Canyon is listed on Livability's Top Ten Small Towns list. For a few years it was home to artist Georgia O'Keeffe, who was inspired by its natural beauty.  Picture of Randall County Courthouse in Canyon courtesy of Wikipedia and Willjay, picture of Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, and picture of West Texas A&M University's Old Main Building courtesy of Wikipedia.

Zillow reports the Median Home Value of a home in Canyon to be $129,700 in mid-2016.

Canyon is a small town with a well-respected University that offers several programs, theatrical productions, and sporting events residents can attend.  The town has several historical sites and is home to the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, the largest historical museum in Texas.  The Palo Duro Canyon State Park consists of 26,275 acres, making it the second largest canyon in the country, and a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Canyon also has a library, golf course, and 300 acres of neighborhood and public parks.

Canyon is far from any large city- Oklahoma City is the nearest at 275 miles, Dallas is close to 400 miles away. Winter temperatures are cool, and it does get a little snow. There are a lot of college students here so you need to enjoy the mix.

Retirees who are looking for a college town with a walkable downtown, low crime rate and low cost of living may enjoy retiring in Canyon.  The vibrant town has a historic town square, and many restaurants and shops.  It is also home to museums, parks, library, a health clinic and farmers market.  The University offers continuing education courses and there are volunteer opportunities.

Retail and Education drive the economy.   Canyon Independent School District and West Texas A&M University are the largest employers.

The average January temperature is 39 degrees, with July's average 79 degrees.  Canyon is located in the Texas panhandle so it does get snow, but averages only about 9" annually.

Because it's a college town, there are several restaurants and cofee shops from which to choose; West Texas A&M University adds a lot to the community with sporting events, and hosts a number of theatrical, musical and arts programs throughout the year; Canyon has over twenty historical sites, and the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum is the largest history museum in the state of Texas with exhibits dedicated to art, paleontology, petroleum, transportation and western heritage;  The historic downtown square hosts many community events including summer concert series and Christmas on the Square.