Many people are surprised to learn that the city of Amarillo was
actually founded twice. Originally settled by J. T. Berry in April 1887
and known as Oneida, the site of the town was located on such low ground
that many residents feared it was susceptible to flooding. In 1888, one
concerned resident named Henry B. Sanborn began buying land a mile east
of the site as a potential place to relocate the town. In 1889, the
town's fears came to fruition when heavy rains flooded the original town
site, prompting residents to move to Sanborn's new location. The town
went on to become one of the world's busiest cattle shipping points in
the late 1890s, causing its population to grow significantly. Today
Amarillo is the largest city in the Texas Panhandle, and its economy
continues to thrive on cattle, along with agriculture, oil, and natural
gas.