Hartley County is a county in Texas, United States, on the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle. It had a population of 5,382 at the 2020 census and covers 1,463 square miles (3,790 km2) centred near 35°50′N 102°37′W.
Channing is the county seat, and its postal code is 79018. The county has two incorporated places, one census-designated place, and several unincorporated rail-siding communities. Hartley County is in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Hartley County
Hartley County has two incorporated municipalities (Channing and part of Dalhart), one census-designated place (Hartley), and a handful of small unincorporated settlements that grew up along the railroad. The table below carries every place named on the county’s public records; unincorporated communities are marked “Unincorp.”
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channing | City · seat | 367 | 79018 |
| Dalhart | City | — | 79022 |
| Hartley | CDP | 583 | 79044 |
| Exum | Unincorp. | — | — |
| King | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Middle Water | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rehm | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Romero | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Twin Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilco | Unincorp. | — | — |
Dalhart is the county’s largest city, but most of it lies across the line in Dallam County — only its southeastern edge falls inside Hartley County, so its population is reported under Dallam. Hartley, the CDP, is a separate place from Hartley County’s own name and sits near the Union Pacific line a few miles south of Channing.
ZIP Codes
- 79018 — Channing (also serves the county seat area)
- 79044 — Hartley
The small unincorporated communities of Exum, King, Middle Water, Rehm, Romero, Twin Mill and Wilco use the Channing or Hartley ZIP codes depending on which is closer by road.
Geography
Hartley County sits on the flat, treeless High Plains of the Texas Panhandle, drained by the Canadian River breaks along its southern edge and by the shallow draws that feed the Rita Blanca Creek system in the north. Grassland and irrigated cropland cover most of the county, with the Canadian River valley cutting the only significant relief.
Hartley County borders Dallam County to the north, Moore County to the east, Oldham County to the south, and Quay County and Union County, New Mexico, to the west.
Demographics
Hartley County had 5,382 residents at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 3.7 people per square mile — one of the more sparsely settled counties in the Panhandle. Dalhart’s Hartley County edge and the Hartley CDP are the two largest population centres; roughly three in ten residents are Hispanic or Latino. Median household income in the county runs above the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting the area’s irrigated farming and prison-employment base.
Economy & Local Life
Irrigated corn, wheat, and cattle feeding drive the county’s economy, drawing on the Ogallala Aquifer that underlies the Panhandle. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Dalhart Unit, a state prison just inside the county, is one of the area’s largest employers. Public education runs through the Channing, Dalhart, and Hartley independent school districts.
History
Hartley County was formed in 1876 and organized as a county government in 1891. It is named for brothers Oliver C. Hartley and Rufus K. Hartley, early Texas lawyers and legislators who compiled one of the state’s first legal digests. Ranching gave way to large-scale irrigated farming through the 20th century as groundwater pumping expanded across the Panhandle.
Getting There
US routes 54, 87, and 385 and Texas 354 cross the county, meeting at Dalhart on its northern edge.
- Dalhart — 3 miles north of Channing
- Amarillo — 75 miles southeast
- Clayton, New Mexico — 45 miles west
- Dumas — 45 miles east
Dalhart Municipal Airport, just across the county line, is the nearest general-aviation field; the closest commercial airport is Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hartley County, Texas?
It is in the Texas Panhandle, on the High Plains along the New Mexico state line, about 75 miles northwest of Amarillo.
What is the population of Hartley County?
5,382 at the 2020 census.
How big is Hartley County?
1,463 square miles (3,790 km2), almost all land.
What is the county seat of Hartley County?
Channing is the county seat.
How many towns are in Hartley County?
Two incorporated municipalities (Channing and the Hartley County portion of Dalhart) plus the Hartley CDP and several small unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Hartley County?
79018 (Channing) and 79044 (Hartley).
What crop drives Hartley County’s economy?
Irrigated corn and wheat, alongside cattle feeding, powered by Ogallala Aquifer groundwater.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.