If there is one thing that a person can say about the economic picture in the
city of Amarillo, it's that it is diverse indeed. The city of 200,000 people
has the usual amenities that supply the basic needs of a population that size.
There are stores where fish lovers can purchase their aquarium gravel, theatres
where you can catch old or new releases on the big screen, and a whole slew of
automobile dealership where you can find that perfect new or used vehicle.
Of course, in order to support a population that needs all of those types of
goods, you have to have a fairly stable and expansive economy in the first place.
Just what is located in Amarillo that makes it one of the more diverse economic
areas in the American South?
The answer is the sheer range of industries covered by local businesses. It's
most logical to start out with the agricultural industry, since this sector
is how Amarillo (and most Texas cities and towns) got its start.
The roots of Amarillo lie within the cattle industry. All of the modern amenities,
from an estate hotel, WiFi and all modern amenities included, are a direct result
of the meat packing sector's impact on the city. Located as it is in the
middle of the Texas Panhandle and serving significant portions of New Mexico
and Oklahoma as well, Amarillo was a natural place for ranchers to drive their
cattle for processors to purchase. Today, a full quarter of the beef produced
within the United States comes from Amarillo!
Beef cattle are not the only cows to be found in the Amarillo area. Thanks
to the development of several million dollar dairy operations (complete with
lagoon cleaning equipment and state of the art milking systems) the area is
home to a rapidly expanding milk industry as well.
Production of cereal crops is also a major agricultural concern in the Amarillo
area. No greenhouse supplier goes broke in this area, with the city surrounded
by more than 14 million acres of crops including corn, wheat, and cotton.
Amarillo is also home to that most famous of Texas products, oil. Petroleum
production and extraction facilities can be found all around the outskirts of
the city, and we all know what kind of profits unprocessed oil can bring!
Amarillo can also brag about receiving research and development credit from
several businesses located in the area. Chief among these is Bell Helicopter
Textron, which builds the military V-22 plane exclusively in a plant located
in this city. Amarillo also boasts the only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly
facility in the country in Pantex.
From basic necessities to the highest end weaponry the United States military
has to offer, Amarillo is a city that can certainly claim to have it all when
it comes to business. It's a great place for anyone looking to set up
or looking for employment at any level. |