Hartley County, Texas

Organized in 1891 and named for Oliver C. Hartley and his brother, Rufus K. Hartley, two early Texas legislators and lawyers.

Towns located in Hartley County, Texas

Channing (County Seat)
Hartley (Original County Seat from 1891 to about 1896)
Dalhart (Straddles the counties of Hartley and Dallam)

State and National Parks within Hartley County, Texas

None

Rita Blanca Lake and Park Managed Jointly by Hartley and Dallam County is just south of the town of Dalhart in the northern area of the county.

Hartley County Courthouse and Grounds

The county seat was originally the town of Hartley from 1891 to about 1896. The original county Jail Structure, built in 1892 and use discontinued by 1903, still stands in the town of Hartley. The original courthouse was loaded on wagons and moved to Channing. The Current Courthouse, in Channing, was constructed in 1906. Next door is the old county Jail, currently used as the Sherriff’s office, also constructed in 1906. According to our tour guide, the jail was built around a navy ship’s jail. The Currently used county Jail is in the town of Dalhart and is Joint Hartley and Dallam County Jail. We have been to Channing twice in 2012 and 2016. 2012 we were there after hours and 2015 we were there when the courtroom was in use. One day we must get back and photograph the courtroom. Since the courthouse was in use the day we were there in 2015, we took just a few pictures of the interior common areas.

XIT General Office

Also within the town of Channing is what was the XIT Ranch General Office. The location where general business transactions for the legendary ranch were performed. Restoration activities are underway and we were given a tour of the grounds as well as the building while we were in town. One simply must notice the “XIT General Office” sign on the east side of US Hwy 54 just south of town. This tour of the general office was eye opening …. we had always heard of the legendary XIT whenever we were in the panhandle, seeing things up close and personal drove home just how legendary this ranch really was.