Donley County is located in the southeast quadrant of the Texas Panhandle, and Clarendon, the county seat, is located 60 miles southeast of Amarillo. 
Donley County was created by the Texas Legislature in 1876 and organized in 1882.  The County was named after Stockton P. Donley, who was a Texas Supreme Court Justice and a Confederate veteran.  According to the 2000 Federal Census, Donley County's population is 3,828.  Clarendon has a population of 1,974 and other towns in the county are Howardwick (population 437), Hedley (population 379), and Lelia Lake (population 125).  The local economy is based primarily on agribusiness and tourism with higher education and light manufacturing also playing important roles.

Cattle ranching and farming such as cotton, peanuts, wheat, alfalfa and hay with 11,000 irrigated acres comprises the local agricultural activity.

Donley County is home to:

Donley County Courthouse, the oldest courthouse in the Panhandle, which recently completed a $4.2 million dollar restoration.  The building is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Clarendon College, a two year liberal arts community college, which is renown for its Ranch and Feedlot Operations program.

Saints Roost Museum which contains the comprehensive history of Donley County.  The Museum hosts the Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff every September.

Greenbelt Lake, a beautiful tree lined reservoir, five miles north of Clarendon on Hwy. 70.  The Lake offers great fishing and camping facilities. 

The Clarendon Country Club Golf course, 18-holes, overlooks the Lake.

-and many historic buildings and churches.  We are very proud of our ranching heritage, and invite everyone to come to Donley County and return to your Texas roots.