This is the ninth of 12 monthly columns welcoming the 21st century. The commentaries, written by Amarillo, Texas, and Canyon-area residents, will appear on the first Sunday of every month during 1999. This is the ninth of 12 monthly columns welcoming the 21st century. The commentaries, written by Amarillo, Texas, and Canyon-area residents, will appear on the first Sunday of every month during 1999. Taking a peek into a copy of The Texas Almanac, we find Llano Estacado or The Staked Plains, is generally referred to as the area east of the base of the Rocky Mountains and extending into Northwest Texas.
Historians differ as to the origin of the name.
Some think it came from the fact that the Coronado expedition, crossing a trackless sea of grass, staked its route so that it would be guided on its return trip. Regardless of the origin, the Llano Estacado is home to many of us. A short time ago, this land stretched as far as the eye could see, unscarred by man. Today this area is truly a Land of Milk and Honey, and one of the nation's leading agricultural breadbaskets. Today, one-fourth of all fed cattle in the nation stems from this region.