Town Origins

Clarendon Started as a Dry Methodist Colony on the Open Prairie

Clarendon was founded in 1878 by a Methodist minister who wanted a temperance community on the Texas Panhandle, earning it the nickname 'Saints' Roost.'

Donley County History & Culture

Rev. Lewis Henry Carhart led a group of Methodist settlers to Donley County in 1878. He named the settlement Clarendon, reportedly after his wife Clara. Because the colony banned alcohol, cowboys and neighboring ranchers nicknamed it 'Saints' Roost.' The settlement grew with backing from an English investment company and became the county seat when Donley County was organized in 1882.

The town moved in 1887 when the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway laid its tracks a few miles away — settlers picked up and rebuilt near the rail line. Clarendon College opened in 1898 and is still operating today. The Handbook of Texas at tshaonline.org has the full account of the county and town's early history.

Source to confirm: TSHA Handbook of Texas — Clarendon, TX

More Donley County notes

Property Tax

Who Handles Property Taxes in Donley County

The Donley County Appraisal District sets the value of your property, and a separate tax office handles billing — knowing the difference saves confusion.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farm and Ranch Land Can Be Taxed at a Lower Value

If your land is used for farming, ranching, or wildlife management, Texas lets it be taxed on what it produces — not what it would sell for.

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Groundwater

Water Wells in Donley County Require a Permit or Registration

Donley County sits inside the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District, which regulates new water wells and requires permits before drilling.

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Lake / Recreation

Greenbelt Reservoir Offers Fishing and Camping Near Clarendon

Greenbelt Reservoir sits just north of Clarendon on the Salt Fork of the Red River and is the main public outdoor recreation spot in Donley County.

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