Google View of the Size And Significance of Pantex Near Amarillo

Just northeast of Amarillo, Texas is a a facility part of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Nuclear Security Enterprise.

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The facility is Pantex

Most everyone in the area knows about Pantex. In fact, for most people, Pantex is the place where people aspire to work one day, because of the excellent pay and benefits. Pantex is one of the largest employers in the area.

Pantex is a large facility that sits on over 18,000 acres of land and contains over 650 buildings. The main purpose of Pantex is to work with nuclear weapons.

Since 1975, Pantex has been the nation’s primary assembly, disassembly, retrofit, and life-extension center for nuclear weapons. The last new nuclear weapon was completed in 1991. Since then, Pantex has safely dismantled thousands of weapons retired from the stockpile by the military and placed the resulting plutonium pits in interim storage.

Most people are curious about Pantex, but few know its true scale without employment and/or high-security clearance.

We pulled some pictures from Google to see how expansive this facility is and it is huge.

Pantex

Pantex is designated as a "No Drone Zone".

This means unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are prohibited in Pantex airspace. Pantex employs a system to detect and counter all unauthorized UAS within its airspace.

Pantex has a rich history in the Texas Panhandle. Pantex was once home to the most powerful bomb.

Here's a great history of Pantex, from a Pantex historian.

OPPORTUNITIES: These Are the Highest-Paying Jobs in Amarillo That Don’t Require a College Degree

Stacker ranked the 50 highest-paying jobs in Amarillo that don't require a college degree, using annual compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

LOOK: A Welcome Decline in Homicides for Amarillo in 2023

The year 2023 closed out with a reported 16 homicides for Amarillo, Texas. And out of these 16 cases, three are open investigations. The tally comes as a welcome decline after the concerning surge of reported murders in 2021 and 2022.

**Note from the Editor: The following is not an exhaustive list. We have compiled what you see below from news reports, official police statements, along with where the case stands in the court system. If you see any errors in reporting or fact, please email the editor directly at sarah.clark@townsquaremedia.com along with any supporting documents.

We wish to stress that all individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

***This list does not include the open cases for Markell Toombs-Reed and Jarvurian Penns

Gallery Credit: Sarah Clark/TSM

Historical Smith-Rogers Home in Amarillo

The Smith-Rogers home was originally built in 1904 by Amarillo settlers James Bynum and Marie Lowery Smith. The home was located at 1101 S. Taylor. It was moved to its current location 4841 SW 9th Avenue in 1945 by then-owner Jesse A. Rogers.

The home has 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, on 1.16 acres. The home includes a detached 2-car garage with a 1 bedroom/1 bath apartment.

It is a a Texas Historical Landmark and the marker reads:

"This house was built for early Amarillo settlers James Bynum and Marie Lowery Smith c. 1904, and was originally located at 1101 South Taylor Street. The home was purchased in 1945 by Jesse A. Rogers, who planned to move his car dealership to the site. Instead of razing the house, he had it moved to its present site to serve as his family’s home. At the time of its relocation, architect C.W. Brott made changes to the original design. The classical revival style house now features leaded glass windows, roof cresting and interior woodwork from the 1900s and brick veneer, balustrades and full-height columns from the 1940s."

The home was on the market in October 2023 and listed for $945,000 by Sabre Cofer with EXP Realty

Gallery Credit: Lori Crofford