What part of Texas is meant by "The Panhandle?"

[Huerta88]

@BJMoose

I was going to suggest that the Texas panhandle region is so called because it is full of panhandlers, but I may have to drive through the area some day. . . .

I think you will find that it is full of very little. I think I read that several counties up there have some of the lowest population density in the State (or country, probably).

[UncleRojelio]

@BJMoose

I was going to suggest that the Texas panhandle region is so called because it is full of panhandlers, but I may have to drive through the area some day. . . .

Naw, all the panhandlers are down here in Austin. Don’t bother with the drive through the panhandle. There ain’t nothing to see up there.

[Bytegeist]

@Huerta88

I think you will find that [ the panhandle ] is full of very little. I think I read that several counties up there have some of the lowest population density in the State (or country, probably).

If it’s useful, here’s a population density map of Texas. It does indeed look pretty empty up there.

[BJMoose]

@UncleRojelio

Naw, all the panhandlers are down here in Austin. Don’t bother with the drive through the panhandle. There ain’t nothing to see up there.

The Lege must be in session.
I wouldn’t be doing it for the vistas. It’s just that U.S. 54 seems the most practical route from Kansas to New Mexico.
(BTW, western Kansas is pretty sparse, too.)

[flodnak]

@dtilque

Maryland, Idaho and Alaska also have panhandles. Missouri and New Mexico have bootheels. West Virginia has two panhandles, northern and eastern. Personally, I’d have called them pseudopods, since the whole state resembles an amoeba.

For some reason, there doesn’t seem to be a special name for the panhandle-like parts of Alabama and Mississippi.

I’d say they’re bootheels, too.

Pennsylvania has a chimney corner.

[panache45]

Is northern Utah ever referred to as a panhandle?

[UncleRojelio]

@BJMoose

I wouldn’t be doing it for the vistas. It’s just that U.S. 54 seems the most practical route from Kansas to New Mexico.

Well, try not to fall asleep.

[Rhubarb]

@Turek

Big Bend is actually just the lowest part of that area. There’s a state and national park there.

Those of us in Texas just call that large chunk of the state “West Texas”.

Sure, but West Texas also includes the panhandle, whereas Big Bend does not. Oddly enough West, Texas is more centrally located.

ps - don’t let the location fool you, I’ve lived in Texas for over 40 years.