Route 66, TX 207 to I-40
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
This 7.2-mile stretch of old Route 66 runs west from Conway, in the Texas Panhandle, toward Interstate 40 through open rangeland and farmland. It was designated as Route 66 and paved with concrete in 1930, after a dispute over the route through Carson County was settled. The original roadbed is about 19 feet wide with narrow shoulders, and the concrete was later covered with asphalt around 1950. It carried the highway until about 1965, when Interstate 40 was completed to the north, and it then joined the county road system as Texas Farm Road 2161. It is still used for local traffic. The nomination presents it as a representative example of 1930s roadbed engineering and as a reminder of Route 66's role as a major corridor between Chicago and California. The surrounding landscape, with scattered farm buildings, windmills and an abandoned railroad bed, has changed little, giving the road one of the highest levels of integrity of any rural Route 66 section in Texas.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the segment reflects the history of Route 66 as a leading mid-20th-century highway between Chicago and California (Criterion A). It also represents roadbed construction and engineering of the 1930s (Criterion C). It is described as one of the longest and best preserved Route 66 sections in Texas, with the highest integrity of any rural section in the state.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 06000924, listed April 3, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Texas Farm Rd. 2161, from I-40 to TX 207, Conway |
|---|---|
| County | Carson County |
| Listed | April 3, 2007 |
| Reference number | 06000924 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1930-1957 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a roadbed for local traffic as Texas Farm Road 2161, owned by the Carson County Highway Department. |
| Acreage | 36.6 |
| Coordinates | 35.22259, -101.50087 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 06000924.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q109999831
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.