In July 1876, Bates, along with some cowboys that included Charlie Siringo, established a herd of steers and ranch headquarters along Ranch Creek on the north bank of the Canadian River.

The headquarters eventually included a bunkhouse, kitchen, storeroom, stables, corrals, blacksmith shop, wagon sheds, and a post office named Wheeler.

The ranch eventually extended from Dumas to the Palo Duro Canyon and 35 miles east to west.

By 1884, the ranch encompassed 187,000 acres, 45,000 cattle, and 1000 horses, when the operation was sold to the American Pastoral Company.

In 1902, the ranch headquarters were moved to Bonita Creek, on the south bank of the Canadian River.

On October 6, 1910, that company sold 30,354 acres south of the river to Lee Bivins, and on June 1, 1911, R.B.

[15] Potter County has supported Republican presidential candidates in every election since 1968, usually by lopsided margins.

School districts include:[18] All of the county is in the service area of Amarillo College.