Site Navigation Arkansas Louisiana Oklahoma New Mexico Texas       Interstate 27 North - Hale County Interstate 27 & U.S. 87 North IH 27 was built over the old route of US 87 and has a narrow right of way for a freeway, so here in the plains, where there are loads of room, there is no median through most towns Photo taken 05/26/08. The north side of Abernathy features a sharp curve in the freeway. It sits there because the route had to avoid a railyard and a power station. Photo taken 05/26/08. FM 54 is the first exit north of Abernathy. In Texas, a lower number for an FM road does not necessarily indicate its importance. "Strong Wind Current" signs feature prominently along the route. Photo taken 05/26/08. An IH 27 northbound reassurance marker. US 87 is consistantly cosigned here. Photo taken 05/26/08. In Hale County, the state DOT has given up on bothering to add route numbers to the county exits, as indicated here. The overpasses along the interstate generally also overpass the adjacent railway. Photo taken 05/26/08. The FM 37 exit also sees a large grain elevator to the side of the road. Here on the caprock, irrigation is easy and provides for a boom of grain each year. Photo taken 05/26/08. The next exit provides for the westbound continuation of FM 37. It generally goes west into the cropland and is true to its "farm to market" designation. Photo taken 05/26/08. The next town, Hale Center, is shown on this clearview mileage sign. Photo taken 05/26/08. Hale Center is complete with an interstate business loop, the next exit also connects the interstate with Main St. Photo taken 05/26/08. IH 27 northbound at Main St in Hale Center. The town is the most prominent speed trap along the interstate, and you can usually find a police car or two there. Photo taken 05/26/08. Hale Center's grain elevator skyline comes into view before the next exit, Cleveland Street. The town was founded in 1891 in between terms of President Grover Cleveland. Photo taken 05/26/08. IH 27 northbound at Cleveland St in Hale Center. The town was almost totally destroyed in a 1965 tornado but was unfortunately rebuilt. Photo taken 05/26/08. IH 27 in Hale Center has a narrow right of way with a jersey barrier divider. Photo taken 05/26/08. FM 2337 ends here at IH 27 and runs south to FM 1914. This exit sees numerous grain elevators. Photo taken 05/26/08. The first instance of Plainview is here at the Business Loop exit, this sign appears in the older Highway Gothic font. Photo taken 05/26/08. IH 27 northbound at its business loop at the southern end of Plainview. This is where the old route of US 87 branches off to head into town. Photo taken 05/26/08. An IH 27 northbound reassurance marker on the south end of Plainview. Photo taken 05/26/08. FM 3466 runs east from the interstate and stays entirely within Plainview, it passes to the north of the county's airport. Photo taken 05/26/08. US 70 is possibly the most important route that IH 27 crosses between its city endpoints. The exit has no control points and crosses in the center of Plainview. Photo taken 05/26/08. IH 27 northbound at US 70 in Plainview. US 70 runs west to Arizona and east to North Carolina, at one time it was known as the "Broadway of America". Photo taken 05/26/08. Plainview has a Starbucks, a Chili's, and almost any other type of chain restaurant. The city has about 25,000 people and is known as the hometown of Jimmy Dean, the voice of many of Jim Henson's muppet characters. Photo taken 05/26/08. Quincy St sits to the north side of town. Part of the 1992 Steve Martin film "Leap of Faith" was filmed here and the city's water tower still has the fictional Rustwater Bengals mascot painted on it. Also punctuating the skyline are 7 large grain elevators. Photo taken 05/26/08. IH 27 business prepares to meet its parent on the north side of Plainview. Photo taken 05/26/08. IH 27 northbound at its business loop on the north end of town. Photo taken 05/26/08. FM 3183 is the first post-Plainview exit. It runs two miles east, to the old route of US 87, FM 400. Photo taken 05/26/08. FM 788 meets IH 27 here at the ghost town of Finney, an old farming community. Photo taken 05/26/08. An IH 27 reassurance marker in northern Hale County, with an extremely long train to the east side. Photo taken 05/26/08. Swisher County is encountered just north of FM 788. Swisher County was named for Texas Revolutionary hero James Gibson Swisher. This also marks the beginning of the Panhandle and the end of the Texas' South Plains region. Photo taken 05/26/08. Page Updated August 23, 2008.