The folks in Fort Elliot petitioned to become the first panhandle county. Not sure if I’ve ever been in Wheeler County.
The “big city” in Wheeler County is Shamrock. Back when I was teaching I interviewed (and got) a job in Shamrock, which I politely declined. It was a beautiful area (if you like rolling hills and no trees) but the thought of living in a town that small didn’t excite me at all. If the nearest “city” is Amarillo, you’d better like reading a lot of books.