McLean is located east of Amarillo on I-40 toward Shamrock, in Gray County.
Established 1901, it grew from a water well and switch on the Choctaw, Oklahoma, and Texas Railroad.
Once known as the "uplift city" because of a ladies undergarment factory, it is now the trade center for surrounding farms and ranches, and the second-largest town in the county.
Murals along Main St. depict its history. A restored 1930s Phillips 66 station lies on old westbound US 66 and is considered one of the best re-created sites by Old Route 66 Association.
In addition to the garment factory, McLean has had several industries connected with petroleum and its products. In 1990 the population was 849.