Wheeler is located east of Amarillo and north of Shamrock along US 83 and Hwy 152 near the North Fork of the Red River and the Oklahoma state line.
The seat of Wheeler County, the population was 904 in 1950, 1,174 in 1960, 1,116 in 1970, and 1,584 in 1980. Several large feedlots attest to its importance as an agribusiness center.
The main street, US 83, is called Alan Bean Street in the city limits in honor of the astronaut who spent his early years in Wheeler.
In 1990 the population was 1,393.