Prior to the community's existence, the Fort Worth and Denver Railway opened a station here in 1888. The first schoolhouse opened in 1905, with the town being platted out on August 5, 1915. From 1908–1917, a Post Office operated out of a general store, but was discontinued due to its proximity to Amarillo. By 1980, Cliffside only had a few small red buildings besides the railroad track. From the 1960s through 2000, the population estimates were recorded at 206.^[1]