Callahan County, Texas

Callahan County, located in west central Texas, is surrounded by Taylor County to the west, Jones County to the northwest, Shackleford County to the north, Eastland County to the east, Brown County to the southeast and Coleman County to the south. Baird, the county seat, is 20 miles east of Abilene.

Cities, Towns & Communities

History

Callahan County. Formed from Bexar Territory, created February 1, 1858; recreated August 21, 1876; organized July 3, 1877. Named in Honor of James H. Callahan, 1812-1856 soldier in the Texas Revolution, captain of the Texas Rangers. County Seat, Callahan City, 1877; Belle Plain, 1877-1883; Baird, since two early military roads, the Chisholm Trail, and the first government telegraph line traversed this region. – Historical marker text. Marker erected 1936.

Callahan County 1922. The Legislature of 1858 gave the boundaries to Callahan County. but its population did not justify a county organization until 1877. The first county seat was Belle Plain, but when the Texas & Pacific Railway was constructed through the county in 1881 its line was six miles from the county seat and the Government was subsequently transferred to Baird. The other railway stations established soon after the railroad came were Clyde, Vigo and Putnam.

From the early ’70s, when the cattlemen first occupied the county. its distinctive character has been that of a stock raising region. The greater part of the county’s area is a rolling prairie, best adapted to pasturage, while the best agricultural lands are found in the valleys. Thirty years ago many of the stockmen gave their attention to sheep raising, but with the narrowing of the range limits the modern rancher has concentrated on cattle, and the general activities of the farmer have been greatly diversified.

Courthouses

Three Callahan County Courthouses have been located in Baird, Texas. The first was built in 1885, but razed in 1899 and the materials used in the 1900 courthouse. The current courthouse was built in 1929.

Location

Baird, TX 32° 23′ 38.4612″ N, 99° 23′ 39.2784″ W

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Callahan County, Texas