Callahan County, Texas - Wikipedia

County in Texas, United States County in Texas

Callahan County, Texas
County
Callahan County Courthouse in Baird
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 32°17′N 99°22′W / 32.29°N 99.37°W / 32.29; -99.37
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1877
Seat	Baird
Largest city	Clyde
Area
• Total	901.3 sq mi (2,334 km2)
• Land	899.4 sq mi (2,329 km2)
• Water	1.9 sq mi (4.9 km2)  0.2%
Population (2020)
• Total	13,708
• Estimate (2024)	14,615
• Density	15.24/sq mi (5.885/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	19th, 25th
Website	www.co.callahan.tx.us

Callahan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,708.[1][2] Its county seat is Baird.[3] The county was founded in 1858 and later organized in 1877.[4] It is named for James Hughes Callahan, an American soldier in the Texas Revolution. Callahan County is included in the Abilene metropolitan area.

Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 901 square miles (2,330 km2), of which 1.9 sq mi (4.9 km2) (0.2%) are covered by water.[5]

Callahan Divide is range of hills that extends 26 miles (42 km) from west to southeast through Taylor and Callahan Counties, with highest elevation 2,411 ft (735 m), which together with other elevated areas in the two counties provide advantages in wind energy.

Major highways

[edit]

• Interstate 20
• U.S. Highway 283
• State Highway 36
• State Highway 206
• State Highway 351

Adjacent counties

[edit]

• Shackelford County (north)
• Eastland County (east)
• Brown County (southeast)
• Coleman County (south)
• Taylor County (west)
• Jones County (northwest)

Demographics

[edit] Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	3,453	—
1890	5,457	58.0%
1900	8,768	60.7%
1910	12,973	48.0%
1920	11,844	−8.7%
1930	12,785	7.9%
1940	11,568	−9.5%
1950	9,087	−21.4%
1960	7,929	−12.7%
1970	8,205	3.5%
1980	10,992	34.0%
1990	11,859	7.9%
2000	12,905	8.8%
2010	13,544	5.0%
2020	13,708	1.2%
2024 (est.)	14,615	[6]	6.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]1850–2010[8] 2010[9] 2020[10]

Racial and ethnic composition

[edit] Callahan County, Texas – Racial and ethnic compositionNote: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000[11]	Pop 2010[9]	Pop 2020[10]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	11,822	12,065	11,555	91.61%	89.08%	84.29%
Black or African American alone (NH)	27	135	118	0.21%	1.00%	0.86%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	62	61	66	0.48%	0.45%	0.48%
Asian alone (NH)	34	56	52	0.26%	0.41%	0.38%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	7	7	7	0.05%	0.05%	0.05%
Other race alone (NH)	18	10	50	0.14%	0.07%	0.36%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	123	185	554	0.95%	1.37%	4.04%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	812	1,025	1,306	6.29%	7.57%	9.53%
Total	12,905	13,544	13,708	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 13,708. The median age was 44.3 years. 22.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.4 males age 18 and over.[12][13]

The racial makeup of the county was 88.7% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.6% from some other race, and 6.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.5% of the population.[13]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[14]

There were 5,582 households in the county, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.7% were married-couple households, 18.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]

There were 6,487 housing units, of which 14.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.0% were owner-occupied and 21.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.3%.[12]

2010 census

[edit]

Per the 2010 United States census, Callahan County had 13,544 people. Among non-Hispanics, this includes 12,065 White (89.1%), 135 Black (1.0%), 56 Asian (0.4%), 61 Native American, 7 Pacific Islander, 10 from some other race, and 185 from two or more races. The Hispanic or Latino population included 1,025 people (7.6%).[9]

Of the 5,447 households, 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with children and no husband present, and 28.5% were not families. About 24.7% of households were one person and 32.3% had someone who was 65 or older.

The age distribution was 76.2% over 18 and 18.2% 65 or older. The median age was 43.0 years. The gender ratio was 48.8% male and 51.2% female. Among 5,447 occupied households, 78.7% were owner-occupied and 21.3% were renter-occupied.[15]

2000 census

[edit]

At the 2000 census, 12,905 people, 5,061 households, and 3,750 families were in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). The 5,925 housing units averaged 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.78% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.70% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. 6.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[16] Of the 5,061 households, 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.60% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were not families. About 23.30% of households were one person, and 12.20% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.53, and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 26.20% under 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males.

The median household income was $32,463 and the median family income was $37,165. Males had a median income of $27,086 versus $19,720 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,204. About 9.00% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.80% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

[edit]

Callahan County is part of the 71st district for elections to the Texas House of Representatives.

United States presidential election results for Callahan County, Texas[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
1912	45	5.12%	782	88.96%	52	5.92%
1916	74	6.60%	959	85.55%	88	7.85%
1920	213	17.69%	804	66.78%	187	15.53%
1924	244	12.54%	1,614	82.94%	88	4.52%
1928	979	51.02%	940	48.98%	0	0.00%
1932	152	6.65%	2,133	93.35%	0	0.00%
1936	245	12.31%	1,739	87.34%	7	0.35%
1940	309	11.78%	2,310	88.07%	4	0.15%
1944	224	9.09%	1,962	79.66%	277	11.25%
1948	258	11.67%	1,844	83.40%	109	4.93%
1952	1,431	48.71%	1,502	51.12%	5	0.17%
1956	1,140	48.45%	1,199	50.96%	14	0.59%
1960	1,261	44.43%	1,559	54.93%	18	0.63%
1964	849	27.96%	2,178	71.72%	10	0.33%
1968	921	29.75%	1,437	46.41%	738	23.84%
1972	2,223	75.64%	665	22.63%	51	1.74%
1976	1,581	40.92%	2,241	58.00%	42	1.09%
1980	2,284	52.74%	2,002	46.22%	45	1.04%
1984	3,538	72.69%	1,305	26.81%	24	0.49%
1988	2,887	58.67%	2,017	40.99%	17	0.35%
1992	2,134	40.38%	1,694	32.05%	1,457	27.57%
1996	2,480	52.82%	1,666	35.48%	549	11.69%
2000	3,656	74.67%	1,174	23.98%	66	1.35%
2004	4,542	80.33%	1,073	18.98%	39	0.69%
2008	4,589	80.28%	1,063	18.60%	64	1.12%
2012	4,378	84.24%	751	14.45%	68	1.31%
2016	4,865	87.20%	569	10.20%	145	2.60%
2020	6,012	87.92%	734	10.73%	92	1.35%
2024	6,180	88.44%	761	10.89%	47	0.67%

United States Senate election results for Callahan County, Texas1[18]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	5,973	85.62%	863	12.37%	140	2.01%

Communities

[edit]

Cities

[edit]

• Baird (county seat)
• Clyde

Towns

[edit]

• Cross Plains
• Putnam

Unincorporated communities

[edit]

• Atwell
• Cottonwood
• Denton
• Dudley
• Eula
• Oplin
• Pueblo
• Rowden

Ghost towns

[edit]

• Admiral
• Belle Plain
• Callahan City

See also

[edit]

• Robert E. Howard Museum
• List of museums in West Texas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Callahan County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Callahan County

References

[edit]

1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Callahan County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
2. ^ "Callahan County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
6. ^ "QuickFacts: Callahan County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
7. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
8. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
9. ^ a b c "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Callahan County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
10. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Callahan County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
11. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Callahan County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
12. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
13. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
14. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
15. ^ "American FactFinder". Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
18. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

External links

[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Callahan County, Texas.

• Callahan County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas
• Callahan County Website
• Callahan County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties

Places adjacent to Callahan County, Texas
Jones County Shackelford County Taylor County Callahan County, Texas Eastland County Coleman County Brown County

v t e Municipalities and communities of Callahan County, Texas, United States
County seat: Baird
Cities	Baird Clyde
Towns	Cross Plains Putnam
Unincorporatedcommunities	Atwell Cottonwood Denton Dudley Eula Oplin Pueblo Rowden
Ghost towns	Admiral Belle Plain Callahan City
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32°17′N 99°22′W / 32.29°N 99.37°W / 32.29; -99.37

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