Callahan County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Callahan County | state = Texas | seal = | founded = 1877 | seat wl = Baird | largest city wl = Clyde | area_total_sq_mi = 901.3 | area_land_sq_mi = 899.4 | area_water_sq_mi = 1.9 | area percentage = 0.2 | census yr = 2020 | pop = 13708 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 14491 {{increase}} | density_sq_mi = auto | ex image = Callahan County Texas Courthouse 2017.jpg | ex image size = 250 | ex image cap = Callahan County Courthouse in Baird | website = {{Official URL}} | time zone = Central | district = 19th | district2 = 25th }}

'''Callahan County''' is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,708.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Callahan County, Texas|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/callahancountytexas/PST120221|access-date=January 31, 2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Callahan County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48059|website=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=February 23, 2021}}</ref> Its county seat is Baird.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county was founded in 1858 and later organized in 1877.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/TX_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Texas: Individual County Chronologies|work=Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The Newberry Library|date=2008|access-date=May 21, 2015|archive-date=May 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513024355/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/TX_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is named for James Hughes Callahan, an American soldier in the Texas Revolution. Callahan County is included in the Abilene metropolitan area.

==Geography== According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|901|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1.9|sqmi|abbr=on}} (0.2%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 20, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

Callahan Divide is range of hills that extends {{convert|26| miles}} from west to southeast through Taylor and Callahan Counties, with highest elevation {{convert|2411|ft|abbr=on}}, which together with other elevated areas in the two counties provide advantages in wind energy.

===Major highways=== * 20px Interstate 20 * 25px U.S. Highway 283 * 20px State Highway 36 * 20px State Highway 206 * 20px State Highway 351

===Adjacent counties=== * Shackelford County (north) * Eastland County (east) * Brown County (southeast) * Coleman County (south) * Taylor County (west) * Jones County (northwest)

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1880 = 3453 | 1890 = 5457 | 1900 = 8768 | 1910 = 12973 | 1920 = 11844 | 1930 = 12785 | 1940 = 11568 | 1950 = 9087 | 1960 = 7929 | 1970 = 8205 | 1980 = 10992 | 1990 = 11859 | 2000 = 12905 | 2010 = 13544 | 2020 = 13708 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 14491 | estref =<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}} | align-fn = center | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=}}</ref> 1850–2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/> | align = right }}

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Callahan County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: 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<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Callahan County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48059&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Callahan County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48059&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> !{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Callahan County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48059&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> !% 2000 !% 2010 !{{partial|% 2020}} |- |White alone (NH) |11,822 |12,065 |style='background: #ffffe6; |11,555 |91.61% |89.08% |style='background: #ffffe6; |84.29% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |27 |135 |style='background: #ffffe6; |118 |0.21% |1.00% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.86% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |62 |61 |style='background: #ffffe6; |66 |0.48% |0.45% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.48% |- |Asian alone (NH) |34 |56 |style='background: #ffffe6; |52 |0.26% |0.41% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.38% |- |Pacific Islander alone (NH) |7 |7 |style='background: #ffffe6; |7 |0.05% |0.05% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05% |- |Other race alone (NH) |18 |10 |style='background: #ffffe6; |50 |0.14% |0.07% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.36% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |123 |185 |style='background: #ffffe6; |554 |0.95% |1.37% |style='background: #ffffe6; |4.04% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |812 |1,025 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,306 |6.29% |7.57% |style='background: #ffffe6; |9.53% |- |'''Total''' |'''12,905''' |'''13,544''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''13,708''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

===2020 census===

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.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A059&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 9, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A059&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 9, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Census2020PL"/>

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A059&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=January 9, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

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%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2010 census===

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%).<ref name=2010CensusP2/>

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.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml | title=American FactFinder | access-date=April 3, 2020 | archive-date=January 9, 2015 | archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20150109091741/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===2000 census===

At the 2000 census, 12,905 people, 5,061 households, and 3,750 families were in the county. The population density was {{convert|14|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. The 5,925 housing units averaged {{convert|7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. 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.<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> 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== Callahan County is part of the 71st district for elections to the Texas House of Representatives. {{PresHead|place=Callahan County, Texas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=July 20, 2018}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|45|782|52|Texas}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|74|959|88|Texas}} {{PresRow|1920|Democratic|213|804|187|Texas}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|244|1,614|88|Texas}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|979|940|0|Texas}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|152|2,133|0|Texas}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|245|1,739|7|Texas}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|309|2,310|4|Texas}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|224|1,962|277|Texas}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|258|1,844|109|Texas}} {{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,431|1,502|5|Texas}} {{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,140|1,199|14|Texas}} {{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,261|1,559|18|Texas}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|849|2,178|10|Texas}} {{PresRow|1968|Democratic|921|1,437|738|Texas}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,223|665|51|Texas}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,581|2,241|42|Texas}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,284|2,002|45|Texas}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,538|1,305|24|Texas}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,887|2,017|17|Texas}} {{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,134|1,694|1,457|Texas}} {{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,480|1,666|549|Texas}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,656|1,174|66|Texas}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,542|1,073|39|Texas}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,589|1,063|64|Texas}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,378|751|68|Texas}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,865|569|145|Texas}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,012|734|92|Texas}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|6,180|761|47|Texas}} {{PresFoot}} {{U.S. SenHead|place=Callahan County, Texas|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}  {{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|5,973|863|140|Texas}} {{U.S. SenFoot}} {{U.S. SenHead|place=Callahan County, Texas|Seat=2|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=Texas Senate Election Results 2020 |website=NBCNews.com |date=November 3, 2020 |access-date=April 10, 2026 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}  {{U.S. SenRow|2020|Republican|5,892|680|147|Texas}} {{U.S. SenFoot}} {{T.X. GovHead|place=Callahan County|Seat=|source=}}  {{T.X. GovRow|2022|Republican|4,770|444|52}} {{T.X. GovFoot}}

==Communities== thumb|''Oil Map of Callahan County'', 1919

===Cities=== * Baird (county seat) * Clyde

===Towns=== * Cross Plains * Putnam

===Unincorporated communities=== * Atwell * Cottonwood * Denton * Dudley * Eula * Oplin * Pueblo * Rowden

===Ghost towns=== * Admiral * Belle Plain * Callahan City

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}}

* {{Official website}} * {{Handbook of Texas|id=hcc03|name=Callahan County}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20131113184437/http://www.txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?FIPS=48059 Callahan County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties]

{{Geographic Location |Centre = Callahan County, Texas |North = Shackelford County |Northeast = |East = Eastland County |Southeast = Brown County |South = Coleman County |Southwest = |West = Taylor County |Northwest = Jones County }}

{{coord|32.29|-99.37|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Callahan County, Texas Category:1877 establishments in Texas Category:Abilene metropolitan area