Callahan County, Texas

Last updated

Callahan County
Callahan County Texas Courthouse 2017.jpg
Callahan County Courthouse in Baird
Map of Texas highlighting Callahan County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas in United States.svg
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°17′N99°22′W / 32.29°N 99.37°W / 32.29; -99.37
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Texas.svg Texas
Founded1877
Seat Baird
Largest city Clyde
Area
  Total
901.3 sq mi (2,334 km2)
  Land899.4 sq mi (2,329 km2)
  Water1.9 sq mi (5 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
13,708
  Estimate 
(2024)
14,615 Increase2.svg
  Density15/sq mi (5.9/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.

Contents

Geography

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

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880 3,453
1890 5,45758.0%
1900 8,76860.7%
1910 12,97348.0%
1920 11,844−8.7%
1930 12,7857.9%
1940 11,568−9.5%
1950 9,087−21.4%
1960 7,929−12.7%
1970 8,2053.5%
1980 10,99234.0%
1990 11,8597.9%
2000 12,9058.8%
2010 13,5445.0%
2020 13,7081.2%
2024 (est.)14,615 [6] 6.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1850–2010 [8] 2010 [9] 2020 [10]
Callahan County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
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 [11] Pop 2010 [9] Pop 2020 [10] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)11,82212,06511,55591.61%89.08%84.29%
Black or African American alone (NH)271351180.21%1.00%0.86%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)6261660.48%0.45%0.48%
Asian alone (NH)3456520.26%0.41%0.38%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)7770.05%0.05%0.05%
Other race alone (NH)1810500.14%0.07%0.36%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)1231855540.95%1.37%4.04%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)8121,0251,3066.29%7.57%9.53%
Total12,90513,54413,708100.00%100.00%100.00%

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%).

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. [12]

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. [13] 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.

United States presidential election results for Callahan County, Texas [14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
1912 455.12%78288.96%525.92%
1916 746.60%95985.55%887.85%
1920 21317.69%80466.78%18715.53%
1924 24412.54%1,61482.94%884.52%
1928 97951.02%94048.98%00.00%
1932 1526.65%2,13393.35%00.00%
1936 24512.31%1,73987.34%70.35%
1940 30911.78%2,31088.07%40.15%
1944 2249.09%1,96279.66%27711.25%
1948 25811.67%1,84483.40%1094.93%
1952 1,43148.71%1,50251.12%50.17%
1956 1,14048.45%1,19950.96%140.59%
1960 1,26144.43%1,55954.93%180.63%
1964 84927.96%2,17871.72%100.33%
1968 92129.75%1,43746.41%73823.84%
1972 2,22375.64%66522.63%511.74%
1976 1,58140.92%2,24158.00%421.09%
1980 2,28452.74%2,00246.22%451.04%
1984 3,53872.69%1,30526.81%240.49%
1988 2,88758.67%2,01740.99%170.35%
1992 2,13440.38%1,69432.05%1,45727.57%
1996 2,48052.82%1,66635.48%54911.69%
2000 3,65674.67%1,17423.98%661.35%
2004 4,54280.33%1,07318.98%390.69%
2008 4,58980.28%1,06318.60%641.12%
2012 4,37884.24%75114.45%681.31%
2016 4,86587.20%56910.20%1452.60%
2020 6,01287.92%73410.73%921.35%
2024 6,18088.44%76110.89%470.67%
United States Senate election results for Callahan County, Texas1 [15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2024 5,97385.62%86312.37%1402.01%

Communities

Oil Map of Callahan County, 1919 Oil Map of Callahan County 1919 UTA.jpg
Oil Map of Callahan County, 1919

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

See also

References

  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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. "American FactFinder". Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  15. "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

32°17′N99°22′W / 32.29°N 99.37°W / 32.29; -99.37