Callahan City, Texas, Callahan City Cemetery, Callahan County. (original) (raw)

History in a (Burkett) Pecan Shell

The county was established in 1858 but hardly anyone was interested in settling this region for the first twenty years. Founded in 1876, Callahan City was originally a waterhole on the Western Cattle Trail to Dodge City. As Yogi Berra might have said: �It�s future was ahead of it.�

Stores appeared to supply traildrivers, and with the arrival of settlers, they started stocking items for permanent residents.

The first Callahan County Commissioners Court was held here in July of 1877, but despite having the advantage of it�s name � it lost county seat status to Belle Plain in December that same year.

Belle Plain hardly had time to gloat � they lost their county seat status to Baird a short time later when the Texas and Pacific Railroad came through, bypassing both towns.

A cemetery (shown on county maps) is now all that remains of Callahan City.

Historical Marker: From Baird, take FM 2228 SE about 8.5 miles

Callahan City

Callahan County was created in 1858 and named for Texas Ranger James H. Callahan (1814-56). Permanent settlement of this area began after the Civil War (1861-65). Residents petitioned in 1877 for organization of county government. Callahan City, then a village with two stores and a post office, became temporary county seat when the first commissioners court met here on July 30, 1877. The nearby town of Belle Plaine won a spirited election for permanent county seat in December 1877. After the Callahan City post office moved there six months later, this community soon disappeared.
(1977)

Callahan City Cemetery

Photographers' Note:
The cemetery of Callahan City looked semi-maintained. Grass was pretty high and the flags were faded, but it still seemed like it received regular visitors. - Lexie Nichols and Jordan Gibson, February, 2009

Historical Marker: from Baird, take US 80 East about 4 miles, then go south on FM 2228 about 2.5 miles

Callahan City Cemetery

Established prior to the organization of Callahan County in 1877. Burial place of many pioneers who came here during era of Indians and great early ranches. Served people of such bygone towns as Admiral, Callahan City, and other neighboring communities.
(1967)

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