Callahan County was formed from Bexar Territory, created February 1, 1858, recreated August 21, 1876, and organized July 3, 1877. It was named in honor of James H. Callahan, 1812-1856, a soldier in the Texas Revolution and a captain of the Texas Rangers. The county seat was Callahan City in 1877, Belle Plain from 1877 to 1883, and has been Baird since then. Two early military roads, the Chisholm Trail, and the first government telegraph line traversed this region.