Baird

History

Baird, Texas was named after Matthew Baird, a director of the Texas and Pacific Railway. He was also sole proprietor of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, the largest locomotive firm in the United States, headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The city was officially founded in 1880. In 1993, the Texas Legislature designated Baird as the "Antique Capital of West Texas". It has 12 antique shops. The former Callahan County Jail, at 100 W. 5th Street, was originally located in nearby Belle Plain, then the county seat. When the county seat moved to Baird, the jail was disassembled brick by brick, and reassembled at its current location. Belle Plain lost population and became a ghost town. The town has five churches, four gas stations/convenience stores, and a feed store.

Geography

Baird is located in north-central Callahan County. Interstate 20 passes through the northern part of the city, leading west to Abilene and east to Cisco. U.S. Route 283 crosses the eastern side of town, leading north to Albany and south to Coleman. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which , or 2.55%, is covered by water. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Baird has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  256
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  242
• Northern Mockingbird

  Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  190
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  187
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

  Tyrannus forficatus (Gmelin, 1789) · Aves
  151
• Great Blue/Cocoi Heron

  Ardea herodias Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  144
• Black-crested Titmouse

  Baeolophus atricristatus (Cassin, 1850) · Aves
  133
• Ladder-backed Woodpecker

  Dryobates scalaris (Wagler, 1829) · Aves
  106