Calallen, Corpus Christi, Texas facts for kids

Calallen is a place in Nueces County, Texas. It used to be a small town until the 1960s. Now, it's part of the bigger city of Corpus Christi. It's located near the Nueces River, which also separates Nueces County from San Patricio County.

A Look Back at Calallen's History

Calallen was named after a famous rancher named Calvin Joseph “Cal” Allen. He was born near the Nueces River in 1859. Cal Allen owned a huge ranch, about 5,000 acres, where he raised cattle. He was known for bringing better types of cattle to South Texas. People thought he was a very respected person in the old Southwest.

How Calallen Started

In 1900, a railroad company, the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway, was building tracks south. They decided to skip an older town called Nuecestown. Instead, they built their tracks a few miles away. Cal Allen gave the railroad company land for their tracks. In return, the railroad built a water stop and a station on his property.

Cal Allen then divided some of his ranch land near the Nueces River into smaller pieces. He sold these pieces of land. Soon, a community started to grow around the railroad tracks.

Naming the Town

The railroad first called the stop "Calvin." But they found out another town in Texas already had that name. So, the people living there chose "Calallen." This name combined Cal Allen’s nickname, "Cal," and his last name, "Allen." In 1908, Calallen got its own post office. Meanwhile, the old town of Nuecestown slowly disappeared.

Growing and Changing

The main part of Calallen grew on the west side of the railroad tracks. It had many important businesses. These included a bank, a lumber yard, a pharmacy, and general stores. Two passenger trains stopped in Calallen every day. In 1914, about 150 people lived in the town, and it had nine businesses. The population changed over time, reaching 100 people by 1939.

Calallen had different churches, like Baptist, Catholic, and Methodist. It also had a big two-story hotel on its main street. One of the biggest employers was the Corpus Christi Water Plant. This was one of the first large businesses in the area that wasn't about farming.

Other businesses also moved into the town. These included places that packed vegetables, a cotton gin, and a place that raised bees. Many families became well-known in the community, such as the Allens, Atkinsons, and Noakes.

The End of the Town

After World War II, Calallen's importance in local business became less. The post office closed sometime after 1960. Calallen was never officially made into its own city. By 1966, the larger city of Corpus Christi took over Calallen.

Even though it's not a separate town anymore, the name "Calallen" still lives on. You can find it in the Calallen Independent School District, the Calallen Dam, and many local businesses.

Getting Around Calallen

Calallen is a key spot for roads in the area. It's where Interstate 37 and U.S. Route 77 meet.

• If you go south on Interstate 37, you'll reach downtown Corpus Christi in about 15 miles (24 km).
• If you go south on U.S. Highway 77, you'll get to Kingsville in about 28 miles (45 km). This highway eventually leads to Brownsville, about 148 miles (238 km) south.

U.S. Highway 77 is one of the main roads that connects Interstate 37 to the Rio Grande Valley.

After the main intersection, Interstate 37 and U.S. Highway 77 go north for about 2 miles (3 km). Then they leave the city limits and enter San Patricio County. Soon after crossing the Nueces River, the two highways split.

• Interstate 37 heads northwest towards Mathis (18 miles / 29 km) and then to San Antonio (126 miles / 203 km).
• U.S. Highway 77 goes northeast towards Sinton (12 miles / 19 km) and then to Victoria (80 miles / 129 km).

Calallen is also where FM 624 begins. This road goes northwest towards Orange Grove (20 miles / 32 km) and eventually to Cotulla (115 miles / 185 km).

Land and Environment

While many nearby areas are flat, parts of Calallen have rolling hills. This is because it's located in the valley of the Nueces River. Calallen often gets a cool "sea breeze" because it's close to the coast.

Schools in Calallen

The schools in the area are part of the Calallen Independent School District.

• Calallen High School (for students in grades 9–12)
• Calallen Middle School (for students in grades 6–8)
• Magee Intermediate School (currently being built)
• West Intermediate School (for students in grades 4 and 5)
• East Primary School (for students in Kindergarten–3rd grade)
• Wood River Primary School (for students in Kindergarten–3rd grade)

Calallen is famous for its successful high school football teams. They have often done very well in playoffs. They even played in the state championship game in 2005 and 2016. The football program is led by Coach Phil Danaher. He has won more games than any other high school coach in Texas.