Putnam, Texas
Putnam is a small community in Callahan County, on the mesquite-and-grassland ranch country of West Texas about 32 miles east of Abilene. The town grew up as a stop along the Texas and Pacific Railway, and its later economy leaned on ranching, farming, and oil production drawn from the surrounding county. Today it is a quiet crossroads settlement surrounded by open rangeland.
Property here runs through the Callahan Central Appraisal District and the county tax office — the homestead exemption, the appraisal cap, protests, and any MUD, PID, or special districts all sit at the parcel level. The Callahan County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Callahan County notes
What to know around Putnam
Property Tax
Two offices handle property taxes here
Value questions go to one office on Chestnut Street and the bill goes to another on Market Street, and new residents call the wrong one all the time.
Homestead Exemption
Homestead exemption can lower your tax bill
If your home is your primary residence, you can apply for a homestead exemption that lowers the taxable value of your property.
Hunting
Deer and turkey hunting seasons in Callahan County
This is North Zone country. The rolling mesquite and oak around Baird and Cross Plains holds whitetail and Rio Grande turkey, but nearly all of it is private.
Water Wells
Callahan County has no groundwater conservation district
If your land here runs on a well, no local groundwater district is watching the pumping. The state's rule of capture is what governs the aquifer.
Mineral Rights & Oil
Oil has been produced in Callahan County since 1923
Callahan County has a long oil and gas history, and mineral rights are often severed from surface ownership, so check before you assume you own what's underground.
Local History
Baird became the county seat because of the railroad
Callahan County had two earlier county seats before Baird, and the railroad decided which town survived and which one faded away.
Nearby
Places near Putnam
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Eastland County
7 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Shackelford County
6 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Coleman County
5 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Stephens County
6 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Taylor County
22 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Brown County
7 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Next steps for Putnam
Estimate property tax
Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
Open estimator ->Callahan County notes
Property tax, land, outdoors, vehicles, rules, and history for the county.
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