Cross Plains, Texas
Cross Plains is a town of 1,019 people in Callahan County, Texas, founded in 1860.
Why visit Cross Plains
Townapedia lists 7 museums and landmarks, 5 parks and trails, 3 places to eat and 1 place to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Robert E. Howard Museum and Robert E Howard House.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 95°F; January lows average 31°F.
Weather in Cross Plains
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Cross Plains
Cross Plains is a town in Callahan County, Texas, United States. The population was 899 at the 2020 census, down from 982 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From the Wikipedia article Cross Plains, Texas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks7
Parks, trails and playgrounds5
Restaurants and cafes3
Where to stay1
History
Cross Plains was settled in the late 19th century and was known as Turkey Creek and Schleicher before a post office opened in 1877 under the name Cross Plains. The town experienced rapid growth in the 1880s, going from 25 people in 1880 to 175 by 1885. The population was 600 in 1911, the year the town was incorporated. The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad was built through the town in 1912, which, combined with the discovery of oil near the city in 1925, led to a business boom. The population surpassed 1,200 by 1940 and remained stable until declining after the 1970s.
The Cross Plains City Council voted to disband the city police department in June 2026 after a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement investigation found that the department failed to meet state safety standards.
From the History section of Cross Plains, Texas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship3
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Healthcare1
Map of Cross Plains
29 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 31°F | 1.3 in | 0.3 in |
| Feb | 61°F | 34°F | 1.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 68°F | 42°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 77°F | 50°F | 2.4 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 84°F | 60°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 90°F | 68°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 94°F | 70°F | 2.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 95°F | 69°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 87°F | 63°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 79°F | 52°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 67°F | 41°F | 2.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 58°F | 34°F | 1.7 in | 0.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Rising Star 1S (12 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Callahan County has had 19 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2021-02-19: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2021-02-14: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-02-25: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2016-06-11: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Coleman Municipal Airport (COM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 24 miles away.
- Cisco 21 mi northeast, about 34 min by car
- Baird 23 mi northwest, about 37 min by car
- Coleman 25 mi southwest, about 41 min by car
- Clyde 28 mi northwest, about 44 min by car
- Bangs 28 mi south, about 46 min by car
- Brownwood 31 mi south, about 49 min by car
- Comanche 36 mi southeast, about 59 min by car
- Abilene 40 mi northwest, about 1 h by car
- Albany 42 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Stephenville 56 mi east, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Cross Plains Public Library Mural, 0ccam, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Robert E. Howard House 1, 0ccam, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Robert E. Howard House 2, 0ccam, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Robert E Howard House Museum 2015, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Robert E. Howard Museum Front Gate, 0ccam, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Robert E. Howard Museum Plaque, 0ccam, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Robert E. Howard House 4, 0ccam, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Robert E. Howard House 3, 0ccam, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Robert E. Howard House 6, 0ccam, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Robert E. Howard House 5, 0ccam, CC BY-SA 2.0
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