Calallen, Corpus Christi, Texas

Calallen, on Interstate Highway 37 in extreme north central Nueces County, was once an independent town but is now part of Corpus Christi. It was named for Calvin Allen, who donated land for the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway. A nearby Nueces River dam is named Calallen Dam. The Calallen community received a post office in 1908 with Ira D. Magee as the first postmaster. The post office was discontinued sometime after 1960. In 1914 the town had 150 residents and nine businesses. Its population dwindled to twenty-five by 1925 but reached 100 in 1939; it was 270 by 1965. By 1966 Corpus Christi had annexed Calallen.

Calallen is home to a major intersection point between Interstate 37 and U.S. Highway 77. Southbound Interstate 37 leads approximately 15 miles (24 km) into downtown Corpus Christi, while southbound U.S. Highway 77 leads 28 miles (45 km) to Kingsville, and eventually, 148 miles (238 km) south to Brownsville, in the Rio Grande Valley. U.S. Highway 77 is one of the two U.S. highways, along with U.S. Highway 281 in Three Rivers, that provides direct access to the Rio Grande Valley from Interstate 37. Despite Calallen being part of the city of Corpus Christi, many northbound U.S Highway 77 vehicles seeking the main city body would've turned eastward at Texas State Highway 44 in Robstown, as this is a shorter and faster route compared to turning eastward at Interstate 37. Northbound U.S Highway 77 vehicles seeking Padre Island and Corpus Christi's southeast suburbs would also rather take FM 665 eastward at Driscoll.

After the major intersection, Interstate 37 and U.S. Highway 77 travel about 2 miles north before leaving the city limits and entering San Patricio County. Almost immediately after crossing the Nueces River into the Odem zip code, the two highways split, with Interstate 37 heading northwest towards Mathis (18 miles/ 29 km) and eventually to San Antonio (126 miles/ 203 km), while U.S Highway 77 leads northeast towards Sinton (12 miles/ 19 km) and eventually to Victoria (80 miles/ 129 km).

Calallen is also home to the eastern terminus of FM 624, which turns northwest towards Orange Grove (20 miles/ 32 km) and eventually 115 miles (185 km) to Cotulla .

While the surrounding communities in the area are generally flat in terrain, many parts of Calallen is rolling due to its position on the valley of the Nueces River. Calallen experiences sea breeze often due to its proximity to the coast.

• Calallen Independent School District
  • Calallen High School (Grades 9-12)
  • Calallen Middle School (Grades 6-8)
  • Magee Intermediate School (Grades PreK and 4-5)
  • East Primary School (Grades Kindergarten-3)
  • Wood River Primary School (Grades Kindergarten-3)

Calallen is known for having one of the most successful high school football programs in the South Texas region, making numerous deep playoff runs and making the state championship game in 2005 and 2016. The football program is lead by head coach Phil Danaher, who has the most wins of any high school coach in Texas.

• Corpus Christi

• Handbook of Texas Online