Route description

The road begins at an intersection with in Baird. It continues west through Clyde

Clyde, Texas

Clyde is a city in Callahan County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,345 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Clyde is located at ....

 to end at SH 36 in Abilene.

History

FM 18 was originally established in 1942 as Ranch to Market Road 18 from part of SH 208

Texas State Highway 208

State Highway 208 or SH 208 is a Texas state highway that runs from near Spur to San Angelo.-History:The route was originally designated in 1939 from Colorado City to San Angelo. The section from Robert Lee to Colorado City was dropped in 1942, but was reinstated in 1947, when it replaced RM 18....

 from Colorado City, Texas

Colorado City, Texas

Colorado City is a city in and the county seat of Mitchell County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,281 at the 2000 census....

 south 6 miles. Less than a month later, another section was added from Robert Lee, Texas

Robert Lee, Texas

Robert Lee is a city in and the county seat of Coke County, Texas, United States. The founders named the city after Robert E. Lee, who is thought to have set up camp for a time near the current townsite on the Colorado River. Lee served in Texas from 1856 to 1861 as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S...

 north 6 miles to the county road to Sanco, Texas

Sanco, Texas

Sanco, Texas is a near-abandoned unincorporated community in Coke County, Texas, sixteen miles northwest of Robert Lee east of Highway 208 on an unnamed county road. In 1990, the population was a mere thirty people.-References:...

. In 1944, the gap between 6 miles north of Robert Lee and 6 miles south of Colorado City was filled. This route was cancelled in 1947 when it became an extension of SH 208

Texas State Highway 208

State Highway 208 or SH 208 is a Texas state highway that runs from near Spur to San Angelo.-History:The route was originally designated in 1939 from Colorado City to San Angelo. The section from Robert Lee to Colorado City was dropped in 1942, but was reinstated in 1947, when it replaced RM 18....

. The current route was designated in 1951 from a segment of US 80. In 1995, the section from SH 36 to Elmdale Community became an urban road.