The settlement was established in the late 1880s. In 1888, a post office was opened there. Originally named Stafford's Ranch, the town honored a prominent local rancher. Residents of Stafford, Texas approved the name Altair for the star in 1890 because there was another town that already had a post office by that name. In the same year, Altair secured service from a Texas and New Orleans Railroad branch. Sometimes people refer to Stafford's Ranch incorrectly as Spafford's Ranch. In the 1960s, 200 people were living in Altair. Eighty was the estimated population between 1974 and 1986. The community helped a few shops and rice-drying establishments in 1986. Thirty was the population in 1990 and 2000.[2]
Altair has a post office with the ZIP code 77412.[3]
