East Texas / Piney Woods
Freestone County, Texas
A local guide to the county: the stories that give it a shape, practical checks, and a few things worth knowing before they surprise you. Every note points to its source.
10 stories · 1 practical · 0 good to know
The practical part
Freestone County offices and deadlines
Appraisal district & tax office →
The Comptroller's official directory for Freestone County: who sets your value and who sends the bill.
Homestead exemption →
File Form 50-114 with the appraisal district. It is free. The regular deadline is April 30, and late filing is allowed for up to two years.
Protest your appraisal →
The usual deadline is May 15, or 30 days after your notice arrives, whichever is later.
Estimate a tax bill →
Model a bill from local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
Start here
A little of what makes this place itself
Freestone County · State Park
Fairfield Lake State Park closed in 2023 — public access is gone for now
Fairfield Lake State Park permanently closed in February 2023 when the land was sold to a private developer, ending public access to the lake and its facilities.
Freestone County · Courthouse Square
Fairfield's Square Still Carries the County-Seat Fight
Fairfield began as Mound Prairie, then held on to the county seat through two courthouse election fights.
Freestone County · Railroad History
Teague's Railroad Depot Still Tells the Town's Origin Story
Teague grew around railroad shops, and its old depot still gives that story a building you can picture.
All 11 local notes
The full county shelf is mixed so stories and useful checks travel together. Use the filters when you need one kind.
Showing all 11 notes.
- Stories & local character Outdoors Fairfield Lake State Park closed in 2023 — public access is gone for now Fairfield Lake State Park permanently closed in February 2023 when the land was sold to a private developer, ending public access to the lake and its facilities.
- Practical Money & Taxes Two offices handle your property tax in Freestone County The appraisal district sets your property value; a separate tax office collects what you owe. They are different offices with different jobs.
- Stories & local character History & Culture Fairfield's Square Still Carries the County-Seat Fight Fairfield began as Mound Prairie, then held on to the county seat through two courthouse election fights.
- Stories & local character History & Culture Teague's Railroad Depot Still Tells the Town's Origin Story Teague grew around railroad shops, and its old depot still gives that story a building you can picture.
- Stories & local character Outdoors Richland Creek WMA Is Freestone County's Public Bottomland South of Streetman, Richland Creek WMA gives Freestone County a public look at Trinity River bottomland, sloughs, and wet woods.
- Stories & local character Outdoors Freestone County Changes From Sandy Woods to River Bottom Freestone County drains mostly toward the Trinity River, but the west and east sides do not feel the same.
- Stories & local character History & Culture Cotton Gin Is a Place Name That Means Exactly What It Says West of Fairfield, Cotton Gin keeps the memory of a mule-powered gin that once drew stores, churches, and a newspaper.
- Stories & local character Home & Property Oil and gas have shaped Freestone County since 1916 Freestone County has active oil and gas production, so when you buy land here, check whether the mineral rights are included or have already been severed.
- Stories & local character History & Culture Stewards Mill Was a Grinding Place Before It Was a Quiet Crossroads North of Fairfield, Stewards Mill keeps the memory of the gristmill that pulled people to the crossroads.
- Stories & local character History & Culture Wortham's Name Starts With a Five-Dollar Railroad Right-of-Way Wortham's older names - Tehuacana and Long Bottom - tell a rail-town story before the oil boom.
- Stories & local character History & Culture Freestone County is the birthplace of blues musician Blind Lemon Jefferson Blues pioneer Blind Lemon Jefferson was born near Wortham and is buried at what is now Blind Lemon Memorial Cemetery.
Nearby counties