Texas Porch
Mineral Rights Stories & local character

Oil and gas are still active in Nolan County — mineral rights matter

Nolan County Home & Property

If you buy land in Nolan County, ask whether the mineral rights come with it. In Texas, mineral rights can be split from the surface. A seller can own the land but not the oil and gas below it. This matters because a separate mineral owner can lease those rights for drilling.

The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) regulates all oil and gas wells, permits, and production in the state. You can search their public database to see what wells exist near a property you are considering. Look up production history and permits on the RRC website before buying rural land.

Content last revised 2026-07-11

Keep reading

More stories and useful context near Nolan County

A balanced next shelf: local character first, with practical context close by.

Stories & local character

Mineral rights can be owned separately from the land in Fort Bend County

In Texas, the owner of oil and gas beneath a property may be a different person from the owner of the land surface.

Read note →

Stories & local character

An oil-well dot does not show who owns the minerals

Texas allows surface and mineral ownership to split; the RRC map shows wells, not the ownership written into deeds and leases.

Read note →

Practical

Nolan County has an active groundwater conservation district

The Wes-Tex Groundwater Conservation District regulates wells and water use in Nolan County — important if you plan to drill a well or buy rural land.

Read note →

Stories & local character

Bryson's Oil Strike Changed the Work, but Not the Population Slide

Oil found near Bryson in 1923 brought field work and Depression-era income, but it did not reverse Jack County's long rural population decline.

Read note →

Place pages in Nolan County

BlackwellRoscoeSweetwater

Nearby county shelves

Fisher (4) Mitchell (7) Taylor (22) Coke (7) Runnels (7) Scurry (6)