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Oil, Gas & Mineral Rights Stories & local character

Oil and gas have shaped Dawson County for nearly a century

Dawson County Home & Property

Oil production in Dawson County started in 1934 near the Welch community. The cumulative production through 1990 was roughly 295 million barrels. That history means mineral rights on many parcels were severed from surface rights long ago. When you buy land here, you may own the surface but not the oil, gas, or other minerals below it.

The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) regulates oil and gas operations statewide. It keeps public records of wells, permits, and operators. If you want to know what wells exist on or near a property, the RRC's online GIS viewer and well databases let you search by county. This is useful due diligence before any rural land purchase in Dawson County.

Content last revised 2026-07-11

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