Stephens County Has a Deep Oil History — Know Your Mineral Rights

Oil was first discovered in Stephens County in 1916, according to the Handbook of Texas. By 1921, Breckenridge sat at the center of one of the biggest oil booms in Texas history. During that peak year, the county produced a huge share of U.S. oil output. That legacy means mineral rights in this county have long been bought, sold, and severed from surface ownership.

When you buy land in Stephens County, the mineral rights may already belong to someone else. A separate owner could have the legal right to drill on your property. Always ask about mineral ownership before you close on any land purchase. You can look up active wells and permits for any Texas county through the Railroad Commission of Texas online search tools at rrc.texas.gov.