Alba, Texas
Alba is a small town in the wooded, rolling country of East Texas, straddling the line between Rains and Wood counties about 36 miles northwest of Tyler. It sits near Lake Fork Reservoir, a large impoundment renowned across Texas as a trophy largemouth-bass fishery, which draws anglers to the surrounding lakeside area. The town traces part of its early history to the railroad and to lignite coal mining nearby.
Property here runs through the Rains Central Appraisal District and the county tax office — the homestead exemption, the appraisal cap, protests, and any MUD, PID, or special districts all sit at the parcel level. The Rains County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Rains County notes
What to know around Alba
Property Tax Basics
Two Offices Handle Your Property Tax in Rains County
One office figures out what your property is worth; a separate office actually sends the bill and collects the money.
Freshwater Fishing
Lake Fork Is a Trophy Bass Lake That Touches Rains County
Lake Fork spans three counties including Rains and is one of the most closely regulated bass lakes in Texas.
State Park Access
Lake Tawakoni State Park Sits on the Rains County Border
The 376-acre state park on Lake Tawakoni offers camping, boat access, and shore fishing without a license.
Septic Systems
You Need a Permit Before Installing a Septic System in Rains County
Rains County has its own septic permit packet for homes that will use an OSSF.
County Origins
Rains County Was Named for a Man Who Refused to Join the Confederacy
The county and its seat are both named for Emory Rains, an early Texas lawmaker who wrote the state's first homestead protection law.
Nearby
Places near Alba
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Wood County
13 local notes · East Texas / Piney Woods
Van Zandt County
19 local notes · East Texas / Piney Woods
Hopkins County
11 local notes · East Texas / Piney Woods
Hunt County
21 local notes · DFW / North Texas
Smith County
36 local notes · East Texas / Piney Woods
Franklin County
4 local notes · East Texas / Piney Woods
Next steps for Alba
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Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
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Property tax, land, outdoors, vehicles, rules, and history for the county.
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