Albany, Texas
Albany is a small ranching town in Shackelford County, set in the rolling rangeland of West Texas about 32 miles northeast of Abilene. The surrounding country is open cattle land at the edge of the Rolling Plains, and the town has long served as a trade center for the ranches around it. Albany is known for its restored limestone courthouse square and for the ruins of Fort Griffin nearby, a frontier military post from the era of the Texas cattle drives.
Property here runs through the Shackelford 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 Shackelford County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Shackelford County notes
What to know around Albany
Property Tax
Two Offices Handle Property Tax in Shackelford County
Two Albany offices split the property-tax job here, and the one you'd expect to take your payment doesn't collect it.
Exemptions & Ag Valuation
Homestead and Ag Valuation Applications Go to the Appraisal District
Homeowners and ranchers in Shackelford County apply for key tax breaks through the county appraisal district, not the state.
Mineral Rights & Oil
Oil and Gas Has Been Produced in Shackelford County Since 1910
Shackelford County has a long oil and gas history, and buyers should understand that surface rights and mineral rights can be owned separately.
Historic Site
Fort Griffin Historic Site Sits on a Bluff North of Albany
Fort Griffin was a U.S. Army post established in 1867 that anchored a frontier town and cattle trail crossroads; today the site is managed by the Texas Historical Commission.
Local Tradition
The Fort Griffin Fandangle Is an Official Texas State Play
Since 1938, Albany has staged an outdoor musical drama about the county's frontier history that the Texas Legislature recognized as one of four official state plays.
County History
Albany Has Been Shackelford County's Seat Since 1875
Shackelford County was formed in 1874 and named for a Texas Revolution hero; Albany replaced Fort Griffin as the county seat and has served in that role ever since.
Nearby
Places near Albany
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Stephens County
6 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Callahan County
6 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Throckmorton County
6 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Jones County
5 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Eastland County
7 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Haskell County
5 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Next steps for Albany
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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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