Amherst, Texas
On the flat, treeless High Plains of the Texas Panhandle, Amherst is a small farming city in Lamb County, about 45 miles northwest of Lubbock. The surrounding land is given over to irrigated agriculture, with cotton and grain among the crops raised across the level cropland. Like many towns in this part of the Panhandle, it grew up along the railroad that crossed the plains and served the farms around it.
Property here runs through the Lamb 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 Lamb County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Lamb County notes
What to know around Amherst
Property Tax
Property Tax Has Two Separate Offices in Lamb County
Lamb County splits property tax work between an appraisal district and a separate tax assessor-collector, and the tax office does not collect taxes itself.
Water Wells
A Groundwater District Regulates Wells Over the Ogallala Aquifer
All of Lamb County sits over the Ogallala Aquifer, and a state-authorized water district controls who can drill a well and how much they can pump.
Wildlife & Hunting
Playa Lakes Are the Main Public Outdoor Resource on the High Plains
Playa lakes are the shallow basins that make Lamb County feel less empty after a good rain. They also shape bird habitat on the High Plains.
County Seat History
Littlefield Was Built on a Ranch Sale and a Railroad Stop
Littlefield grew from a single railroad station on a giant cattle ranch into the county seat and commercial center of Lamb County.
Agriculture
Cotton and Grain Farming Still Shape Lamb County's Economy
Lamb County transitioned from open-range ranching to irrigated farming in the early 1900s, and cotton and grain remain the backbone of the local economy today.
Nearby
Places near Amherst
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Bailey County
6 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Hockley County
6 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Hale County
11 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Cochran County
5 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Castro County
5 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Parmer County
6 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Next steps for Amherst
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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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