Bandera, Texas
The seat of Bandera County, Bandera sits on the Medina River in the western Hill Country about 40 miles northwest of San Antonio, in rugged ranching and dude-ranch country. It is widely known as the "Cowboy Capital of the World," a title tied to its history as a staging point for cattle drives on the Great Western Trail in the late 19th century. The town was settled in the 1850s, with Polish immigrants from Silesia among its early founders, and the surrounding hills remain working ranch land.
Property here runs through the Bandera 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 Bandera County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Bandera County notes
What to know around Bandera
Property tax
How property taxes and homestead exemptions work in Bandera County
Bandera County has a single appraisal district (Bandera CAD) that values property, and a separate tax office that collects taxes, so you deal with different offices for different issues.
Agriculture / Property tax
Ag valuation can sharply cut property taxes on rural land in Bandera County
In Bandera County, land used for farming, ranching, or wildlife management can be taxed on what it produces instead of what it would sell for, which can mean a much lower tax bill on Hill Country acreage.
Water / Groundwater
Bandera County has its own groundwater district — wells need a permit
Most new water wells in Bandera County need a permit from the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District (BCRAGD) before you start drilling.
Flood
Flash flooding on the Medina River is a serious hazard in Bandera
The Medina River runs through the town of Bandera and can rise extremely fast during heavy rain. USGS and BCRAGD have built a flood early warning system that lets residents track river levels in real time.
State park / Recreation
Hill Country State Natural Area offers rugged trails and horse camping near Bandera
Hill Country State Natural Area is a 5,000-plus-acre primitive park in Bandera County open to hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders, with camping available year-round.
History
Bandera County grew from a sawmill settlement into a cattle trail hub
Bandera County was carved from Bexar County in 1856. It was built first on cypress lumber, then on cattle drives. Polish Catholic immigrants were among its earliest settlers.
Nearby
Places near Bandera
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Medina County
27 local notes · San Antonio / South Central
Kendall County
11 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Kerr County
30 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Bexar County
69 local notes · San Antonio / South Central
Gillespie County
7 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Real County
6 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Next steps for Bandera
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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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