Breckenridge, Texas
Breckenridge is the seat of Stephens County in the rolling rangeland of West Texas, about 53 miles northeast of Abilene and roughly 94 miles west of Fort Worth. The town grew explosively during a 1920s oil boom that followed the Chaney No. 1 well in 1920, when hundreds of derricks rose within the city limits and the population swelled for a few frenetic years before the field slowed. It sits a few miles east of Hubbard Creek Reservoir, a large lake that draws anglers and boaters and supplies water to the surrounding region.
Property here runs through the Stephens 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 Stephens County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Stephens County notes
What to know around Breckenridge
Property Tax
Two Separate Offices Handle Property Tax in Stephens County
The appraisal district sets your property value, and a separate tax assessor-collector office handles payments. They are not the same office.
Exemptions & Ag Valuation
Homestead and Ag Valuation Applications Go to the Appraisal District
Homeowners and ranchers in Stephens County apply for key property tax breaks through the county appraisal district, not the state.
Mineral Rights & Oil
Stephens County Has a Deep Oil History — Know Your Mineral Rights
Stephens County experienced a massive oil boom in the 1920s, and buyers of land today should always ask whether the mineral rights are included.
Fishing & Recreation
Hubbard Creek Reservoir Sits Just West of Breckenridge
Hubbard Creek Reservoir is a 14,922-acre lake in Stephens County with public boat ramps and fishing for bass, crappie, and catfish.
Water Wells & Groundwater
Stephens County Has No Groundwater Conservation District
Stephens County sits in Groundwater Management Area 6, but the official GCD map does not list a Stephens County groundwater district.
Local History
Breckenridge Grew from a Small Town to a Boomtown Overnight
The 1920s oil boom turned Breckenridge from a quiet ranching town into one of the most chaotic boomtowns in Texas history.
Nearby
Places near Breckenridge
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Shackelford County
6 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Eastland County
7 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Young County
4 local notes · DFW / North Texas
Throckmorton County
6 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Palo Pinto County
7 local notes · DFW / North Texas
Callahan County
6 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Next steps for Breckenridge
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Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
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