Caldwell, Texas
Caldwell is the seat of Burleson County, set on the gently rolling Post Oak Savannah of Central Texas about 23 miles west of College Station. The town is known for its Czech heritage, a legacy of immigrant farm families who settled the surrounding countryside, and it hosts an annual kolache festival on the courthouse square that celebrates that culture with the fruit- and cheese-filled Czech pastries. The land around Caldwell mixes cropland, cattle pasture, and stands of post oak.
Property here runs through the Burleson 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 Burleson County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Burleson County notes
What to know around Caldwell
Property tax
How to lower your property tax bill with a homestead exemption in Burleson County
If Burleson County is your primary home, you can file for a homestead exemption that lowers your property tax bill.
Agricultural tax / Property tax
Ag valuation can sharply cut property taxes on rural land in Burleson County
Rural landowners in Burleson County may qualify for open-space (1-d-1) agricultural appraisal. This taxes land on what it can produce, not on what it would sell for.
Water / Groundwater
New water wells in Burleson County require a permit from the Post Oak Savannah GCD
The Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District covers all of Burleson County. It requires permits and registration for new water wells.
State park / Outdoor recreation
Lake Somerville State Park offers camping, hiking, and birding on two units near Caldwell
Lake Somerville State Park sits on the Burleson County-Washington County border. It offers camping, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails close to home.
Vehicle registration / Inspection
Burleson County vehicles skip the emissions test — safety inspection also ended in 2025
Vehicles registered in Burleson County do not need an emissions test. As of January 2025, the annual safety inspection for non-commercial vehicles also ended statewide.
History / Czech heritage
Czech settlers shaped Burleson County towns, and the Caldwell Kolache Festival keeps that heritage alive
Czech immigrants who arrived in Burleson County in the 1880s founded several communities still recognizable today. Caldwell celebrates that heritage every September with its Kolache Festival.
Nearby
Places near Caldwell
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Lee County
6 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Milam County
5 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Brazos County
39 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Washington County
11 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Robertson County
6 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Grimes County
7 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Next steps for Caldwell
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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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