Childress, Texas
Childress sits on the eastern edge of the Texas Panhandle's High Plains, in Childress County about 106 miles southeast of Amarillo. The town was established as a railroad point on the Fort Worth and Denver City line and grew into an agribusiness center for the surrounding cotton, wheat, and cattle country, earning it a longstanding reputation as a gateway to the Panhandle. Cotton gins and grain elevators still mark its role in the regional farm economy.
Property here runs through the Childress 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 Childress County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Childress County notes
What to know around Childress
Property Tax
Who Handles Your Property Tax in Childress County
The appraisal district sets your property value and collects your tax. The local tax assessor-collector does not collect property tax here.
Exemptions
Lower Your Tax Bill: Homestead and Ag Exemptions
If your home is your main residence, you can apply for a homestead exemption that reduces your taxable value, and if you use land for farming or ranching, an ag valuation may cut your tax bill further.
Hunting
Hunting Seasons in Childress County
Deer, turkey, quail, pheasant, and dove all run through this corner of the Rolling Plains, but each one keeps its own calendar, bag limit, and endorsement.
Water / Wells
Water Wells and the Mesquite Groundwater District
Only some parcels in northern Childress County are in the Mesquite Groundwater Conservation District. If yours is, you may need a permit before drilling a water well.
County History
How Childress Became the County Seat
Childress County was created in 1876 but sat empty for over a decade. It only came alive when the railroad arrived in 1887, sparking a fight between two rival towns over who would be the county seat.
Public Access
Hunting Public Land in and Near Childress County
Most hunting in Childress County requires access to private land, but a TPWD Annual Public Hunting Permit opens access to public hunting areas across Texas for a set fee.
Nearby
Places near Childress
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Hall County
7 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Cottle County
6 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Hardeman County
6 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Collingsworth County
5 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Motley County
6 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Foard County
5 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Next steps for Childress
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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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