Claude, Texas
Claude is a small ranching town on the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle, in Armstrong County about 29 miles east of Amarillo. The surrounding cattle country and open plains served as the backdrop for the 1963 film "Hud," starring Paul Newman, much of which was shot in and around the town. The broken canyon country toward the nearby Palo Duro breaks lies just to the south.
Property here runs through the Armstrong 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 Armstrong County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Armstrong County notes
What to know around Claude
Property tax
Two Offices Handle Property Tax in Armstrong County
Armstrong County has two separate offices that deal with property tax. They do different jobs.
Water
Well Water in Armstrong County Comes from the Ogallala Aquifer
Rural land in Armstrong County gets water from the Ogallala Aquifer. It is a large underground source that is slowly shrinking.
Property tax / Agriculture
Ag Valuation Shapes Rural Tax Bills in Armstrong County
Texas law lets farm and ranch land be taxed on what it produces, not what it sells for. For Armstrong County landowners, that can be the difference between a workable rural tax bill and a surprise.
Emergency / Weather
Wildfire and Severe Storms Are the Main Weather Risks in Armstrong County
Armstrong County has serious risk from fast-moving grass fires and severe storms, including tornadoes. These are common hazards across the Texas Panhandle.
State parks / Outdoors
Part of Palo Duro Canyon State Park Lies in Armstrong County
Palo Duro Canyon State Park, known as the Grand Canyon of Texas, spans Randall and Armstrong counties. It offers hiking, camping, horseback riding, and a limited draw hunt.
History / Ranching
The JA Ranch: A National Historic Landmark Still Operating in Armstrong County
The JA Ranch in Palo Duro Canyon was founded in 1876 by Charles Goodnight and John Adair. It is the oldest continuously operating cattle ranch in the Texas Panhandle and a National Historic Landmark.
Nearby
Places near Claude
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Carson County
6 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Randall County
27 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Donley County
7 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Potter County
23 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Gray County
5 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Briscoe County
6 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Next steps for Claude
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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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