Columbus, Texas
Columbus lies in Colorado County along the Colorado River, about 70 miles west of Houston in the coastal plains of southeast Texas. The surrounding country is a mix of river bottomland, farmland, and rolling prairie. The town is known for its collection of nineteenth-century courthouse-square architecture and historic homes, and the county courthouse anchors its central square.
Property here runs through the Colorado 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 Colorado County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Colorado County notes
What to know around Columbus
Property Tax
Who Sets Your Property Value in Colorado County
In Colorado County, the appraisal district in Columbus sets property values and may also be the office to call about property-tax collection.
Water & Wells
Colorado County Has Its Own Groundwater District
The Colorado County Groundwater Conservation District sets rules for water wells in the county. If you use a private well or plan to drill one, these rules apply to you.
Flood Risk
The Colorado River Runs Through the County — Flooding Is Real
The Colorado River cuts through Colorado County. Low-lying land near it and other waterways can flood.
Hunting & Wildlife
Hunting in Colorado County: What Seasons Apply
IH-10 splits Colorado County dove rules: north of the highway is Central Zone, south is South Zone, while deer and turkey have their own county listings.
Historic Courthouse
The 1891 Courthouse Is Columbus's Most Visible Landmark
The Colorado County Courthouse in Columbus was built in 1891, lost its tower in a hurricane, and was fully restored in 2014.
County History
Colorado County: One of Texas's Original Counties
Colorado County was created in 1836 as one of the Republic of Texas's first counties, with Columbus as its seat since the beginning.
Nearby
Places near Columbus
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Austin County
6 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Fayette County
7 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Lavaca County
5 local notes · Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend
Wharton County
12 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Washington County
11 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Waller County
13 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Next steps for Columbus
Estimate property tax
Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
Open estimator ->Colorado County notes
Property tax, land, outdoors, vehicles, rules, and history for the county.
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