Eastland, Texas
Eastland is the seat of Eastland County in West Texas, a rolling stretch of ranch and oil country about 54 miles east of Abilene along Interstate 20. The town is closely tied to the legend of Old Rip, a horned lizard said to have been sealed alive in the cornerstone of the courthouse in 1897 and found still living when the building was demolished in 1928; the mummified toad is displayed in the county courthouse to this day.
Property here runs through the Eastland 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 Eastland County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Eastland County notes
What to know around Eastland
Property Tax
Who handles your property taxes in Eastland County
Two separate offices handle property taxes here — the appraisal district sets your value, and the tax office collects what you owe.
Agricultural Valuation
Farm and ranch land can be taxed on what it produces, not what it sells for
Eastland County farm or ranch land may qualify for ag valuation, but the local appraisal district checks use, acreage, and timing.
Hunting
Deer hunting rules for Eastland County
Eastland County falls under Texas Parks and Wildlife rules that limit deer harvest and set season dates you need to know before you hunt.
Mineral Rights & Oil/Gas
Oil and gas activity in Eastland County is regulated by the Railroad Commission
If you own or are buying land in Eastland County, mineral rights may be separate from surface rights, and the Texas Railroad Commission oversees any active wells.
Local History
The Eastland County Courthouse and Old Rip
Eastland's courthouse holds the preserved remains of Old Rip, a horned lizard that became a national story in 1928.
Oil Boom History
The 1917 Ranger oil strike transformed Eastland County
An oil strike near the town of Ranger in 1917 flooded the county with workers and money, briefly making it one of the most active places in Texas.
Nearby
Places near Eastland
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Stephens County
6 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Callahan County
6 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Comanche County
5 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Erath County
10 local notes · DFW / North Texas
Palo Pinto County
7 local notes · DFW / North Texas
Shackelford County
6 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Next steps for Eastland
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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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