Fort Stockton, Texas
Fort Stockton is a city in Pecos County in the Big Bend country of far West Texas, about 73 miles southwest of Odessa, in dry ranchland and desert basin. The town grew up around Comanche Springs, a large spring that watered old freight, stage, and military routes, and around the frontier army post from which it takes its name. Its economy has long combined irrigated farming and extensive ranching with oil and gas production.
Property here runs through the Pecos 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 Pecos County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Pecos County notes
What to know around Fort Stockton
Water Supply
Groundwater and Wells in Pecos County
Pecos County wells can vary a lot from one tract to the next, so private well water needs real testing before anyone drinks it.
Mineral Rights
Oil and Gas Activity in Pecos County
Pecos County has active oil and gas production, so understanding mineral rights matters if you buy land here.
State Park
Big Bend Ranch State Park: What to Know Before You Go
Big Bend Ranch State Park sits along the Rio Grande near Pecos County and offers rugged hiking, paddling, and stargazing with very few services.
Hunting Access
Public Hunting in and Around Pecos County
TPWD offers drawn hunts on public land near Pecos County, but you need a special permit on top of your regular hunting license.
Local History
Comanche Springs and the Story of Fort Stockton
Fort Stockton grew around one of Texas's most powerful springs, which dried up in 1961 after decades of heavy groundwater pumping.
Nearby
Places near Fort Stockton
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Crane County
7 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Ward County
5 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Reeves County
5 local notes · Big Bend / Far West
Upton County
5 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Winkler County
5 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Terrell County
7 local notes · Big Bend / Far West
Next steps for Fort Stockton
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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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