Hereford, Texas
Hereford sits on the flat, treeless High Plains of the Texas Panhandle, the seat of Deaf Smith County, about 43 miles southwest of Amarillo. The surrounding land is intensively farmed and given over to cattle feeding, and the town is long associated with the beef industry, taking its name from the Hereford breed of cattle. The area's groundwater and soils also support large-scale production of grain and other row crops.
Property here runs through the Deaf Smith 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 Deaf Smith County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Deaf Smith County notes
What to know around Hereford
Property Tax
Two offices handle your property taxes in Deaf Smith County
The appraisal district both sets your value and collects the tax in Deaf Smith County, so the assessor-collector you'd expect to pay never touches a property tax bill here.
Water & Wells
All water wells in Deaf Smith County tap the Ogallala Aquifer
Every drop of fresh groundwater under most of the county comes from the Ogallala, and a conservation district decides who gets to drill into it and how much they can pull.
Ag Valuation
Agricultural land in Deaf Smith County can qualify for a lower tax value
Land used mainly for farming or ranching can be appraised at its agricultural use value instead of its market value, which usually results in a much lower tax bill.
Hunting
Deaf Smith County offers pheasant, mule deer, pronghorn, and quail hunting
Sitting in the Panhandle zones, the county lets you hunt pheasant, mule deer, and pronghorn (game most of Texas never sees), though you'll need a landowner's say-so to do it.
Local History
A WWII prisoner-of-war camp once stood just outside Hereford
During World War II, a large military camp near Hereford held about 5,000 Italian prisoners of war; a restored chapel and state historical marker are the main physical reminders today.
County Origins
Deaf Smith County was cattle country first; the railroad built Hereford
The county is named for a Texas Revolution scout, started as open-range ranch land, and only got its permanent county seat after the railroad arrived in the late 1890s.
Nearby
Places near Hereford
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Castro County
5 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Parmer County
6 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Randall County
27 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Oldham County
5 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Swisher County
5 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Potter County
23 local notes · Panhandle / High Plains
Next steps for Hereford
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Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
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