Old River-Winfree, Texas
Old River-Winfree is a city in Chambers County, on the coastal prairie east of Houston near the marshes and waterways of the upper Gulf Coast. It lies about 33 miles east of Houston, in low, flat country laced with rivers, bayous, and wetlands. The area combines rural land with the industrial and petrochemical corridor that runs along this stretch of the coast.
Property here runs through the Chambers 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 Chambers County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Chambers County notes
What to know around Old River-Winfree
Property tax
Homestead Exemption Cuts Your School Tax Bill
Texas law requires school districts to subtract $140,000 from the appraised value of your primary home before figuring school taxes, but you have to apply at the Chambers County Appraisal District to claim it.
Coastal windstorm insurance
Most Chambers County Homes Need Windstorm Coverage
Chambers County is one of 14 Texas coastal counties where private insurers often will not write windstorm coverage, leaving the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) as the backup option.
Flood risk
Much of Chambers County Sits in High-Risk Flood Zones
Chambers County is low and flat along the Gulf Coast. Many properties fall in FEMA high-risk flood zones, which can require flood insurance and affect what you can build.
Vehicle registration
No Emissions Test Required in Chambers County
Vehicles registered in Chambers County only need a safety inspection to renew registration — the county is not in the Texas emissions testing program.
Hunting
Chambers County Is Prime Waterfowl Country
Chambers County's coastal marshes along Trinity Bay draw large numbers of ducks and geese each fall and winter. It is one of the top waterfowl hunting areas on the Texas coast.
Wildlife refuge
A Major Coastal Refuge Sits on the Chambers County Shoreline
The Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge, renamed in March 2025 from Anahuac NWR, protects coastal marshes in Chambers County. It is open for wildlife viewing, birding, and waterfowl hunting.
Nearby
Places near Old River-Winfree
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Liberty County
21 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Harris County
64 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Jefferson County
38 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Hardin County
19 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Galveston County
41 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Montgomery County
55 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Next steps for Old River-Winfree
Estimate property tax
Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
Open estimator ->Chambers County notes
Property tax, land, outdoors, vehicles, rules, and history for the county.
Browse county ->Look up another place
Every Texas town and all 254 counties.
Find a place ->