Refugio, Texas
Refugio is the seat of Refugio County, on the coastal plain of the Gulf Coast Bend about 36 miles north of Corpus Christi. The town traces its origins to a Spanish mission established in the 1790s and later became the center of an Irish colony granted the former mission lands, and oil discovered in the county in the 20th century made the area a notable petroleum producer. Refugio is also known as the birthplace of Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan.
Property here runs through the Refugio 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 Refugio County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Refugio County notes
What to know around Refugio
Property Tax
Two offices handle your property taxes in Refugio County
The appraisal district sets your property value; a separate tax office collects the bill.
Windstorm Insurance
Refugio County is in the TWIA windstorm insurance zone
Refugio County is one of the first-tier coastal counties where TWIA wind and hail coverage can come into play after a private-market denial.
Groundwater & Wells
A groundwater district regulates water wells across Refugio County
Refugio Groundwater Conservation District covers the whole county and manages many water-well rules.
Hunting
Refugio County sits in TPWD's South Zone for deer and dove hunting
Refugio County hunters work from TPWD's South Zone table, where deer, dove, turkey, and reporting rules sit on one county page.
Oil & Gas / Mineral Rights
Oil and gas activity in Refugio County is regulated by the Railroad Commission
Refugio County has a long history of oil and gas production, and the Texas Railroad Commission's District 2 office in San Antonio handles permits and complaints for the area.
History & Identity
Refugio County takes its name from a Spanish mission founded in 1793
The county seat of Refugio and the county itself are both named after the Nuestra Senora del Refugio Mission, one of the last Spanish missions established in Texas.
Nearby
Places near Refugio
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Aransas County
7 local notes · Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend
San Patricio County
22 local notes · Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend
Goliad County
7 local notes · Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend
Bee County
6 local notes · Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend
Victoria County
24 local notes · Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend
Nueces County
45 local notes · Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend
Next steps for Refugio
Estimate property tax
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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