Thornton, Texas
Thornton is a small town in southwestern Limestone County, in the Central Texas farm country about 35 miles east of Waco. It grew up around a stop on the Houston and Texas Central Railway in the years after the Civil War and served the surrounding land as a shipping point for cotton, with cotton gins and a mercantile trade supporting the early community. Fine white kaolin clay found in the area was once used locally to make ceramics, and the town retains the quiet character of a rural rail-line settlement.
Property here runs through the Limestone 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 Limestone County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Limestone County notes
What to know around Thornton
Property Tax
How to Lower Your Property Tax Bill in Limestone County
If you live in the home you own, you can file for a homestead exemption that cuts your taxable property value.
Property Tax
Two Different Offices Handle Property Taxes in Limestone County
The appraisal district sets your home's value; the tax assessor-collector sends the bill — they are separate offices.
State Park
Fort Parker State Park: Camping and Fishing Near Groesbeck
Fort Parker State Park sits along the Navasota River in Limestone County and offers camping, fishing, hiking, and paddling.
Fishing
Fishing Lake Limestone: Bass, Catfish, and Crappie
Lake Limestone is a 12,553-acre reservoir on the Navasota River managed by the Brazos River Authority, known for good bass and catfish fishing.
Hunting
Deer Hunting in Limestone County: Antler Rule and Doe Days
Limestone County has a 13-inch antler restriction on bucks, and antlerless deer can only be taken on private land by MLDP tag once December starts.
Local History
Why Groesbeck Became the County Seat (and Springfield Disappeared)
Limestone County was formed in 1846 with Springfield as its seat, but the railroad era moved power to Groesbeck by 1873.
Nearby
Places near Thornton
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Falls County
6 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Robertson County
6 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Freestone County
4 local notes · East Texas / Piney Woods
Leon County
5 local notes · East Texas / Piney Woods
McLennan County
35 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Navarro County
24 local notes · DFW / North Texas
Next steps for Thornton
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