Valentine, Texas
Valentine is a small town in Jeff Davis County in the Big Bend country of far West Texas, set in high desert grassland about 143 miles southeast of El Paso. The town lies along a rail line and U.S. Highway 90 in sparsely populated ranching country ringed by desert mountains. Its name draws seasonal attention around Valentine's Day, and the well-known Prada Marfa art installation stands along the highway just outside town.
Property here runs through the Jeff Davis 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 Jeff Davis County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Jeff Davis County notes
What to know around Valentine
Property Tax Basics
Who handles property taxes in Jeff Davis County
Two offices a block apart on Court Avenue handle property taxes here: one puts a value on your land, the other collects what you owe.
Agricultural Appraisal
Ranch land can be taxed on productivity, not market value
Working ranch land here can be taxed on what it produces rather than what it would sell for, which makes a real difference on a big spread.
Water Wells
A local district regulates groundwater wells
Before you drill a well on rural land here, the county's own groundwater district may want a permit and a say in how it's built.
State Park
Davis Mountains State Park offers hiking, camping, and stargazing
Davis Mountains State Park sits at high elevation in Fort Davis and offers outdoor activities year-round, including a historic lodge and some of the darkest night skies in Texas.
National Historic Site
Fort Davis National Historic Site preserves a frontier Army post
Fort Davis National Historic Site in the town of Fort Davis preserves one of the best-surviving frontier military posts in the Southwest, known especially for the Buffalo Soldiers who served there.
County History
Jeff Davis County was carved from Presidio County in 1887
Jeff Davis County was created in 1887 from Presidio County. The Southern Pacific Railroad bypassed Fort Davis, which shaped the county's economy for generations.
Nearby
Places near Valentine
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Presidio County
6 local notes · Big Bend / Far West
Culberson County
5 local notes · Big Bend / Far West
Reeves County
5 local notes · Big Bend / Far West
Hudspeth County
6 local notes · Big Bend / Far West
Brewster County
8 local notes · Big Bend / Far West
Loving County
6 local notes · West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos
Next steps for Valentine
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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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