Texas Porch

The Metroplex and the prairie north

Dallas–Fort Worth & North Texas

The Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex and the Blackland Prairie counties around it — fast-growing suburbs, expansive-clay foundations, and a stack of school and special districts. Start here for the north.

29 counties · 530 local notes

Cities & towns

Counties

A taste of the notes

Archer County · Property tax

How to lower your Archer County property tax bill with a homestead exemption

If you live in your Archer County home, you may qualify for a homestead exemption that lowers your property tax bill.

Collin County · Local Museum

Myers Park Has a Free Farm Museum That Shows Early Collin County Rural Life

Collin County runs a free Farm Museum at Myers Park. It preserves tools, equipment, and buildings from the county's farming past.

Dallas County · Mineral Rights

Mineral Rights Can Be Sold Separately from Surface Rights

In Texas, the owner of a property's surface and the owner of its mineral rights may be different people.

Denton County · Growth & Development

Denton County's population has grown dramatically since the 1960s

Denton County went from about 47,000 residents in 1960 to over 750,000 by the mid-2010s, driven by suburban expansion from the Dallas-Fort Worth metro.

Erath County · Rodeo Culture

Stephenville Calls Itself the Cowboy Capital of the World

Stephenville has a strong rodeo tradition and calls itself a hub for professional rodeo athletes.

Hill County · Tax Protest

You can protest your property value in Hill County

Hill County property owners can challenge the appraised value set by Hill CAD each year before the Appraisal Review Board.

Hunt County · Local History

Greenville became an early Texas leader in public utilities

In 1891, Greenville became the first Texas city to own and operate its own municipally owned electricity generating plant, according to the Handbook of Texas.

Kaufman County · City Limits vs. ETJ

Living near a city doesn't mean you're in the city — ETJ rules matter

Many homes near fast-growing Forney and Terrell are in the ETJ — a buffer zone outside city limits where cities can control how land is divided but cannot zone it.

Navarro County · Hunting Regulations

Deer hunting in Navarro County has antler restrictions

Navarro County is in the Texas North Zone for deer, with a four-deer bag limit and a one-buck antler spread rule.

Rockwall County · Senior & Disability Exemption

Extra homestead exemption for seniors and disabled homeowners in Rockwall

Homeowners aged 65 or older, or those with a qualifying disability, get an extra $60,000 off their home's school district appraised value.

Tarrant County · Hunting Regulations

Deer Hunting Rules for Tarrant County

Hunters in Tarrant County can take up to four deer per season — no more than two bucks and no more than two antlerless — across all seasons combined.

Wichita County · City vs. County

Four Cities Share the County—Know Which Jurisdiction You're In

Wichita County has four incorporated cities—Wichita Falls, Burkburnett, Iowa Park, and Electra—each with its own rules, and unincorporated areas fall under county authority.