Land and Soil

McLennan County Sits on Two Distinct Prairie Zones

The county spans both the Grand Prairie to the west and the Blackland Prairie to the east, giving it fertile soils suited to row crops, hay, and cattle.

McLennan County The Great Outdoors

The Blackland Prairie in eastern McLennan County has some of the richest clay soils in Texas. Cotton dominated agriculture here from the 1880s through the mid-20th century. Today the county produces beef cattle, corn, wheat, hay, grain sorghum, soybeans, and dairy cattle.

Blackland clay soils can shrink and swell dramatically with rainfall changes. This affects building foundations and is worth knowing before buying or building on this type of land. If you have specific ag questions, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has a McLennan County office.

Source to confirm: TSHA Handbook of Texas — McLennan County

More McLennan County notes

Property Tax

McLennan CAD Handles Your Property Appraisal

McLennan Central Appraisal District sets property values for all 44 taxing entities in the county, but a separate office collects the tax.

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Property Tax Exemption

File for a Homestead Exemption to Lower Your Tax Bill

Texas homeowners who live in their home can file for a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value of the property.

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Agricultural Appraisal

Ag Valuation Can Cut Taxes on Rural Land

Land used mainly for farming or ranching can be taxed on its agricultural value instead of its market value, which is usually much lower.

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Appraisal Protest

You Can Protest Your Property Appraisal

Property owners in McLennan County can formally challenge their appraised value each year if they believe it is too high.

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