Texas Porch

Historic Site

Buffalo Gap was the county's first seat and is now a historic village

Buffalo Gap, about 13 miles southwest of Abilene, was Taylor County's first county seat. It is now preserved as Buffalo Gap Historic Village.

Taylor County History & Culture

Buffalo Gap became Taylor County's first county seat when the county organized in 1878. The town sits in a natural pass — a gap — through the Callahan Divide. That pass made it a common stop for cattle drives heading north.

In 1881, the Texas and Pacific Railway bypassed Buffalo Gap. The new town of Abilene grew up along the rail line instead. Buffalo Gap quickly lost people and businesses to Abilene.

Today Buffalo Gap is a small community of a few hundred people. It is about 13 miles southwest of Abilene.

The Buffalo Gap Historic Village preserves buildings from that early era. The original Taylor County Courthouse (opened 1880) and the 1879 jail are among the structures still standing there.

The Handbook of Texas lists Buffalo Gap Historic Village as a notable historic feature of the county.

Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas — Buffalo Gap, TX

More Taylor County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two offices handle property taxes here

Taylor County has both an appraisal district and a tax assessor-collector, but the county tax office does not collect property taxes — the appraisal district handles collection for most taxing units.

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Homestead Exemption

Homestead exemption cuts your school tax bill

Texas law requires every school district to exempt $140,000 of your home's value from taxation, but you must apply through the Taylor County Appraisal District to get the benefit.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farm and ranch land can be taxed on productivity, not market value

Texas allows agricultural land to be appraised on what it can produce rather than what it could sell for, which usually means a much lower tax bill.

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Tax Bill Breakdown

Multiple taxing units appear on your property tax bill

Your Taylor County property tax bill can include charges from up to 18 different taxing units — the county, a school district, and possibly a city or water district.

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