Early History

Indigenous peoples lived in Gregg County before Anglo settlement

The area that is now Gregg County was home to Caddo peoples and later Cherokee immigrants before Anglo settlers arrived in the 1840s.

Gregg County History & Culture

The Caddo people lived in this part of East Texas for centuries before European contact. Cherokee people, displaced from the eastern United States, later moved into the region. In 1839, the Republic of Texas forcibly removed the Cherokee from East Texas.

Anglo settlers from the American South began moving into the area after Texas joined the United States in 1845. By 1860, the region had nine rural post offices but no towns. Cotton farming and timber harvesting defined early settlement. Gregg County was officially carved out of Upshur County in 1873. The Handbook of Texas covers this history in detail.

Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas Online — Gregg County

More Gregg County notes

Property Tax Basics

Who values your property for taxes in Gregg County

The Gregg County Appraisal District (GCAD) sets the value of every taxable property in the county each year.

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Homestead Exemption

Lower your tax bill with a homestead exemption

If your home in Gregg County is your primary residence, you can apply for a homestead exemption that cuts your taxable value.

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Agricultural Use

Ag valuation can cut taxes on rural Gregg County land

Land used for farming, timber, or beekeeping in Gregg County can be taxed on its productive value — not its market value — which can mean much lower taxes.

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Tax Rates

Gregg County has many taxing units — your bill depends on where you live

Your property tax bill in Gregg County is the sum of rates from every taxing unit whose boundary includes your address.

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