Economic History

Taylor County's economy shifted from cattle to cotton to oil over a century

Taylor County started as open-range cattle country, transitioned to cotton farming by 1910, and added petroleum production after oil was discovered in 1929.

Taylor County History & Culture

When Taylor County was organized in 1878, ranching ruled the land. By 1880, over 30,000 cattle grazed the county. Cotton farming took hold after the railroad arrived. By 1910, cotton was planted on more than 101,000 acres in the county, reflecting a shift toward row-crop agriculture.

Oil was discovered in Taylor County in 1929. By the 1940s, petroleum had joined agriculture as a pillar of the local economy. Today the county's economy includes oil and gas, military (Dyess AFB), health care, retail, and higher education. The shift from one-industry to diversified happened over about a century.

Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas — Taylor County

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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