Guadalupe County, Texas
27 local notes for Guadalupe County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. San Antonio / South Central.
Money & Taxes
Property Tax Basics
Who Appraises Your Property in Guadalupe County
The Guadalupe Appraisal District sets the value on your property each year, and that value drives your tax bill.
Homestead Exemption
Homestead Exemption: Save on Your Tax Bill
If you own and live in your home, you can apply for a homestead exemption that lowers the taxable value of your property.
Appraisal Protest
Disagree With Your Appraisal? You Can Protest
Property owners in Guadalupe County can formally challenge their appraised value each year before a set deadline.
Tax Payment
Paying Your Property Taxes in Guadalupe County
The county Tax Assessor-Collector collects property taxes for Guadalupe County and many of its cities and districts.
Agricultural Appraisal
Ag Valuation: Lower Taxes for Working Land
Land used for farming, ranching, or wildlife management can be taxed on its agricultural value instead of its full market value.
Special Districts
MUDs and Special Districts Add to Your Tax Bill
Parts of Guadalupe County — especially near Schertz and the fast-growing northeast — lie inside special districts that charge their own property taxes.
Home & Property
Flood Risk
The Guadalupe River Floods — Know Your Risk
The Guadalupe River runs through the county and has a history of serious flooding, so buyers should check FEMA flood maps before purchasing.
Groundwater
The County Has Its Own Groundwater District
The Guadalupe County Groundwater Conservation District regulates wells and helps manage the county's underground water supply.
Septic / OSSF
Septic Systems in Unincorporated Guadalupe County
Homes outside city sewer service in Guadalupe County use on-site sewage systems, which require permits and inspections.
Water Supply
Canyon Lake Is the County's Main Surface Water Source
The Guadalupe River basin — including Canyon Lake — provides the main surface water supply for the county and surrounding region.
Growth & Development
Guadalupe County Is Growing Fast
Guadalupe County has grown rapidly in recent decades, driven largely by its location between San Antonio and Austin on the I-35 corridor.
Environmental
There Is a Superfund Site in Guadalupe County
Kingsbury Metal Finishing is listed as a Superfund site in Guadalupe County under TCEQ's hazardous waste remediation program.
Flood Planning
Guadalupe County Is Part of a State Flood Planning Region
The Texas Water Development Board oversees regional flood planning for the Guadalupe area, which includes Guadalupe County.
Cars & Driving
Road Safety
Low-Water Crossings: Turn Around, Don't Drown
Rural roads in Guadalupe County cross streams at low points that can flood quickly and become deadly.
Major Roads
Two Major Interstates Cross the County
I-10 and I-35 both run through Guadalupe County, making it a crossroads between San Antonio, Austin, and Houston.
Vehicle Registration
Vehicle Registration: No Safety Inspection Needed Anymore
As of January 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles in Guadalupe County no longer need an annual safety inspection — you just renew your registration, and a $7.50 fee replaces the old inspection.
Travel
There Is a TxDOT Safety Rest Area in Guadalupe County
TxDOT operates a safety rest area in Guadalupe County on I-10 for travelers driving between San Antonio and Houston.
Outdoors
State Park
Guadalupe River State Park: Swimming and Camping Near the Hill Country
Guadalupe River State Park offers four miles of river frontage for swimming, tubing, fishing, and camping about 30 miles from San Antonio.
Fishing
Rainbow Trout Are Stocked in the Guadalupe River in Winter
TPWD stocks rainbow trout in the Guadalupe River during cooler months, giving local anglers a rare cold-water fishing option.
Hunting
Deer Hunting Rules for Guadalupe County
Guadalupe County has specific deer bag limits and season dates that hunters need to know before heading out.
Upland Bird Hunting
Dove and Quail Hunting in Guadalupe County
Guadalupe County sits near the boundary between dove hunting zones, and quail season runs from November through February.
History & Culture
County History
How Guadalupe County Was Created
Guadalupe County was established in 1846, carved from parts of Bexar and Gonzales counties after Texas joined the United States.
City History
Seguin: Named for a Tejano Hero of the Republic
Seguin was founded in 1838 and renamed in 1839 to honor Juan N. Seguín, a Tejano leader who fought for Texas independence.
Immigration History
German Settlers Shaped the County's Early Character
German immigrants began arriving in Guadalupe County in the mid-1840s and made up a large share of the population by the late 1800s.
Oil History
Oil Was Discovered in Eastern Guadalupe County in the 1920s
Oil production began in eastern Guadalupe County during the 1920s at the Darst Creek fields, diversifying the local economy.
Agricultural History
Cotton, Cattle, and Crops: Guadalupe County's Farm Roots
Farming and ranching shaped Guadalupe County from its earliest days, with cotton once dominating and diversified agriculture continuing today.
Education & Culture
Texas Lutheran University Has Called Seguin Home Since 1912
Texas Lutheran University relocated to Seguin in 1912, anchoring the city as an education center in South Central Texas.