Hockley County, Texas

7 local notes for Hockley County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. Panhandle / High Plains.

Money & Taxes

Property Tax

Who Sets Your Property Tax Value in Hockley County

Two separate offices handle property tax in Hockley County — one sets your value, the other collects your bill.

Homestead Exemption

Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your Tax Bill in Hockley County

If your home in Hockley County is your main residence, a homestead exemption removes part of its taxable value and lowers what you owe.

Ag Valuation

Farmland in Hockley County May Qualify for a Lower Tax Valuation

Land used for farming or ranching in Hockley County can be taxed on what it earns rather than what it could sell for. That usually means a much lower tax bill.

Home & Property

Groundwater

Water Wells in Hockley County Come from the Ogallala Aquifer

Most water in Hockley County is pumped from the Ogallala, a large but slowly depleting underground aquifer that feeds farms and rural homes across the High Plains.

Mineral Rights

Oil and Gas Production Has Shaped Hockley County Since the 1930s

Oil was discovered in Hockley County in 1937, and the county remains active oil country — meaning mineral rights, surface use agreements, and active wells can affect land you buy.

Outdoors

Hunting & Wildlife

Hunting in Hockley County Falls Under High Plains Regulations

Hockley County is in the High Plains wildlife region. Dove, quail, and white-tailed deer are common game. Most hunting is on private land.

History & Culture

County History

How Hockley County Went from Open Range to Cotton Country

Hockley County was carved from ranchland in the early 1900s, grew fast on cotton and irrigation, and later added oil to become the rural High Plains community it is today.