Jim Wells County, Texas
14 local notes for Jim Wells County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. Rio Grande Valley / Border.
Money & Taxes
Property Tax Basics
Two Offices Handle Property Tax in Jim Wells County
Jim Wells County has two separate offices for property taxes — one sets your value, the other handles vehicle registration and some collections.
Tax Savings
Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your Tax Bill
If your home in Jim Wells County is your primary residence, you may qualify for a homestead exemption that reduces your taxable value.
Agricultural Valuation
Farm and Ranch Land Can Qualify for Lower Taxes
Land used for farming, ranching, or wildlife management in Jim Wells County may qualify for a special lower appraisal that cuts property taxes.
Property Tax Bill
Several Taxing Units Can Appear on Your Tax Bill
Your Jim Wells County property tax bill can include charges from the county, a school district, a city, and special districts all at once.
Home & Property
Water Wells
A Groundwater District Regulates Private Wells in Much of Jim Wells County
If you plan to drill a water well outside Alice's city limits in Jim Wells County, you likely need to deal with the Brush Country Groundwater Conservation District.
Septic / Wastewater
You Need a Permit for a Septic System Outside City Limits
Building on rural land in Jim Wells County means getting a permit for an on-site sewage system — you cannot skip this step.
Flood Risk
Jim Wells County Has Official Flood Maps — Check Yours Before Buying
Federal flood maps for Jim Wells County are in effect and can determine whether a lender requires flood insurance on your property.
Mineral Rights
Oil and Gas Has Shaped Jim Wells County for Nearly a Century
Jim Wells County has had active oil and gas production since 1931, and mineral rights are often split from surface ownership here.
Outdoors
Hunting Seasons
Jim Wells County Is in the South Zone for Deer and Dove Hunting
Hunters in Jim Wells County follow South Zone rules for white-tailed deer and dove, with seasons set each year by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Public Land Access
A State Permit Opens Public Hunting Land Across Texas
TPWD's Annual Public Hunting Permit lets you hunt on state-managed lands statewide, which matters if you do not own land in Jim Wells County.
Rules & Licenses
History & Culture
County Seat History
Alice Was Once Called the Hub City of South Texas
Alice, the county seat of Jim Wells County, grew from a railroad stop into a major cattle-shipping and oil-boom town in South Texas.
Political History
A Disputed 1948 Election Put Alice on the National Map
Alice and Jim Wells County became nationally known after a controversial vote-count in the 1948 Democratic Senate primary involving Lyndon Johnson.
Early History
Jim Wells County Has Spanish-Era Roots Going Back to the 1750s
Spanish ranchers settled what is now Jim Wells County around 1754, making it one of the older continuously settled areas of Texas.