Johnson County, Texas
25 local notes for Johnson County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. DFW / North Texas.
Money & Taxes
Property Tax
Two Offices Handle Property Tax in Johnson County
Johnson County has a separate appraisal district and tax office — they do different jobs, so knowing which one to call saves you time.
Property Tax
Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your Property Tax Bill
If your home in Johnson County is your main residence, you likely qualify for a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value.
Agricultural Appraisal
Ag Valuation Can Sharply Cut Taxes on Rural Land
If your rural land in Johnson County is actively used for farming or ranching, it may qualify to be taxed on its productivity value instead of market value — often a big difference.
Property Tax Protest
You Have the Right to Protest Your Property's Appraised Value
If your Johnson County appraisal seems too high, you can formally protest it — and many property owners do so successfully each year.
Home & Property
Water & Wells
A Groundwater District Protects Johnson County's Water Supply
The Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District manages groundwater in Johnson County — if you plan to drill a well, you need to know the rules.
Septic & Sewage
Outside City Limits? You Need a Permitted Septic System
Homes in unincorporated Johnson County that are not connected to a public sewer must have a permitted on-site sewage facility — usually a septic system.
Flooding & FEMA
Johnson County Flood Maps Were Updated in 2023
FEMA finalized new flood maps for Johnson County in 2023 — if you are buying property near a creek or river, check the current map before you close.
Agriculture
Farming and Ranching Are Still a Big Part of Johnson County
Johnson County has thousands of farms and ranches — agriculture shapes land use, property tax rules, and road culture throughout the county.
Mineral Rights
Mineral Rights Under Your Land May Be Owned by Someone Else
In Texas, the mineral rights under a property can be severed from the surface — meaning you could own the land but not the oil, gas, or other minerals beneath it.
Weather Hazards
Johnson County Sits in Tornado and Hail Country
Johnson County is in the heart of North Texas severe weather territory — tornadoes, large hail, and flash floods are real risks for anyone living here.
Local Communities
Johnson County Has Several Cities Beyond Cleburne
Besides the county seat of Cleburne, Johnson County includes Burleson, Joshua, Alvarado, Keene, Grandview, and Venus — each with its own city government and rules.
Water Conservation
Johnson County Landowners Can Get Help Paying for Rainwater Harvesting
The Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District offers grants and rebates to help homeowners in Johnson County install rainwater harvesting systems.
Cars & Driving
Outdoors
State Park
Cleburne State Park Surrounds a Spring-Fed Lake Near Town
Cleburne State Park sits about 30 minutes southwest of Fort Worth and offers camping, fishing, hiking, and swimming on 116-acre Cedar Lake.
Fishing
Lake Pat Cleburne Is a City Reservoir Open for Fishing
Lake Pat Cleburne on the Nolan River holds catfish, bass, and white bass — and it is open to the public with a Texas fishing license.
Hunting
Johnson County Falls in the North Zone for Deer and Turkey
If you hunt in Johnson County, know your zone — deer, turkey, and duck seasons all have specific rules for this part of Texas.
Land & Habitat
Johnson County Spans Three Distinct Natural Regions
Johnson County's landscape shifts from open prairie in the west to wooded Cross Timbers in the center to dark Blackland Prairie soil in the east.
Rivers & Water
The Brazos River Borders Johnson County to the Southwest
Johnson County has two main waterways — the Brazos River on its southwestern edge and the Nolan River running through the middle of the county.
Hunting
Johnson County Has Open Seasons for Quail and Dove
Quail and dove hunting are both legal in Johnson County — quail typically from November through February, dove from early September in the Central Zone.
Rules & Licenses
City Limits & ETJ
Living Near Cleburne? The City's ETJ Reaches 2 Miles Out
Cleburne has an extraterritorial jurisdiction — a 2-mile buffer outside city limits where the city can regulate how land is divided but does not provide full city services.
City Limits
Burleson Sits in Both Johnson and Tarrant Counties
The city of Burleson straddles the Johnson-Tarrant county line, which means your address in Burleson may be in a different county than your neighbor's.
Wildlife Resources
TPWD Has a Wildlife Biologist Assigned to Johnson County
Texas Parks and Wildlife assigns a regional wildlife biologist to assist landowners in Johnson County with habitat management and wildlife questions.
History & Culture
County History
Johnson County Was Organized in 1854 from Three Older Counties
Johnson County was carved from parts of Ellis, Navarro, and Hill counties in 1854 and has grown from a small frontier settlement to over 150,000 people.
City History
Cleburne Grew Fast After the Railroad Arrived in 1881
Cleburne became Johnson County's permanent county seat in 1867 and boomed after the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad arrived — the repair shops nearly doubled the city's population.
New Deal History
The CCC Built Cleburne State Park During the Great Depression
Local residents donated the land for Cleburne State Park in 1934, and Civilian Conservation Corps workers constructed the dam, roads, and stone structures still in use today.