Midland County, Texas
25 local notes for Midland County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. West Texas / Permian / Trans-Pecos.
See the Midland place page ->Money & Taxes
Property Tax Basics
Two offices handle your property taxes in Midland County
The appraisal district sets your property value; the tax office sends the bill and collects money — they are separate offices with different jobs.
Homestead Exemption
Homestead exemption can lower your property tax bill in Midland
If your home is your main residence, you can apply once for a homestead exemption that reduces your taxable value and caps annual value increases at 10 percent.
Senior Tax Exemption
Homeowners 65 and older get extra tax relief in Midland County
Residents 65 or older can claim a larger homestead exemption that may also freeze their school district tax bill at its current level.
Appraisal Protest
You can challenge your property appraisal in Midland County
Every property owner has the right to protest if they think the Midland Central Appraisal District valued their property too high.
Property Tax Entities
Seven different taxing entities share your Midland County tax bill
Your total property tax bill in Midland County is the sum of rates set by seven separate taxing entities, not just one.
Agricultural Valuation
Farm and ranch land can be taxed on productivity, not market value
Landowners in Midland County who use their land for farming, ranching, or wildlife management can apply for agricultural special appraisal to lower their property taxes.
Home & Property
Mineral Rights
In Midland County, the mineral estate often belongs to a different owner
Buying land in Midland County does not automatically mean you own the oil and gas beneath it — the mineral rights are often sold or retained separately.
Oil & Gas Regulation
Oil and gas drilling in Midland County is regulated by the Railroad Commission
The Railroad Commission of Texas issues drilling permits and oversees oil and gas operations throughout the Permian Basin, including Midland County.
Flood Risk
Some parts of Midland County have flood risk from South Draw
Even in dry West Texas, parts of Midland County lie in FEMA-mapped flood zones, and the county adopted a special flood framework for the South Draw area.
Water Supply
Water is scarce in Midland County — most homes rely on municipal supply or deep wells
Midland County averages only about 13.5 inches of rain per year, and residents outside city limits often depend on water wells that draw from deep aquifers.
Climate & Weather
Midland County has a hot, windy, and dry climate with cold winters
Midland County sits at roughly 2,800 feet elevation with July highs near 96 degrees, January lows around 32 degrees, only about 13 to 14 inches of rain per year, and frequent high winds.
Cars & Driving
Outdoors
Deer Hunting
White-tailed deer hunting in Midland County follows North Zone rules
Midland County falls in the TPWD North Zone for white-tailed deer, with a general season running November through early January and a bag limit of three deer with no more than one buck and no more than two antlerless.
Big Game Hunting
Mule deer and pronghorn also roam Midland County
Midland County sits in the Trans-Pecos zone for mule deer and the Permian Basin permit zone for pronghorn, giving hunters two additional big game options.
Dove Hunting
Dove hunting straddles two zones in Midland County
Interstate 20 divides Midland County into two dove hunting zones with slightly different season dates.
Quail Hunting
Midland County has quail hunting through the statewide season
The statewide quail season runs November 1 through February 28, with a daily bag limit of 15 birds, and an Upland Game Bird Endorsement is required.
Rules & Licenses
Burn Ban
Midland County can ban outdoor burning when fire danger is high
The Midland County Commissioners Court can restrict outdoor burning in unincorporated areas when drought or wind conditions raise the fire risk.
Right to Farm
Texas protects existing farm and ranch operations from nuisance lawsuits
If you move near an existing farm or ranch in Midland County, Texas law limits your ability to sue that operation as a nuisance.
Water Well Rules
Private water wells in Texas may need to be registered with a groundwater district
If a groundwater conservation district covers your land in Midland County, you may need a permit before drilling a new water well.
Hunting Licenses
Texas hunting licenses require the right endorsements for different game in Midland County
Beyond a basic hunting license, Midland County hunters often need additional endorsements depending on what they plan to hunt.
History & Culture
County Origins
Midland County got its name from the railroad running halfway across Texas
Midland County was organized in 1885 and named for its location at the midpoint of the Texas and Pacific Railway between Fort Worth and El Paso.
Oil Boom
Oil transformed Midland from a small ranching town into a regional city
Midland County's first major oil production came in 1945, and by the 1950s the city had become the corporate headquarters of the Permian Basin petroleum industry.
Permian Basin Geology
The Permian Basin beneath Midland County holds some of the deepest oil deposits in Texas
Midland County sits atop the Midland Basin, part of the larger Permian Basin that formed when an ancient sea retreated and left thick layers of rock that trapped oil and gas.
Prehistoric History
Ancient human remains found near Midland hint at early inhabitants
Fossilized human remains called Midland Minnie were discovered in Midland County and are tentatively linked to late Pleistocene-era people who lived in the region thousands of years ago.
County Seat
The city of Midland is both county seat and the business hub of the Permian Basin
Midland is the county seat of Midland County and serves as the corporate and administrative center for the oil and gas industry across the broader Permian Basin region.