Motley County, Texas
7 local notes for Motley County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. Panhandle / High Plains.
Money & Taxes
Property Tax
Who Handles Property Tax in Motley County
Motley County has its own appraisal district and a separate tax assessor-collector office — knowing which one to call saves time.
Homestead Exemption
Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your Tax Bill
If your home in Motley County is your main residence, you likely qualify for a state homestead exemption that reduces what you owe in property taxes.
Home & Property
Water Rights
Groundwater in Motley County Is Managed by a Special District
If you plan to drill a water well in Motley County, you need to work with the Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District, which regulates how much water can be pumped.
Septic / OSSF
Most Homes Here Use a Septic System, Not City Sewer
Outside of Matador's city limits, most homes in Motley County rely on an on-site sewage system (septic tank), and state rules require a permit to install or repair one.
Outdoors
History & Culture
Ranch History
The Matador Ranch Shaped This County for Decades
The Matador Land and Cattle Company, once owned by Scottish investors, controlled a vast stretch of Motley County land from the 1880s until 1951.
Place Identity
Motley County: Below the Caprock, Thin Soil, Big Sky
Motley County sits just below the Caprock escarpment in northwest Texas — its rolling plains, dry climate, and ranching roots define life here today.