Wichita County, Texas
24 local notes for Wichita County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. DFW / North Texas.
Money & Taxes
Property Tax Basics
How Property Tax Works in Wichita County
The Wichita Appraisal District sets your property value each year, and a separate tax office collects your bill.
Homestead Exemption
Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your Tax Bill
If you own and live in your home in Wichita County, you can apply for a homestead exemption to reduce what you pay in school taxes.
Ag Valuation
Agricultural Valuation Lowers Taxes on Farm and Ranch Land
Land used for farming, ranching, or wildlife in Wichita County may be taxed on its productive value rather than its market value.
Tax Protest
You Can Protest Your Property Value in Wichita County
If your property's appraised value seems too high, you have the right to challenge it each year before the Appraisal Review Board.
Home & Property
Weather Hazard
Wichita County Has a Serious Tornado History
More than 60 tornadoes have been recorded in Wichita County since 1900, including a catastrophic 1979 storm that killed 42 people.
Flood Risk
Parts of Wichita County Are in FEMA Flood Zones
The Wichita River and its tributaries create flood risk in parts of the county, and FEMA flood maps identify which properties may require flood insurance.
Septic Systems
Rural Properties Need a Septic Permit Before Building
Outside of city sewer areas in Wichita County, homes need an on-site sewage facility permit, and the Wichita Falls Health District handles local permitting.
City vs. County
Four Cities Share the County—Know Which Jurisdiction You're In
Wichita County has four incorporated cities—Wichita Falls, Burkburnett, Iowa Park, and Electra—each with its own rules, and unincorporated areas fall under county authority.
Mineral Rights
Mineral Rights Are a Separate Property in Wichita County
Wichita County has a long oil-producing history, and the mineral rights beneath a property may be owned separately from the surface land.
Climate
Wichita County Has Hot Summers and Cold Winters
Wichita County averages a high of 98°F in July and a low near 28°F in January, with about 27 inches of annual rainfall spread unevenly through the year.
Cars & Driving
Outdoors
State Park
Lake Arrowhead State Park: Camping and Fishing Near Wichita Falls
Lake Arrowhead State Park sits about 15 minutes south of Wichita Falls (in Clay County) and offers camping, fishing, hiking, and equestrian trails on a 16,200-acre lake.
Freshwater Fishing
Lake Arrowhead Is Known for Catfish and Crappie
Lake Arrowhead, southeast of Wichita Falls, holds white crappie, largemouth bass, and large catfish under statewide fishing regulations.
Rivers and Water
Three Rivers Drain Wichita County—And Create Flood Risk
The Red River, Wichita River, and Little Wichita River all flow through Wichita County, shaping land use, flood risk, and water supply.
Annual Event
The Hotter 'N Hell Hundred Bike Race Draws Thousands Each August
Wichita Falls hosts a large annual bicycle event in late August, when temperatures typically top 100 degrees, drawing cyclists from across the country.
Rules & Licenses
Oil & Gas Regulation
Check the Railroad Commission Before Buying Rural Land
The Texas Railroad Commission regulates oil and gas wells in Wichita County and maintains public records you can search before purchasing rural property.
Agriculture
Cattle and Wheat Farming Still Matter in Wichita County
Wichita County has hundreds of farms and ranches, with stocker cattle, cows, calves, wheat, and small grains as the main products.
Licenses
Texas Fishing and Hunting Licenses Apply Countywide
Anyone fishing or hunting in Wichita County needs a valid Texas license, with one exception: no license is needed to fish from shore or the pier inside Lake Arrowhead State Park.
History & Culture
Military Presence
Sheppard Air Force Base Shapes the Local Economy
Sheppard Air Force Base, just north of Wichita Falls, is one of the largest military training bases in the country and a major economic driver for the county.
Oil History
The 1918 Burkburnett Oil Boom Transformed the County
Commercial oil production began near Electra in 1911 and exploded at Burkburnett in 1918, turning Wichita County into one of Texas's most active oil-producing areas.
County History
Wichita County Was Organized in 1882 After Decades of Sparse Settlement
Texas created Wichita County in 1858, but the county had fewer than 500 residents until after 1880, when a railroad arrived and formal county government was established.
Local Landmark
The Waterfall That Named Wichita Falls Was Washed Away in 1886
A flood destroyed the original falls on the Wichita River in 1886, but the city built a 54-foot artificial waterfall in 1987 that now stands beside Lucy Park.
Other Communities
Three Smaller Cities Anchor Different Parts of the County
Burkburnett, Iowa Park, and Electra are incorporated cities in Wichita County with their own histories tied to oil, ranching, and the railroad.
Higher Education
Midwestern State University Is the County's Public University
Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls began as a junior college in 1922 and is now a public four-year university in the Texas Tech University System.