Wilson County, Texas
13 local notes for Wilson County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. San Antonio / South Central.
Money & Taxes
Property Tax
Two offices handle your property taxes in Wilson County
The appraisal district sets your property value; the tax assessor-collector bills and collects the tax — they are separate offices.
Property Tax
Homestead exemption can cut your school tax bill in Wilson County
Texas law requires school districts to give homeowners a $140,000 exemption on their primary residence, which directly lowers the taxable value.
Property Tax
Wilson County has 25 taxing units — each can add to your bill
Your Wilson County property tax bill adds up rates from up to 25 separate taxing units — the county, school districts, cities, and special districts each set their own rate.
Ag Valuation
Qualifying farmland in Wilson County can be taxed on ag use, not market value
Texas law lets farmland and ranchland be taxed on what it produces, not what a developer might pay for it — and that can mean a much lower tax bill.
Home & Property
Water Wells
Drilling a water well in Wilson County requires a permit
Wilson County is fully inside the Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District, which regulates water wells and requires permits for most new drilling.
Groundwater
Rural Wilson County relies heavily on the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer
The Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer is the main groundwater source for much of Wilson County, and the Evergreen district monitors its levels to protect long-term supply.
Flooding
Wilson County has official FEMA flood maps — check before you build
FEMA has mapped flood zones in Wilson County; properties near the San Antonio River, Cibolo Creek, and Ecleto Creek carry the highest risk.
Mineral Rights
In Wilson County, mineral rights are often owned separately from the land
Oil was discovered in Wilson County in 1941, and decades of production mean the mineral estate under many properties may belong to someone other than the surface owner.
Cars & Driving
Roads & Safety
Wilson County roads include low-water crossings that flood during heavy rain
Rural roads in Wilson County cross several creek drainages with low-water crossings that can become impassable quickly during heavy rain.
Vehicle Registration
Wilson County vehicles need a safety inspection before registration renewal
Texas uses a program called Two Steps, One Sticker — get your vehicle inspected first, then renew your registration.
Outdoors
History & Culture
Local Identity
Floresville calls itself the Peanut Capital of Texas — and has since 1938
Floresville, the Wilson County seat, developed peanuts as a major cash crop around 1915 and has held an annual Peanut Festival since 1938.
County History
Wilson County was carved from Bexar and Karnes counties in 1860
Wilson County was created by the Texas Legislature on February 13, 1860, named after legislator James C. Wilson, and has an agricultural identity shaped by ranching, cotton, and later oil.