County History

Hopkins County Was Founded in 1846 and Had Two County Seats

The Texas legislature created Hopkins County in March 1846 from parts of Lamar and Nacogdoches counties, and the county seat moved from Tarrant to Sulphur Springs in 1870.

Hopkins County History & Culture

The county was named after the Hopkins pioneer family. Tarrant — about four miles north of today's Sulphur Springs — served as the original county seat. In 1870 the state legislature moved the seat to Sulphur Springs. The town had been known as Bright Star before that name was changed.

Before Anglo settlement, Caddo Indians lived in the area. Cherokees moved in after the Caddo were displaced, and Texas troops defeated the Cherokees in 1839, opening the land to settlers from the American South. By 1850 the population was about 2,623. The Handbook of Texas at TSHA Online is the authoritative source for county history.

Source to confirm: TSHA Handbook of Texas — Hopkins County

More Hopkins County notes

Property Tax Basics

Who Appraises and Who Collects Your Property Tax

Two separate offices handle property taxes in Hopkins County — the appraisal district sets the value, and the tax assessor-collector sends the bill.

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Homestead Exemption

Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your Tax Bill

If you own and live in your home in Hopkins County, you can apply for a homestead exemption that lowers the taxable value of your property.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farmland Can Be Taxed on Productivity, Not Market Value

Rural landowners in Hopkins County who use their land for farming, ranching, or qualified wildlife management may pay taxes based on what the land produces, not what it would sell for.

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Public Land Access

Cooper WMA Offers Hunting, Fishing, and Hiking Near Sulphur Springs

Cooper Wildlife Management Area covers about 14,480 acres in Delta and Hopkins counties next to Jim Chapman Lake and is open year-round for hunting, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing.

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