County History

The County Is Named for an Alamo Defender

Cochran County was named after Robert Cochran, who died defending the Alamo in 1836.

Texas organized Cochran County from Bexar and Young County land in 1876. It was named to honor Robert Cochran, one of the men who died at the Alamo. The county had almost no permanent settlers for decades after it was created.

The county seat, Morton, was laid out in the early 1920s. It won a vote over a rival town called Ligon to become the seat in 1924. Morton has stayed small. Today the county has only a few thousand residents spread across 775 square miles.

Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas Online — Cochran County

More Cochran County notes

Property Tax

Two Separate Offices Handle Your Property Taxes

In Cochran County, one office appraises your property's value and a separate office collects the tax bill.

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Property Tax Exemption

A Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your Tax Bill

If your home in Cochran County is your primary residence, you may qualify for a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value of the property.

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Groundwater

Most Well Water Here Comes From a Shrinking Aquifer

Cochran County sits on the Ogallala Aquifer, the main source of well water for the High Plains — and it is slowly declining.

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Hunting

Cochran County Has Hunting for Deer, Pheasant, and Quail

Cochran County falls in Panhandle hunting zones, offering seasons for white-tailed deer, mule deer, pheasant, quail, and dove.

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