Texas Porch

Local History

How Fisher County and Roby Got Their Names

Fisher County was named for a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Its county seat was chosen in an election where one voter turned out to be a dog.

Fisher County History & Culture

Fisher County was carved out of Bexar County in 1876. It was named after Samuel Rhoads Fisher. He signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. The county did not get organized until 1886. Early settlers were mostly cattle ranchers. The 1880 census counted only 136 people. Even so, cattle already numbered over 24,000.

Roby became the county seat after a fight in the mid-1880s. Two sites competed: the Roby location and the nearby community of Fisher. Developers from Mississippi backed Roby. The election was disputed. It came out later that one of the voters — a Bill Purp — was actually a dog owned by a Roby supporter. Roby won anyway and has been the county seat ever since.

The county covers 897 square miles in the Rolling Plains. Elevations run from about 1,800 to 2,400 feet. Rotan, not Roby, is the largest town today.

Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas — Fisher County

More Fisher County notes

Property Tax

Who Handles Your Property Tax in Fisher County

Two separate offices handle property taxes in Fisher County — one appraises your property's value and one collects the tax.

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Exemptions

Homestead and Ag Exemptions Can Cut Your Tax Bill

Fisher County property owners who live on their land or farm it may qualify for exemptions that lower their taxable value.

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Hunting

Hunting in Fisher County: Seasons and Bag Limits

Fisher County sits in Texas's North Zone for deer and turkey, with specific bag limits and endorsement requirements hunters need to know before going afield.

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Local Economy

Oil and Gas Has Shaped Fisher County Since the 1920s

Oil was discovered in Fisher County in 1928 and has been part of the local economy ever since, alongside cotton and cattle.

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