Texas Porch

Settlement History

Spanish Ranchers Settled This Area More Than 275 Years Ago

The lower Rio Grande Valley was settled by Spanish ranching families in 1749 under José de Escandón, making it one of the older continuously settled regions in Texas.

Hidalgo County History & Culture

In 1749, Spanish official José de Escandón led settlers to the Rio Grande frontier. This was more than 275 years ago. The area that is now Hidalgo County is one of the oldest settled regions in Texas.

Over time, large land grants were split among family members. Riverside ranches grew into small villages. Some of those places are still around today—La Habitación (now the city of Hidalgo), Relampago, and Peñitas all trace back to that era.

This deep ranching history still shapes how land is owned and sold in the region. Many families have roots here going back many generations. If you buy property here, you may be dealing with land that has passed through the same family for a very long time.

Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas – Hidalgo County

More Hidalgo County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two Separate Offices Handle Your Property Taxes

Hidalgo County has one office that values your property and a different office that collects the taxes—you need to know which to contact.

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Homestead Exemption

A Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your Tax Bill

If your home is your main residence, you can file for a homestead exemption that reduces how much of its value gets taxed.

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Taxing Units

Your Tax Bill Comes From Many Different Entities

Hidalgo County has 56 active taxing units, so your total tax bill is the sum of rates from several different entities.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farm and Ranch Land Can Be Taxed on Productivity, Not Market Value

Texas law lets qualifying farmland and ranchland be taxed on what it produces rather than what it could sell for, which can cut the tax bill significantly.

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