Texas Porch

Local History

Goldthwaite was born from a railroad land auction in 1885

The county seat of Goldthwaite was founded when the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway arrived and a railroad official auctioned off town lots.

Mills County History & Culture

In 1885 the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway laid tracks into what is now Mills County. A railroad official named Joe G. Goldthwaite ran the auction of town lots, and the new settlement was named after him. The post office opened in 1886. Mills County was formally organized the following year, carved from parts of Brown, Comanche, Hamilton, and Lampasas counties.

The railroad planned Goldthwaite as a division point, but relocated its shops to Brownwood after a labor dispute. Despite that setback, the town grew into the county seat it remains today. The original 1888 county jail is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Source to confirm: TSHA Handbook — Goldthwaite, Texas

More Mills County notes

Property Tax

Two offices handle property taxes in Mills County

Mills County splits property tax duties between two offices, so you need to know which one to contact.

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Homestead Exemption

File a homestead exemption to lower your property tax bill

If your home in Mills County is your main residence, a homestead exemption can reduce the taxable value of your property.

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Ag Valuation

Rural land in Mills County may qualify for agricultural valuation

Land used for farming, ranching, or wildlife management can be taxed on its production value rather than market value, which is often much lower.

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Hunting

Deer hunting in Mills County has antler restrictions

Mills County falls under Texas Parks and Wildlife Department North Zone deer rules, which include a buck antler restriction.

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