Texas Porch

Local History

A WWII prisoner-of-war camp once stood just outside Hereford

During World War II, a large military camp near Hereford held about 5,000 Italian prisoners of war; a restored chapel and state historical marker are the main physical reminders today.

Deaf Smith County History & Culture

In 1942, the U.S. military built a prisoner-of-war facility about 3.5 miles southeast of Hereford, straddling the Deaf Smith and Castro county line. It cost roughly $2 million and became the second-largest POW camp in the United States during World War II. The first prisoners — Italian soldiers — arrived in April 1943. At its peak the camp held around 5,000 Italian prisoners. A group of German prisoners was mistakenly routed there and quickly transferred after a riot broke out between compounds.

The camp closed in early 1946 after the war ended. Almost nothing of the original structure survived. A small concrete chapel was restored in the 1980s and dedicated in 1989. The site received a Texas State Historical Marker in 1993. If you are interested in local history, the Handbook of Texas entry on the Hereford Military Reservation gives the full story with source citations.

Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas — Hereford Military Reservation and Reception Center

More Deaf Smith County notes

Property Tax

Two offices handle your property taxes in Deaf Smith County

The appraisal district sets your property value and also handles tax collection in Deaf Smith County; the tax assessor-collector office does not collect property taxes here.

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Water & Wells

All water wells in Deaf Smith County tap the Ogallala Aquifer

The Ogallala Aquifer is the only major freshwater source under most of the county, and a state groundwater district controls who can drill and how much they can pump.

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Ag Valuation

Agricultural land in Deaf Smith County can qualify for a lower tax value

Land used mainly for farming or ranching can be appraised at its agricultural use value instead of its market value, which usually results in a much lower tax bill.

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Hunting

Deaf Smith County offers pheasant, mule deer, pronghorn, and quail hunting

The county falls in the Panhandle hunting zones for pheasant, mule deer, and pronghorn — species not available in most of Texas — though almost all land here is private.

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