County Seat History

Alice Was Once Called the Hub City of South Texas

Alice, the county seat of Jim Wells County, grew from a railroad stop into a major cattle-shipping and oil-boom town in South Texas.

Jim Wells County History & Culture

The town now called Alice started in the 1880s as a railroad depot called Bandana. It was renamed Alice — after Alice Gertrudis King Kleberg, daughter of rancher Richard King — when the post office opened in 1888. The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway made it a key shipping point for cattle from across South Texas.

During the oil boom of the 1920s and again after a major oilfield discovery in 1938, Alice earned the nickname 'Hub City of South Texas.' Jim Wells County was carved out of Nueces County in 1911, with Alice as its county seat from the start. The county is named for James B. Wells Jr., a South Texas lawyer and political figure of the era.

Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas — Alice, Texas

More Jim Wells County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two Offices Handle Property Tax in Jim Wells County

Jim Wells County has two separate offices for property taxes — one sets your value, the other handles vehicle registration and some collections.

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Tax Savings

Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your Tax Bill

If your home in Jim Wells County is your primary residence, you may qualify for a homestead exemption that reduces your taxable value.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farm and Ranch Land Can Qualify for Lower Taxes

Land used for farming, ranching, or wildlife management in Jim Wells County may qualify for a special lower appraisal that cuts property taxes.

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Property Tax Bill

Several Taxing Units Can Appear on Your Tax Bill

Your Jim Wells County property tax bill can include charges from the county, a school district, a city, and special districts all at once.

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