Texas Porch

County Origins

Lamar County Was Founded in 1840 and Named for a Republic President

Lamar County was created by the Republic of Texas in 1840 and named for Mirabeau B. Lamar, the fourth president of the Republic.

Lamar County History & Culture

The Fifth Congress of the Republic of Texas established Lamar County on December 17, 1840. It was named for Mirabeau B. Lamar, who served as the fourth president of the Republic of Texas. Paris became the county seat in 1844, when merchant George W. Wright donated fifty acres for the townsite. Thomas Poteet, one of Wright's employees, named the new town after Paris, France.

The county covers about 919 square miles in North Texas along the Oklahoma border. The Red River marks the north boundary. Cotton farming drove the early economy, and multiple railroads arrived between 1876 and 1910, making Paris a regional hub. The town was incorporated by the Congress of the Republic of Texas on February 3, 1845.

Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas — Lamar County

More Lamar County notes

Property Tax Basics

Who Appraises and Who Collects Your Property Taxes

Two separate offices handle your property taxes in Lamar County — one sets the value, the other handles payment.

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Homestead Exemption

The Homestead Exemption Lowers Your School Tax Bill

Texas law requires school districts to take $140,000 off the appraised value of your primary home before calculating your school tax.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farmland Can Be Taxed on Its Farming Value, Not Market Value

If land in Lamar County is actively used for farming or ranching, it may qualify for a special valuation that can sharply lower the tax bill.

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Septic Systems

Building Outside City Limits Requires a Septic Permit

Most rural property in Lamar County has no sewer service, so any new home or addition needs a permitted on-site sewage system.

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