Mineral Rights & Oil/Gas

Oil and gas production has been part of Cooke County since the 1920s

Cooke County has had active oil and gas production since 1924, so mineral rights on any land purchase deserve careful attention.

Cooke County Home & Property

Cooke County's first oil well started producing on November 9, 1924, about two miles east of Callisburg. Oil and gas became a big part of the county's economy. Today, the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) oversees all oil and gas activity here. Cooke County falls under RRC District 9, run out of the Wichita Falls office.

When you buy rural land in Cooke County, find out if mineral rights are included. In Texas, mineral rights can be split off from the land surface and sold separately. If a past owner kept the minerals, someone else may have the legal right to drill on your land.

The RRC has free online tools. You can look up wells, permits, and production records for any piece of land. Always ask your title company to check mineral ownership before you close on a purchase.

Source to confirm: Railroad Commission of Texas — Oil & Gas Counties and Districts

More Cooke County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two offices handle your property taxes in Cooke County

The Cooke County Appraisal District sets your property value; the Tax Assessor-Collector collects the bill — and they are two separate offices.

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Homestead Exemption

Homestead exemption can lower your school tax bill

Texas law requires school districts to cut $140,000 off a home's appraised value for owners who live in the home as their main residence.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farm and ranch land can be taxed on production value, not market value

If your land is actively used for farming, ranching, or wildlife management, you may qualify for a special lower tax appraisal based on what the land produces, not what it would sell for.

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School Districts

Cooke County has eight school districts — your address determines yours

Eight separate school districts operate in Cooke County, each with its own tax rate, so the ISD for your specific address can meaningfully affect your property tax bill.

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