Texas Porch

Local History

A Railroad Built Pearsall and Made It the County Seat

Pearsall was founded in 1882 when the International-Great Northern Railroad arrived, and it replaced the older Frio Town as the county seat within a year.

Frio County History & Culture

Before the railroad came, Frio County's government sat in a small town called Frio Town. Then in 1882 the International-Great Northern Railroad platted a new townsite and named it Pearsall, after a railroad vice president. People and businesses moved quickly from Frio Town to be near the rail line. By 1884, Pearsall had 700 residents and became the official county seat.

The railroad also shaped the other main towns in the county. Moore, Pearsall, and Dilley all grew up at stops along the rail line, spaced about fifteen miles apart. The Frio Pioneer Jail Museum in Pearsall, housed in the original 1884 county jail, tells more of this early local story. The Handbook of Texas Online has detailed history of both Pearsall and Frio County.

Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas Online — Pearsall, TX

More Frio County notes

Property Tax Offices

Who Handles Property Tax in Frio County

Frio County has two separate offices for property tax: the Appraisal District sets your property value, and the Tax Office handles bills and payments.

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Homestead Exemption

How to Lower Your Property Tax with a Homestead Exemption

If your home in Frio County is your main residence, you may qualify for a homestead exemption that reduces what you owe in property taxes.

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Agricultural Appraisal

Ag Valuation Can Cut Property Taxes on Rural Land

Rural landowners in Frio County who farm or ranch may qualify for a special lower tax rate based on what the land produces, not what it is worth on the market.

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Water Wells

Frio County Has a Groundwater District That Regulates Wells

The Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District covers all of Frio County and requires permits or registration for most new water wells.

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