County History

Robert Lee became the county seat after a contested 1891 vote

Coke County was formed in 1889 from Tom Green County, with Hayrick as its first county seat, but Robert Lee won a close election in 1891 and has been the county seat ever since.

Coke County History & Culture

The Texas legislature created Coke County in 1889 out of land that had been part of Tom Green County. The county was named for Richard Coke, a former Texas governor. The first county seat was Hayrick. Supporters of Robert Lee argued that Hayrick lacked water and was off-center in the county.

In 1891, Robert Lee won the county seat election. The town was named for Robert E. Lee, who had served at Fort Chadbourne nearby. Robert Lee has been the county seat since then. The Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas covers this history in detail.

Source to confirm: Texas State Historical Association – Coke County

More Coke County notes

Property Tax

How to lower your property tax bill in Coke County

The Coke County Appraisal District handles property values and exemptions, and filing a homestead exemption can cut your tax bill.

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Agricultural Appraisal

Ag valuation can sharply cut taxes on rural land

If you use land in Coke County for ranching, farming, or wildlife management, you may qualify for ag valuation, which taxes the land on its productivity rather than its market value.

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Groundwater & Wells

A local water district oversees wells in Coke County

The Coke County Underground Water Conservation District regulates groundwater, so if you plan to drill a water well, you will need to work with this district.

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Lake Recreation

E.V. Spence Reservoir offers fishing and camping near Robert Lee

E.V. Spence Reservoir, about 2 miles west of Robert Lee, has more than 14,000 surface acres and provides camping, fishing, and boat ramps managed by the Colorado River Municipal Water District.

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