Texas Porch

Military Presence

Sheppard Air Force Base Shapes the Local Economy

Sheppard Air Force Base, just north of Wichita Falls, is one of the largest military training bases in the country and a major economic driver for the county.

Wichita County History & Culture

Sheppard opened in 1941 as a World War II Army Air Corps training center. It is named for Texas Senator John Morris Sheppard. Today the base hosts the 82nd Training Wing and the 80th Flying Training Wing, which runs the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program—a program that trains pilots from multiple NATO countries.

In 2023, the Texas Comptroller reported that Sheppard supported about 17,800 total jobs and contributed roughly $3.3 billion in economic output to the region. The base also trains about 63,000 technical school graduates each year. For people buying or renting in Wichita County, the base is a key source of stable employment and housing demand.

Source to confirm: Texas Comptroller – Sheppard AFB Economic Impact 2023

More Wichita County notes

Property Tax Basics

How Property Tax Works in Wichita County

The Wichita Appraisal District sets your property value each year, and a separate tax office collects your bill.

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Homestead Exemption

Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your Tax Bill

If you own and live in your home in Wichita County, you can apply for a homestead exemption to reduce what you pay in school taxes.

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Ag Valuation

Agricultural Valuation Lowers Taxes on Farm and Ranch Land

Land used for farming, ranching, or wildlife in Wichita County may be taxed on its productive value rather than its market value.

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Tax Protest

You Can Protest Your Property Value in Wichita County

If your property's appraised value seems too high, you have the right to challenge it each year before the Appraisal Review Board.

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