Texas Porch

Tejano History

Starr County has deep Tejano and Spanish ranching roots

Spanish settlement in 1749 built a ranching culture that shaped Starr County's land, economy, and Hispanic majority population for generations.

Starr County History & Culture

Spanish colonizer José de Escandón led settlement efforts in this region in 1749. Francisco de la Garza Martínez founded one of the first settlements here in 1763. Ranching — cattle and sheep — was the backbone of the local economy from the start.

The county's population has been predominantly Hispanic since at least the 1870s. By 1985, Mexican Americans made up about 97 percent of the county's population. The county is named for James Harper Starr, a Republic of Texas official. But the culture and daily life here have always reflected its Spanish and Mexican heritage.

Rio Grande City was founded in 1847 by Henry Clay Davis. Davis was a Kentucky frontiersman who survived the Mier Expedition and married into the local Garza family. The Handbook of Texas covers this history in detail.

Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas Online — Starr County

More Starr County notes

Property Tax

Who handles property taxes in Starr County

Two separate offices handle property taxes here — one sets your value, the other collects the bill.

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Homestead Exemption

How the homestead exemption works in Starr County

If your home here is your main residence, a Texas homestead exemption can lower the taxable value — and Starr County has boosted its local exemption for seniors and disabled residents.

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Agricultural Valuation

Ag valuation can cut your property tax bill on rural land

Farm and ranch land in Starr County can be taxed on what it produces, not what it would sell for — and that can mean a much lower tax bill.

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Mineral Rights / Oil & Gas

Oil and gas have shaped Starr County for nearly a century

Starr County has a long oil and gas history, so mineral rights questions often come up when buying land here.

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