Castro County, TX Property Records

    Castro County lies on the Llano Estacado, the flat, high tableland of the Texas Panhandle. Its population at the 2020 U.S. Census was 7,371, with 2025 estimates placing it near 7,295. The county seat is Dimmitt. Nazareth and Hart are smaller incorporated communities. The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1891. It is named for Henri Castro, a Texas colonizer who brought European settlers to South Texas in the 1840s.

    The economy is built on agriculture. Castro County is one of the leading counties in the nation for feedlot cattle and produces substantial quantities of cotton, corn, wheat, and sorghum under irrigated conditions, drawing from the Ogallala Aquifer. The aquifer, which is being depleted, is the defining long-term issue for the county's agricultural economy. The Hispanic population accounts for approximately 65% of county residents, reflecting decades of agricultural labor migration.

    The housing market is affordable but slow-moving. The median home value is approximately $115,900, well below the Texas statewide average of approximately $298,000. The median household income is approximately $63,219. According to Federal Reserve Economic Data, an estimated 25–29% of households are cost-burdened.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    The Castro County Clerk maintains all official land records in Castro County. The office is located at the Castro County Courthouse in Dimmitt, Texas. The County Clerk is Amanda Fisher.

    What County Property Records Include

    The County Clerk maintains all instruments affecting the ownership and encumbrance of real property. Recorded documents include:

    • Deeds: Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, special warranty deeds, trustee deeds, and correction deeds.

    • Deeds of Trust: The primary mortgage instrument in Texas conveys a security interest to a trustee on behalf of a lender.

    • Releases and Reconveyances: Discharge instruments releasing liens or deeds of trust once obligations are satisfied.

    • Oil and Gas Leases: Mineral leases, assignments, ratifications, and releases.

    • Easements and Rights-of-Way: Pipeline easements, utility easements, and access rights.

    • Mechanic's and Materialman's Liens: Filed under Chapter 53, Texas Property Code.

    • Powers of Attorney: Including durable and real-property-specific instruments.

    • Assignments: Including assignments of leases, rents, and mineral interests.

    • Lis Pendens: Notices of pending litigation affecting title.

    • Subdivision Plats: Plat maps of subdivisions within the county.

    How to Access Castro County Property Records

    Online Access

    Castro County offers online access through its official portal. Records are also available through Texasfile. Online copies cost between $1.00–$1.50 per page.

    In Person

    Visit the Castro County Clerk at 100 East Bedford Street, Room 101, Dimmitt, TX 79027 during office hours.

    By Phone

    Call (806) 647-3338 during business hours.

    By Mail

    Mail requests to the Castro County Clerk, 100 East Bedford Street, Room 101, Dimmitt, TX 79027, with instrument details and payment.

    What's Not at the County Clerk's Office

    • Property Appraisal: Castro County Appraisal District.

    • Property Taxes: Castro County Tax Assessor-Collector (Connie Gilbreath, CTOP), 100 East Bedford, Room 100, Dimmitt, TX 79027. Phone: (806) 647-5336.

    • Zoning (Dimmitt): Dimmitt City Planning and Zoning Commission. Phone: (806) 647-2155.

    • Texas RRC: RRC for any oil and gas activity.

    Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed Online

    To research a property deed using online resources:

    • Search TexasFile: Go to TexasFile and select the county. Search by grantor/grantee name, document type, and date range.

    • Identify the instrument: Note the volume and page number or instrument number and recording date.

    • Retrieve a copy: Download images if available online. If not, contact the County Clerk at (806) 647-3338 or mail a request with instrument details and applicable fee to 100 East Bedford St., Room 101, Dimmitt, TX 79027.

    • Verify appraisal data: Cross-reference the parcel at the county appraisal district for assessed value, ownership, and exemption status.

    • Check mineral interests: For properties with oil and gas activity, search the Texas RRC GIS for well locations, operators, and production data.

    • Confirm tax status: Verify current tax payment history with the County Tax Assessor-Collector.

    Cities & Towns in Castro County

    • Dimmitt: County seat. Population approximately 4,183. Named for an early settler. All recorded instruments for Dimmitt properties are filed with the Castro County Clerk.

    • Nazareth: Small community with an active Catholic identity and a well-regarded school system. Population under 500.

    • Hart: Small agricultural community.

    • Earth: Small community in the northern part of the county.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    County-Specific Nuances

    • Ogallala Aquifer dependency: Castro County agriculture depends almost entirely on Ogallala Aquifer irrigation. Water rights instruments are recorded documents that may significantly affect the use and value of agricultural land. Search for water rights, irrigation easements, and underground water district instruments when researching rural parcels.

    • Friday afternoon closure: The Castro County Clerk's office closes at 2:00 p.m. on Fridays. Plan in-person visits accordingly.

    • Online access available: Unlike some rural Panhandle counties, Castro County offers an official online portal for property records. This is a meaningful convenience for remote researchers.

    • Texas uses a County Clerk, not a Recorder of Deeds: The County Clerk is the statutory custodian of all recorded land instruments under the Texas Local Government Code.

    • Texas uses deeds of trust, not traditional mortgages: Search for "deed of trust" rather than "mortgage" when examining encumbrances.

    • Severed mineral estates are common: A deed to the surface does not convey mineral rights unless explicitly stated. Mineral ownership must be traced through a separate chain of instruments.

    • Texas homestead rights: Both spouses must sign a deed or deed of trust conveying or encumbering the homestead, even if the title is in only one spouse's name.

    • Community property state: Property acquired during marriage is generally owned equally by both spouses.

    • Agricultural land exemptions: Much of the land in this county qualifies for ag appraisal under the Texas Tax Code, valued on productive capacity rather than market value. Assessed values may be substantially lower than market value.

    Typical Contents of a Castro County Property Record

    • Deeds:

      • Grantor and grantee names.

      • Full legal description.

      • Consideration.

      • Warranty covenants.

      • Acknowledgment.

      • Recording volume and page.

    • Deeds of Trust:

      • Borrower.

      • Lender and trustee names.

      • Loan amount.

      • Legal description.

      • Power of sale clause.

    • Agricultural and Water Leases:

      • Lessor and lessee names.

      • Description of leased premises.

      • Permitted use

      • Term.

      • Water rights provisions.

    • Easements:

      • Lrrigation easements,

      • Pipeline easements

      • Parties.

      • Description.

      • Permitted use.

    • Releases:

      • Reference to the original deed of trust,

      • Statement of satisfaction.

      • Lender signature.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    All instruments affecting real property must be recorded with the County Clerk. Submissions may be made in person, by mail, or through an approved e-recording service.

    Documents must satisfy the following requirements:

    • Acknowledgment: The instrument must be acknowledged before a notary public. The acknowledgment must identify the acknowledging party by name and be dated on or after the execution date.

    • Legal Description: A complete legal description referencing the appropriate survey, abstract number, and block/lot designations.

    • Legibility: Pages must be 8.5 x 11 inches, clearly printed, with a 3-inch top margin on the first page for the clerk to record notations and 1-inch margins elsewhere.

    • Grantor/Grantee Names: All parties identified by full legal name.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    • Identify the parcel: Obtain the legal description from the deed, tax records, or the county appraisal district.

    • Search the grantor/grantee index: Use TexasFile or the County Clerk's in-office index by owner name, document type, and date.

    • Retrieve deed documents: Trace all deeds in the chain of title. Review for legal description accuracy, warranty covenants, and reservations or exceptions.

    • Search for encumbrances: Search for deeds of trust, mechanic's liens, lis pendens, and other recorded encumbrances against the property and all prior owners.

    • Review oil and gas instruments: Conduct a separate search of mineral-related instruments, including leases, assignments, ratifications, and pooling agreements. Determine whether the mineral estate has been severed.

    • Check Texas RRC records: Visit RRC for active wells, permitted locations, operators, and production data.

    • Verify appraisal and tax status: Confirm current assessed value, exemption status, and tax payment history at the appraisal district and Tax Assessor-Collector.

    • Confirm homestead status: Determine whether the property carries a homestead exemption, which affects conveyance and lien requirements.

    • Review plat records: For subdivided properties, confirm plat recording and verify the legal description matches the recorded plat.

    • Obtain certified copies: Request certified copies from the County Clerk for closing or litigation. Fees: $5.00 first page, $1.00 per additional page.

    Appendix A: Municipalities in Castro County, TX

    Castro County, TX has 3 incorporated

    Cities: Dimmitt, Hart, and Nazareth.

    Unincorporated communities in Castro County include Arney, Big Square, Dodd, Easter, Flagg, Frio, Hilburn, Jumbo, Mulkey, Roy, Sunnyside, Summerfield, and Tam Anne. These unincorporated communities and census-designated places are populated areas that do not have their own government Wikipedia

    Appendix B Key Contacts & Portals