Crockett County, TX Property Records

    Crockett County is a vast Edwards Plateau county in West Texas, covering 2,807 square miles with a 2020 U.S. Census population of 3,098, declining to approximately 2,769 by 2025. The county seat is Ozona, an unincorporated census-designated place (CDP), not an incorporated municipality, and it is the only Census Bureau–recognized community in the entire county. The county was created in 1875 and organized in 1891. It is named for Davy Crockett, the frontiersman who died at the Battle of the Alamo.

    Ozona's motto is "The Biggest Little Town in the World," reflecting its position as the only significant service center in a county the size of Delaware. The economy is based on oil and gas and ranching. At approximately 66.8% Hispanic, Crockett County's population reflects the demographic character of the Permian Basin-adjacent Edwards Plateau. The median household income is approximately $81,022, driven by oil field wages. Median home values are approximately $109,469 in Ozona.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    The Crockett County Clerk maintains all official land records in Crockett County. The office is located at the Crockett County Courthouse in Ozona, Texas.

    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 Crockett County Property Records

    You can access Crockett County property records online, in person, by phone, and by mail. The process depends on the type of record you need.

    Online Access (Free)

    Crockett County property records are available online through TexasFile, a statewide records portal. Select Crockett County from the county list and search by grantor or grantee name, instrument number, document type, or recording date. Most deed, deed of trust, release, and lien instruments recorded in recent decades are indexed and available as scanned images.

    Property ownership, valuation, and exemption data are available through the Crockett County Appraisal District at crockettcad.org. The portal allows searches by owner name, property address, and legal description. This is the appropriate resource for assessed values, exemption status, and current ownership; it does not replace the County Clerk's deed records for title research.

    In Person

    While online portals are often the most convenient option, you can visit the relevant offices directly for certified copies, recording, or research assistance:

    By Phone

    You can make inquiries, request general information, and ask about copy fees by phone:

    By Mail/Overnight

    You can submit documents for recording or request copies of recorded instruments by mail. Before mailing a document for recording, ensure it is properly titled, acknowledged before a notary, includes the grantee's mailing address, and contains a complete legal description. Standard recording fees apply: $26.00 for the first page and $4.00 for each additional page. Texas does not impose a realty transfer tax.

    To request copies of recorded documents, send a written request with sufficient identifying information (grantor/grantee name, approximate date, and document type) to:

    You may also request property record data from the Crockett County Appraisal District by mail to 909 Avenue D, Ozona, TX 76943. Include a clear description of the property or information requested.

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    Crockett County supports e-recording of property documents through authorized third-party providers. E-recording is primarily used by title companies, lenders, and legal professionals. Contact the County Clerk's office at (325) 392-2674 for information on approved e-recording services and submission requirements.

    What's Not at the County Clerk's Office

    • Property Appraisal: Crockett County Appraisal District (Janet M. Thompson), 909 Avenue D, P.O. Box 1569, Ozona, TX 76943. Phone: (325) 392-8258.

    • Property Taxes: Tax Assessor-Collector Michelle Medley, 909 Avenue D, Ozona, TX 76943. Phone: (325) 392-2674. Crockett County Tax A/C collects property taxes.

    • Texas RRC: www.rrc.texas.gov.

    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. If not, contact the County Clerk at (325) 392-2674 or mail a request to P.O. Drawer H, Ozona, TX 76943.

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

    • Check mineral interests: Search the Texas RRC for well locations and production data.

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

    Cities & Towns in Crockett County

    • Ozona: County seat. Unincorporated CDP. The ONLY recognized community in Crockett County. Self-styled "The Biggest Little Town in the World." Location of the county courthouse and all county services.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    • Crockett County Appraisal District

    • Tax Assessor-Collector

    • Texas Comptroller

    County-Specific Nuances

    • Ozona is the ONLY community in 2,807 square miles: The county contains no other Census Bureau-recognized community. Ozona is unincorporated. All property research for Crockett County concerns either Ozona or the surrounding ranch and oil field land. There is no incorporated municipality; zoning questions should be directed to the county, not the city hall.

    • Named for Davy Crockett: Crockett County is among the Texas counties named for Alamo defenders. Davy Crockett was a Tennessee frontiersman and congressman who died at the Alamo on March 6, 1836.

    • Oil and gas economy drives income statistics: The median household income of approximately $81,022 reflects wages in Permian Basin-adjacent oil fields. The underlying ranching economy and service sector income levels are lower. Income and housing market statistics are subject to cyclical volatility tied to commodity prices.

    • 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 to convey or encumber the homestead.

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

    • Agricultural land exemptions: Land qualifying for ag appraisal is valued on productive capacity rather than market value. Assessed values may be substantially lower than market value.

    Typical Contents of a Crockett County Property Record

    • Deeds, Deeds of Trust, Releases:

      • Standard conveyance

      • Lien instruments.

    • Oil and Gas Leases:

    • Lessor and lessee

    • Leased premises

    Primary term

    • Royalty rate

    • Bonus consideration.

    • Ranch and Hunting Leases:

      • Lessor and lessee

      • Description of leased premises

      • Term

      • Permitted use

      • Annual payment.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

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

    Documents must satisfy the following requirements:

    • Acknowledgment: Must be acknowledged before a notary public; dated on or after execution.

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

    • Legibility: 8.5 x 11 inches, clearly printed, with a 3-inch top margin on the first page.

    • 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.

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

    • Search for encumbrances: Search for deeds of trust, mechanic's liens, lis pendens, and other recorded encumbrances.

    • Review oil and gas instruments: Search for mineral-related instruments. Determine whether the mineral estate has been severed from the surface estate.

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

    • Verify appraisal and tax status: Confirm assessed value, exemption status, and tax payment history.

    • Confirm homestead status: Determine whether the property carries a homestead exemption.

    • Review plat records: For subdivided properties, confirm plat recording.

    • Obtain certified copies: Confirm the current fee schedule with the Clerk before mailing payment.

    Appendix A: Municipalities in Crockett County

    Crockett County has no cities. The only census-designated place and populated community is Ozona, which serves as the county seat.

    County Seat and Only Community: Ozona (population 2,663; unincorporated; known as "The Biggest Little Town in the World"; founded in 1891 as Powell Well, renamed Ozona for the quantity of its open air or ozone; located on Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 163 between Houston and El Paso).

    Historic Communities: Several short-lived communities and ghost towns formed in the 1880s and 1890s, including Emerald (location of the first school in the county, built in 1891), Mobile, Wight, Bullisford, Ellis, Hembrie, Hinde, and Mozart. Unincorporated communities and census-designated places are populated places that do not have their own government (Wikipedia).

    Appendix B: Key Contacts & Portals