Buy Land in Clay County, Texas
Owner-financed land in Clay County, Texas. Key facts, active TerraFunded properties, and FAQs for buying rural acreage.
Key facts
- Population (2025)
- 10,764
- County seat
- Henrietta
- Driving distance to Dallas
- 120 mi
- Typical total tax rate, rural land (approx.)
- 1.57%
- Climate
- Hot summers and cool winters, with about 32 inches of rain a year; July highs average about 97°F and January lows about 29°F (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Henrietta).
- Nearby cities
- Henrietta, Petrolia, Dean, Byers
- County tax rate (2025)
- $0.5773 per $100 of value (county only)
- Land area
- 1,088.8 mi²
- Established
- 1857
- Distances from the county seat
- Dallas: 120 mi (2 h 15 min) · Fort Worth: 95 mi (1 h 46 min) · Houston: 360 mi (6 h 26 min) · Austin: 285 mi (5 h 03 min) · San Antonio: 360 mi (6 h 30 min)
- School districts
- Henrietta ISD, Midway ISD, Petrolia CISD, Bellevue ISD, Burkburnett ISD, Windthorst ISD, Bowie ISD, Gold-Burg ISD
- Main highways
- US 287, US 82
- Lakes, rivers and recreation
- Red River, Little Wichita River, Lake Arrowhead (16,200 acres, southwestern Clay County), Lake Arrowhead State Park
- Hunting and wildlife
- For the 2026-27 season, Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) puts Clay County in the North Zone for white-tailed deer, with a bag limit of 5 deer (no more than 2 bucks), antler restrictions on bucks and a general season from November 7, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Wild turkey has a fall season (November 7, 2026 to January 3, 2027) and a spring season (April 3 to May 16, 2027), with harvests reported to TPWD.
About Clay County
Clay County sits on the Red River in north Texas, on US 287 and US 82. The ninety-eighth meridian runs through its eastern part, and most of the county is Cross Timbers and prairie grassland, with mesquite, blackjack, post oak and elm along the streams and Rolling Plains vegetation in the northwest. The county was marked off from Cooke County on December 24, 1857, and named for Kentucky statesman Henry Clay; it was organized in 1861 and reorganized in 1873. Henrietta is the county seat and largest community, and Petrolia, Dean, Byers and Bellevue are smaller towns. The Census Bureau estimated 10,764 residents in 2025 on 1,089 square miles of land, about 10 people per square mile. The terrain is nearly level to gently sloping, and about a third of the county is prime farmland. Lake Arrowhead, a Wichita Falls water supply reservoir with a 16,200-acre surface on the Little Wichita River, lies in southwestern Clay County, and Lake Arrowhead State Park is on its shore. Ranching, farming and oil remain the base of the economy, and deer, bobwhite quail and migratory game birds draw hunters. Rainfall is about 32 inches a year. Henrietta is about 95 miles from downtown Fort Worth, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes on US 287, and about 120 miles from downtown Dallas.
Active TerraFunded Properties in Clay County
FAQs about Buying Land in Clay County
What are property taxes like on rural land in Clay County?
For tax year 2025 the Clay County government levies $0.5773 per $100 of taxable value, according to the Texas Comptroller. Rural land also pays a school district and any special district that covers it, so the combined rate across the county's main school districts runs from about $1.49 to $1.75 per $100. Some areas also pay an emergency services district ($0.0420 or $0.0557). Land that qualifies for agricultural or wildlife management use can be appraised on its agricultural use value rather than its market value, which lowers the taxable value.
How far is Clay County from Dallas and Fort Worth?
Henrietta, the county seat, is about 95 miles from downtown Fort Worth by road, about 1 hour 45 minutes, and about 120 miles from downtown Dallas (about 2 hours 15 minutes). By road, Houston is about 360 miles, Austin is about 285 miles and San Antonio is about 360 miles.
Which school districts serve rural Clay County?
The Texas Comptroller's 2025 property tax data lists 8 school districts with territory in Clay County. By property value the largest are Henrietta ISD, Midway ISD, Petrolia CISD and Bellevue ISD. Smaller areas belong to Burkburnett ISD, Windthorst ISD, Bowie ISD and Gold-Burg ISD. The district for a specific tract depends on its exact location.
Can I hunt on rural land in Clay County?
Hunting is allowed on every TerraFunded farm. For the 2026-27 season, Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) puts Clay County in the North Zone for white-tailed deer, with a bag limit of 5 deer (no more than 2 bucks), antler restrictions on bucks and a general season from November 7, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Wild turkey has a fall season (November 7, 2026 to January 3, 2027) and a spring season (April 3 to May 16, 2027), with harvests reported to TPWD.
Can foreigners buy land in Clay County, Texas?
In most cases, yes. Texas law generally gives non-citizens the same property rights as citizens, but since September 1, 2025 Senate Bill 17 (Texas Property Code, Subchapter H, sections 5.251 to 5.259) prohibits purchases by certain individuals, companies and governments tied to China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are not covered by that restriction. Buyers who can purchase receive a Warranty Deed in their own name at closing, the same as any other buyer.
Are there building or use restrictions on rural land in Clay County?
Most TerraFunded tracts in Clay County are in unincorporated areas with no zoning, no HOA, and no deed restrictions on use. Buyers can typically place a manufactured home, build a barndominium, run livestock, or hold the land long-term. We disclose all known deed restrictions on each individual listing page.
What about water and well access in Clay County?
Clay County is generally served by private water wells in rural areas, with some tracts also having access to local rural-water supply corporations. Groundwater availability and typical well depth vary by location — each TerraFunded listing notes whether a well is in place, the local aquifer, and any known neighbor-well data.
Is electricity available on rural lots in Clay County?
Most rural Clay County tracts are served by a local electric cooperative. On lots without an existing meter, the buyer arranges a new service drop directly with the co-op after closing. Each listing specifies whether the property has electricity at the lot line, on the property, or requires a new extension.
How do I physically access a property in Clay County?
Every TerraFunded listing in Clay County is sold with legal road access — either direct frontage on a county-maintained road or a recorded easement to a public road. The specific access type, road frontage, and any easement details are disclosed on each listing page and shown on the parcel survey.
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