Red-dirt ranch road through native grass and post oaks to a metal-roof barn and stock tank in Montague County ranch country

Montague County · North Texas · County seat: Montague

Montague County, TX homes, land & communities

Bowie, Nocona and Saint Jo along the Red River — ranch country and hunting land.

County seat
Montague
Towns we serve
6
Population
21,966Census estimate, July 2025
Main routes
US-81/287, US-82
Best for
Ranches, Hunting land

Living in Montague County

Is Montague County a good place to live?

Montague County is Red River ranch country, where the Chisholm Trail crossed into Indian Territory at Red River Station. Bowie is the largest town, Montague the county seat, and Nocona is the original home of Nocona Boots. About 22,000 people live here.

Buyers come for ranches, hunting land and small-town homes, with Lake Nocona, Amon G. Carter Lake and part of the LBJ National Grassland.

RanchesHunting land

Why people move here

  • Ranches and hunting land along the Red River
  • Small towns: Bowie, Nocona and Saint Jo
  • Lake Nocona and Amon G. Carter Lake
  • Western heritage from the Chisholm Trail

Towns & cities

Towns in Montague County

Jump straight to homes for sale in any town in the county.

Buying land

Buying land & acreage in Montague County

Outside city limits, county land is mostly unincorporated, so the rules come from the county, the deed and the utility providers rather than a city. That makes due diligence before you make an offer especially important.

Texas counties generally can’t zone land outside city limits, so deed restrictions, HOA rules, floodplain maps, septic permits and nearby cities’ ETJ subdivision rules decide what you can build.

  • Survey and boundary lines
  • Legal, recorded road access
  • Water: city, water supply corporation or well
  • Septic suitability (OSSF permit)
  • FEMA floodplain
  • Deed restrictions and HOA
  • Mineral rights
  • Ag or wildlife valuation

Rural electric: PenTex Energy serves much of the county.

Our land & acreage guide

Taxes & schools

Property taxes & school districts

Your total property tax rate is the sum of the county, city (if inside city limits), school district and any special districts (MUD, PID, hospital or college district). The county rate itself is$0.4961 for tax years 2025 and 2026 per $100 of value.

Look up any property’s value, exemptions and taxing units at the Montague County Appraisal District.

School districts

Bowie ISDNocona ISDMontague ISDSaint Jo ISDPrairie Valley ISDGold-Burg ISDForestburg ISD

Lakes & outdoors

  • Lake Nocona and Amon G. Carter Lake
  • Part of the LBJ National Grassland
  • The Red River on the northern border

For sale now

Homes & land for sale in Montague County

See all

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the Montague County tax rate?

The county rate is $0.4961 per $100 for both 2025 and 2026. School district, city and hospital district rates are added as applicable, and ag-valued land is taxed on productive value.

Is Montague County growing?

Modestly. It grew about 10% from 2020 to about 22,000 residents in July 2025.

What towns are in Montague County, Texas?

Ten Twenty Realty serves the whole county, includingBowie, Nocona, Saint Jo, Spanish Fort, Stoneburg and Sunset. Some towns straddle the county line, so we confirm the county, school district and tax rate for every address.

What is the county seat of Montague County?

Montague is the county seat. The courthouse, appraisal district and most county offices are there.

Can I buy land or acreage in Montague County?

Yes. It is one of the areas our land buyers ask about most. Before you buy, we check the survey, legal access, water, septic, floodplain, deed restrictions and ag valuation. See our land & acreage guide.

Which Ten Twenty agents serve Montague County?

Shayla Eadler works the county regularly, and every inquiry is answered by a local agent, usually within the hour during business hours.

Neighboring counties we serve