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Texas · Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex · #342 Most Populous County in the US
Ellis County, Texas
Dallas's fastest-growing southern suburb county - from Waxahachie's stunning Victorian courthouse and antebellum architecture to Midlothian's steel mills and cement plants, Ennis's Czech heritage and bluebonnet trail, and the explosive residential growth reshaping the DFW southern corridor. Property tax, courts, public records, and senior services for Ellis County residents.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
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Ellis County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Office: Ellis County Office of Emergency Management – 101 W. Main Street, Suite 102, Waxahachie, TX 75165 | (972) 825-5199 | Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Notes: Ellis County has 12 separate Emergency Services Districts (ESDs) – local government agencies created by public vote to fund fire protection and/or EMS in specific unincorporated areas, each governed under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 775; for example, ESD 6 (serving the area around 1816 FM 66, Waxahachie) contracts with providers like the Forreston Volunteer Fire Department. Which ESD applies depends on your specific address – confirm directly if relevant. For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-35E runs through Waxahachie, the county seat, about 30 miles south of Dallas
Transit: No dedicated county-wide public transit system was found in this search – confirm directly with the county or your city
Notes: Ellis County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas (2025 population estimate 240,867, up sharply from 192,455 in 2020).
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
No dedicated county building/permitting department was confirmed in this search – for property within Waxahachie or another city, contact the relevant city hall directly; for unincorporated Ellis County, contact the County Judge’s office to confirm current requirements.
Notes: Genuinely fascinating and real: Ellis County was selected in 1988 as the site of the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC), a planned $4.4+ billion particle accelerator that would have been the world’s largest and most powerful – Congress canceled the project in October 1993 after about 14-22.5 miles of the planned 54-mile circular tunnel had already been bored beneath the county (roughly 20% complete, over $2 billion spent). The tunnels remain sealed beneath the Ellis County prairie to this day; the site was eventually sold and is now privately owned. This is real, well-documented, and directly explains why some rural Ellis County land carries unusual subsurface easements or history.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Ellis County Veterans Services – Waxahachie office, serving Ellis County residents with VA and Texas state benefit claims; multiple contact points available – confirm current hours and staff via the county’s website.
State VSO: Texas Veterans Commission – tvc.texas.gov
Libraries
LIBRARIES
No single unified county library system – Ellis County is served by independent city libraries; confirm which library serves your specific city (Waxahachie, Midlothian, Ennis, and others each maintain their own).
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Waxahachie is officially known as “The Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas” – a real, distinctive civic identity. Lake Waxahachie, a 656-acre reservoir about 5 miles south of Waxahachie, was formed in 1956 by impounding Waxahachie Creek; it’s owned and operated by the Ellis County Water Control and Improvement District No. One on behalf of the city, and offers a country club, public park, and boat ramp as a recreational resource for the whole county.
Notes: See Section 8 for the Superconducting Super Collider – arguably the county’s single most unusual and internationally notable piece of history.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Ellis Central Appraisal District (Ellis CAD) – 400 Ferris Avenue, PO Box 878, Waxahachie, TX 75165 | (972) 937-3552 or toll-free (866) 348-3552 | elliscad.org
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Within Waxahachie: Waxahachie Animal Services (operated by the Waxahachie Police Department) – 191 Lions Park Road, Waxahachie, TX 75165 | (469) 309-4150; handles sheltering, adoption, and community outreach within city limits; kennel permits cost $50/year, renewed each July 1st.
Countywide/Unincorporated: Ellis County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control – 300 S Jackson St, Waxahachie, TX 75165 | (972) 825-4901; a dedicated Livestock Officer handles stray livestock reports, (972) 937-6060.
Additional resource: SPCA of Texas Ellis County division – 214-742-SPCA (7722), investigates animal cruelty, abuse, neglect, and hoarding reports.
Notes: Note the Ellis County SPCA’s Waxahachie physical shelter location has closed per recent listings – the SPCA of Texas’s Dallas-based Ellis County division now handles cruelty investigations for the area; confirm current arrangements directly before relying on an older listing.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
No county-wide landfill or transfer station was confirmed in this search – confirm current household waste disposal options directly with the County Judge’s office or your specific city.
NOTES: Ellis County is the second county in this batch (Edwards, Ellis, El Paso, Erath, Falls, plus two more to complete a 7-county set). The Superconducting Super Collider history is genuinely remarkable, internationally significant, and directly explains unusual features of the local landscape – a standout fact for this file. Ellis County’s rapid population growth means several sections (library, standalone public health) reflect a lack of single unified county-wide systems rather than true service gaps – confirm with your specific city. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Ellis County
Ellis County is one of Texas’s fastest-growing counties and the 342nd most populous in the United States, covering 940 square miles of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex’s southern tier.
Waxahachie (the county seat, population ~40,000) is one of the most architecturally distinguished county seats in Texas – the Ellis County Courthouse (1895, Romanesque Revival, built from red granite and sandstone with ornate carvings including mysterious faces whose identities have been debated for over a century) is widely considered the finest courthouse building in Texas. Waxahachie’s historic district has been used as a filming location for over 50 films and television productions, including *Places in the Heart* (1984) and *Tender Mercies* (1983). The city’s Victorian and Queen Anne residential architecture along Rogers Street and surrounding neighborhoods is extraordinary for a Texas city of its size.
Waxahachie was selected in the 1980s as the site of the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) – a particle accelerator that would have been the world’s largest. Construction began in 1991 but Congress cancelled the project in 1993 after $2 billion had been spent, leaving a 14-mile tunnel beneath Ellis County that has never been used.
Midlothian (population ~30,000) is the county’s industrial city – home to three major cement and steel operations. Martin Marietta Materials, Ash Grove Cement, and Nucor Steel all operate major facilities in Midlothian, making it one of the most significant industrial communities in the DFW metro despite its suburban residential growth.
Ennis (population ~20,000) has a distinctive Czech heritage – settled by Bohemian immigrants in the late 19th century, Ennis is known as the Bluebonnet City, hosting the annual Ennis Bluebonnet Trails festival when Texas bluebonnets bloom along rural Ellis County roads in spring.
Red Oak, Ferris, and Italy are smaller communities experiencing rapid residential growth from DFW metro expansion southward along I-35E and I-45.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
The Ellis County Appraisal District (ECAD) at 400 Ferris Avenue, Waxahachie, TX 75165, phone 972-825-5151, appraises all property at 100% of market value.
The protest process: File by May 15 (or 30 days after notice). Ellis County’s rapid appreciation makes annual protest worthwhile for most residential property owners.
Homestead exemption: Apply with ECAD – $100,000 reduction in taxable value for school taxes (2023 law) plus applicable senior/disabled exemptions. Texas has no estate tax and no inheritance tax.
OWNWELL CTA: ECAD protest deadline: May 15. Midlothian, Waxahachie, and Red Oak among Texas’s fastest appreciation markets from DFW southern expansion. No TX estate or inheritance tax. Ownwell manages the protest with no upfront cost.
Recommended
ECAD protest deadline: May 15. Midlothian, Waxahachie, and Red Oak among Texas's fastest appreciation markets from DFW southern expansion. No TX estate or inheritance tax. Ownwell manages the protest with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
District Court (Probate): Ellis County’s District Courts at 101 W. Main Street, Suite 304, Waxahachie, TX 75165, phone 972-825-5091, handle probate and all civil and criminal matters.
County Clerk: The Ellis County Clerk at 101 W. Main Street maintains real property records (deed records), probate records, and marriage licenses. Land records searchable online.
Senior Services
The Ellis County Senior Services and the North Texas Area Community Health Centers serve the county’s growing senior population. Contact Ellis County Health and Community Services at 972-825-5000. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Waxahachie provides significant healthcare.
Recommended
Assisted living, memory care, and independent living across Ellis County - from Waxahachie and Midlothian to Ennis, Red Oak, and the DFW southern growth corridor.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
101 West Main St, Waxahachie, TX 75165
(972) 825-5150
DISTRICT CLERK
109 South Jackson St, Waxahachie, TX 75165
(972) 825-5030
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Ellis County Clerk’s Office, Waxahachie (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above). Records available from 1841 to present.
Local societies
No dedicated Ellis County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
County Clerk (Guardianship/Probate Division), Ellis County 109 South Jackson Street, Waxahachie, TX 75165 (972) 825-5079
Ellis County was founded in 1849, organized in 1850, named for Richard Ellis, in North Texas near the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, seated in Waxahachie – the “Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas.” Probate matters are handled at the historic Ellis County Courthouse.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Texas probate law is governed by the Texas Estates Code. Probate jurisdiction in Texas is split between statutory probate courts (in larger metro counties) and county courts (in smaller counties like Ellis, sometimes assisted by district courts). In Ellis County, the County Clerk’s Guardianship/Probate Division handles filings for the County Court.
Small Estate Affidavit (Tex. Est. Code § 205.001) – available ONLY when the decedent died WITHOUT a will (intestate), the estate (excluding homestead and exempt property) does not exceed $75,000, and assets exceed debts. At least 30 days must have passed since death. The affidavit must list every asset and debt, establish the family history showing who the heirs are, and be sworn to by the heirs and two disinterested witnesses; a judge then reviews and approves it under § 205.003.
Independent Administration – used when a will exists (or all heirs agree) and the estate has debts; minimal court supervision after the executor is appointed. This is the most common and efficient path in Texas when available.
Muniment of Title – available when a valid will exists, there are no unsecured debts (other than a mortgage), and there’s no other need for a full administration; transfers title without appointing an executor.
Dependent Administration – required for complex, contested, or disputed estates; involves ongoing court supervision and approval of most actions.
Step 2: filing for administration
The personal representative (or an interested party) files an Application for Probate of Will and Issuance of Letters Testamentary (or Letters of Administration, if intestate) with the Ellis County Clerk, Guardianship/Probate Division.
The original will (if one exists), a certified death certificate, and information about heirs and the proposed executor are included with the application.
The County Clerk posts a citation at the courthouse for a statutory minimum period before the court holds a hearing and issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The personal representative publishes notice to creditors and gathers, inventories, and appraises the estate’s assets.
The personal representative pays valid debts and expenses.
Remaining assets are distributed to beneficiaries or heirs, and the estate is closed.
What it costs
Filing fees in Texas typically run $250–$400 depending on the county; confirm current Ellis County fees directly.
Texas law allows a statutory executor fee of 5% of all sums actually received and paid out in cash, with specific exceptions. The court may also approve reasonable attorney fees paid from the estate.
Small estate affidavits typically cost $600–$1,900 total when factoring in filing and related fees.
Texas does NOT impose a state estate tax or a state inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax may apply, and only to very large estates.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
701 South I-35E, Waxahachie, TX 75165
(972) 825-4900
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
109 South Jackson St, Waxahachie, TX 75165
(972) 825-5150
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Department
1204 South Highway 77, Waxahachie, TX 75165
(972) 825-5040
HHSC Office
401 South Rogers St, Waxahachie, TX 75165
(972) 937-1731
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
No standalone county health department was confirmed in this search – confirm current public health service arrangements directly with the County Judge’s office.
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