Big Lake, Texas
Big Lake lies on the arid plains of Reagan County in West Texas, about 63 miles southwest of San Angelo and near the southeastern edge of the Permian Basin. The town is closely tied to the Santa Rita No. 1 well, drilled on University of Texas land nearby, whose 1923 gusher opened the Permian oil field and became a landmark in the state's petroleum history. Oil and gas production and ranching remain central to the surrounding country.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 2,783
- Change from 2020 base
- -7.5%
- Land area
- 2.4 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- Reagan County
Place type, county footprint, and land area use the Census Bureau's January 1, 2025 geography. Population uses Vintage 2025 estimates through July 1, 2025; change compares that estimate with the April 1, 2020 estimates base. Geography file | Population file
Property here runs through the appraisal district and tax office for Reagan County. The homestead exemption, appraisal cap, protests, and any MUD, PID, or special districts all sit at the parcel level.
Official routes
Use the office for the parcel address; a mailing city is not always the governing city.
County context
What to know around Big Lake
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Big Lake.
History
The oil well that changed Texas — and funded UT
The Santa Rita No. 1 well blew in near Big Lake in 1923, opening the Permian Basin to oil production and pouring money into the University of Texas.
Property Tax
Who handles property taxes in Reagan County
Two separate offices handle property appraisal and tax collection in Reagan County, and knowing the difference saves you time.
County History
How Reagan County got its name and its county seat
Reagan County was carved from Tom Green County in 1903 and named for a Texas senator who also served as the first head of the Railroad Commission.
Nearby
Places near Big Lake
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Big Lake
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