Chico, Texas
Chico is a small city in Wise County, in the North Texas country northwest of the Dallas–Fort Worth area, about 46 miles northwest of Fort Worth. It sits in rolling ranch and cross-timbers land, a region shaped by cattle raising and, historically, oil and gas activity.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 1,116
- Change from 2020 base
- +17.8%
- Land area
- 1.5 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- Wise 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 Wise 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 Chico
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Chico.
County History
Wise County Was Created in 1856 and Named for a Virginia Congressman
Wise County was officially established on January 23, 1856, named for Henry A. Wise, a U.S. Congressman from Virginia who supported Texas annexation.
Property Tax
Who Sets Your Property Value in Wise County
The Wise County Appraisal District sets the value of your property, and a separate tax office collects the bill.
County Seat
Decatur Has Been the County Seat Since the 1850s
Decatur sits at the center of Wise County and has served as the county seat since the county was organized in the 1850s.
Nearby
Places near Chico
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Chico
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