Dilley, Texas
Set in Frio County about 66 miles southwest of San Antonio, Dilley lies in the South Texas brush country along Interstate 35, in a flat landscape of mesquite, scrub, and ranchland. The area has long centered on ranching and agriculture and more recently on oil and gas activity in the Eagle Ford Shale, which underlies much of the region. It also became widely known as the site of a large federal immigration detention facility.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 3,809
- Change from 2020 base
- +4.4%
- Land area
- 2.3 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- Frio 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 Frio 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 Dilley
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Dilley.
Local History
A Railroad Built Pearsall and Made It the County Seat
Pearsall was founded in 1882 when the International-Great Northern Railroad arrived, and it replaced the older Frio Town as the county seat within a year.
Property Tax Offices
Who Handles Property Tax in Frio County
Frio County has two separate offices for property tax: the Appraisal District sets your property value, and the Tax Office handles bills and payments.
Homestead Exemption
How to Lower Your Property Tax with a Homestead Exemption
If your home in Frio County is your main residence, you may qualify for a homestead exemption that reduces what you owe in property taxes.
Nearby
Places near Dilley
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Local notes for nearby counties
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