Hico, Texas
Hico is a small city in Hamilton County on the edge of the Central Texas Hill Country, about 67 miles southwest of Fort Worth. It sits along the Bosque River amid ranching and farming country, and its historic downtown draws travelers passing through the region. The town is also known for its long-running association with the legend of Billy the Kid.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 1,496
- Change from 2020 base
- +12.7%
- Land area
- 1.8 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- Erath County and Hamilton 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
Hico crosses county lines, so the appraisal district and tax office depend on the parcel address. School, city-limit, MUD, PID, and other special-district lines can be different too. Start with the full county list below instead of treating one county as the answer.
Official routes
Use the office for the parcel address; a mailing city is not always the governing city.
County context
What to know around Hico
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Hico.
County Origins
Erath County Was Founded in 1856 and Named for a Texas Surveyor
Erath County was carved out of Bosque and Coryell counties in 1856 and named after George B. Erath, a surveyor who mapped much of this part of Texas.
Property Tax Basics
Two Offices Handle Property Tax in Erath County
The appraisal district sets your property value, but a separate tax office actually bills and collects what you owe.
Historic Landmark
Hamilton County Courthouse and Its History
The Hamilton County Courthouse was built in 1887. It blends three architectural styles and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Nearby
Places near Hico
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Hico
Compare nearby places
Put Census population, land area, county footprints, and official office routes side by side.
Open comparison ->Estimate property tax
Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
Open estimator ->Look up another place
Every Texas town and all 254 counties.
Find a place ->