Refugio, Texas
Refugio is the seat of Refugio County, on the coastal plain of the Gulf Coast Bend about 36 miles north of Corpus Christi. The town traces its origins to a Spanish mission established in the 1790s and later became the center of an Irish colony granted the former mission lands, and oil discovered in the county in the 20th century made the area a notable petroleum producer. Refugio is also known as the birthplace of Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- Town
- July 2025 population
- 2,752
- Change from 2020 base
- +1.3%
- Land area
- 1.6 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- Refugio 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 Refugio 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 Refugio
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Refugio.
History & Identity
Refugio County takes its name from a Spanish mission founded in 1793
The county seat of Refugio and the county itself are both named after the Nuestra Senora del Refugio Mission, one of the last Spanish missions established in Texas.
Property Tax
Two offices handle your property taxes in Refugio County
The appraisal district sets your property value; a separate tax office collects the bill.
Windstorm Insurance
Refugio County is in the TWIA windstorm insurance zone
Refugio County is one of the first-tier coastal counties where TWIA wind and hail coverage can come into play after a private-market denial.
Nearby
Places near Refugio
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Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Refugio
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