Runaway Bay, Texas
Runaway Bay is a small city in Wise County, in the rolling country of North Texas about 43 miles northwest of Fort Worth. It sits at the southern end of Lake Bridgeport, a large reservoir, and developed as a lakeside residential and recreational community with boating, fishing, and golf. The setting of open water and wooded shoreline defines much of the town's character.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 2,212
- Change from 2020 base
- +43.4%
- Land area
- 2.5 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 Runaway Bay
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Runaway Bay.
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 Runaway Bay
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Runaway Bay
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