Shepherd, Texas
Shepherd is a small city in San Jacinto County, set in the wooded country of the Piney Woods about 54 miles northeast of Houston. The surrounding landscape is a mix of pine and hardwood forest near the Sam Houston National Forest and the reservoir waters of Lake Livingston to the north. It sits at a crossroads of U.S. and state highways in a rural, timbered part of East Texas.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 1,942
- Change from 2020 base
- -7.3%
- Land area
- 6.1 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- San Jacinto 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 San Jacinto 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 Shepherd
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Shepherd.
County History
San Jacinto County Was Built on Timber, Then Found Oil
The county was carved out of four neighboring counties in 1870 and named for the battle that ended the Texas Revolution, with timber driving its early economy before oil arrived in the 20th century.
Property Tax
Who Handles Your Property Tax in San Jacinto County
Two separate offices handle property taxes here. One sets your home's value, and a different one collects the bill.
Homestead Exemption
How to Lower Your Property Tax Bill with a Homestead Exemption
If San Jacinto County is your main home, you may qualify for a homestead exemption that reduces the value your taxes are based on.
Nearby
Places near Shepherd
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Shepherd
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