Whereas many Metroplex cities and areas surrounding Fort Worth and Dallas have experienced substantial growth in recent decades , Johnson County remains wide open for both growth and a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the major metropolitan areas of Tarrant , Dallas and surrounding counties .
Economic growth in the form of new business and home building has steadily increased in recent years . All signs point to sustained and increased growth in those areas in the years ahead . And yet , much of the county remains rural , an oasis apart the larger nearby cities of Fort Worth and Dallas , but also easily accessible to those and other area cities thanks to the Chisholm Trail Parkway and U . S . 67 . Johnson County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas , according to official U . S . Bureau numbers . That growth is expected to continue , and even speed up , especially between Cleburne and Fort Worth because of the Chisholm Trail Parkway , a 27.6-mile
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toll road , running from Fort Worth to Crowley before continuing through the western side of Johnson County and ending at U . S . 67 in Cleburne .
Johnson County consists of 734 square miles south of Fort Worth , including the county seat , Cleburne , and more than a dozen additional towns .
The county is governed by the Johnson County Commissioners Court , which meets at 9 a . m . on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at the Johnson County Courthouse , 2 N . Main St .
Johnson County Judge is Chris Boedeker . County commissioners are Rick Bailey in Precinct 1 , Kenny Howell in Precinct 2 , Mike White in Precinct 3 and Larry Woolley in Precinct 4 .
The commissioner ’ s court serves as the legislative and executive branches in the county and has authority over budgets of all county departments . The court has set the county property tax for 2016 at tax rate of 42 cents per $ 100 of valuation .
Tax Assessor-Collector Scott Porter heads the county tax office . The office has locations at 2 N . Mill St . in Cleburne , 118 S . Friou St . in Alvarado and 247 Elk Drive in Burleson .
Cleburne is also home to the Guinn Justice Center at 204 S . Buffalo Ave ., which holds the 18th and 249th District Courts that serve Johnson and Somervell counties . The 413th District Court serves only Johnson County .
The Emergency Operations Center , headed up by Emergency Management Coordinator Jamie Moore , boasts a state-of-the-art communications and incident command room . The EOC also houses a Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere radar unit .
The county ’ s Adult Probation Offices Building is adjacent to the Guinn Justice Center . The County Elections Office moved in 2013 to a larger space at 103 S . Walnut St .
The county has two sub-courthouses , one at 257 Elk Drive in Burleson , and one at 206 N . Baugh St . in Alvarado . The Alvarado Sub-Courthouse was recently moved to a newly constructed location .
The county is served by the Johnson County Sheriff ’ s Office and Sheriff Adam King . King formerly served as commander of the Johnson County Stop the Offender Special Crimes Unit , an agency that taps the talents of law enforcement officials from the several county and city law enforcement agencies to battle drug and other crimes through undercover and long term investigative techniques .
The sheriff ’ s office has realized that citizens can help solve cases . The office has began using its Wise Eyes alert system , which is a neighborhood or county safety program that allows citizens to report any suspicious activity to police .
If you have information about a crime and prefer to remain anonymous and possibly receive a cash reward , call Johnson County Crime Stoppers at 800-794-8477 or 817-469-8477 . Tips can also be submitted anonymously online at jccstexas . org or text 274637 and type JCCS , then your message .