Hemphill County, Texas Genealogy

Guide to Hemphill County Texas ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The county was named for John Hemphill, a judge, and Confederate congressman. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Hemphill County Courthouse PO Box 867 Canadian, TX 79014-0867 Phone: 806.323.6212 County Clerk has birth records from 1876, death records from 1910, marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1887

County and District Clerk

P.O. Box 867 Canadian 79014 Phone: 806-323-6212

Parent County
1876--Hemphill County was created 21 August 1876 from Bexar Land District.
 * County seat: Canadian

1887--Hemphill County was attached to Wheeler County for administrative purposes until 1887. At that time, Canadian became the county seat.

Boundary Changes
1930 -- The US Supreme Court relocated the 100th meridian about 3700 feet to the east. This moved the eastern border of the Texas Panhandle. Hemphill County gained area that was once in Oklahoma.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Ghost Towns &amp; Former Communities
Clear Creek (Hogtown) | Dreyfoos | Gageby | Gem | Mendota | Midway | Zybach

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Neighboring Counties
Ellis County, Oklahoma •  Gray  •  Lipscomb  •  Ochiltree  •  Roberts  •  Roger Mills County, Oklahoma  •  Wheeler

Local Histories

 * Cowmen and Ladies: A History of Hemphill County, 1977 by Sallie B. Harris.
 * Hemphill County History from The Handbook of Texas Online
 * Canadian, Texas History from canadiantx.org.

Maps

 * Texas Counties Map. Click on the county to go to the Texas Genweb site

Military

 * 1838 - 1900 - Texas Muster Roll Index Cards at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Mexican-American War

 * 1845 - 1848 - US American Volunteer Soldiers Mexican War at Ancestry.com — index $

Civil War

 * 1861 - 1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861 - 1865 - at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1917 - 1920 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1800 – 1990 at FamilySearch — images
 * 1800 – 2000 Texas Wills and Probate Records at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Birth
Online Birth Indexes and Records


 * 1840-1981 Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981 - FamilySearch
 * 1903-1935 Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1935 (images and index) - FamilySearch
 * 1903-1997 Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997 (index) - FamilySearch

Marriage
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * 1802-2010 Texas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 Texas Marriage Collection 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1837-1965 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1837-1973 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1837-1977 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1837-1977 Texas Select County Marriage Index 1837-1977 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1966-2010 Texas, Marriages, 1966-2010 - FamilySearch record collection

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records


 * 1890-1976 Texas Death Records 1890–1976 [with images] Name index and images of statewide death certificates, 1890-1976. The name index has been created by FamilySearch and is tied to images of the Texas death certificates. Few certificates are available prior to 1903.
 * 1903-1973  at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1903-1982 Texas Death Certificates 1903-1982 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1964-1998 Texas Death Index 1964-1998 [no images] Name index to Texas Statewide Death Certificates or four million people who have died since 1964.
 * 1977-1986  at FamilySearch.org — index

Divorce

 * 1968-2010  at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1968-2011 Texas Divorces 1968-2011 at Ancestry.com — index $

Societies and Libraries
Hemphill County Hist. &amp; Genealogical Society Rt 2 Canadian 79014

Websites

 * Canadian, Texas Chamber of Commerce and EDC website
 * TXGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the county
 * The catalog is genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) This catalog is different than the indexed Historical Records.