Lamar County, Texas Genealogy

United States Texas  Counties L  Lamar County

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

County Courthouse
Lamar County Courthouse 119 North Main Street Paris, TX 75460-4265 Phone: 903.737.2420 County Clerk has birth and death records from 1903, marriage, probate, court, and land records 1843; District Clerk has divorce records

Parent County
1840--Lamar County was created 17 December 1840 from Red River County. County seat: Paris

History of Paris and Lamar County

Boundary Changes
The area of present Lamar County was within the boundaries of Red River County at the time of the Republic of Texas. By 1840, population growth necessitated a new county, and legislation was introduced by representatives from Red River County. Wright, who had served in the Third Congress as a representative from Red River County, was a major promoter of the founding of Lamar County, which was established by act of the Fifth Congress of the republic on December 17, 1840, and organized by election on February 1, 1841. At the time, the county included much of what is now Delta County. In 1870, Delta County was formed, and Lamar County was reduced to its present size.

See an interactive map of Lamar County border changes.

Record Loss
1916--Most records of the district clerk were destroyed in a courthouse fire in March 1916. Birth, death and marriage records were not lost. Approximately 1500-2000 dwellings, the Paris City Hall, and the entire business district were destroyed including the Paris Daily Advocate and Paris Morning News newspapers. Most likely, issues of these newspapers prior to March 1916 are unavailable.

Places / Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog



Neighboring Counties
Bryan County, Oklahoma • Choctaw County, Oklahoma • Delta • Fannin • Franklin • Hopkins • Red River

Cemeteries
Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.

Additional Cemetery Sources

 * Lamar County, TX Death and Cemetery Records - huge database for every known cemetery in Lamar County with lots of extra information.

Court

 * Addresses for Lamar County

Land

 * Land Records for Lamar County

Maps



 * Texas Land Survey Maps for (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * Lamar County, Maps
 * Texas Counties Map. Click on the county to go to the TXGenweb site

Military

 * 1838 - 1900 Texas Muster Roll Index Cards 1838-1900 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1845 - 1848 US American Volunteer Soldiers Mexican War 1845-1848 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * Civil War in Lamar County

Newspapers

 * Wikipedia has a list of online newspaper archives for Texas.
 * The Paris News
 * Newspaperarchive.com ($) has historical newspapers available on-line. Their database has The Paris News from 1925 that covered local news on Lamar County residents.

Birth
Online Birth Indexes and Records


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

Original Birth Records on Microfilm

Marriage
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


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

Original Marriage Records on Microfilm

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records

Original Death Records on Microfilm
 * 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.
 * Texas Death Index 1964 to 1998 Texas, Death Index, 1964-1998 (FamilySearch Historical Records) Name index to Texas Statewide Death Certificates or four million people who have died since 1964.
 * 1977 - 1986 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1903 - 1973 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1903 - 1982 Texas Death Certificates 1903-1982 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Divorce

 * Texas Divorce Records 1968 - 2005 (index)  -  Hidden Ancestors
 * 1968-2010 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1968 - 2011 Texas Divorces 1968-2011 at Ancestry.com — index $

Societies and Libraries

 * Lamar County Genealogical Society
 * Lamar County Genealogical Society Library 1125 Bonham St. Paris, TX 75460 in the old Santa Fe Depot

Family History Centers

 * Paris Texas Family History Center

Web Sites

 * Lamar County, TXGenWeb
 * TXGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the county