Edwards County, Texas Genealogy

Guide to Edwards County Texas ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records. Texas Online Genealogy Records

Description
The county was named for Haden Edwards, an early settler of Nacogdoches, Texas. The Edwards Aquifer and Edwards Plateau are named after the county by reason of their locations. The County is located in the west-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Edwards County Courthouse PO Box 184 Rocksprings, TX 78880-0184 Phone: 830.683.2235

County Clerk has birth and death records from 1903, marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1884

County and District Clerk

P.O. Box 184 Rocksprings 78880 Phone: 830-683-2235

The towns of Bullhead (now called Vance), 1883-1884, and Leakey, 1884-1891, both served as county seats for Edwards County. In 1891, Rock Springs (now Rocksprings) became the county seat. Bullhead and Leakey are both in the portion of Edwards County that became Real County in 1913. Leakey became the county seat of Real County.

The current Edwards County courthouse was built in 1891. In 1898 it was destroyed by fire, with only the outer walls remaining. The building was rebuilt. In 1927, a tornado swept through Rocksprings killing 70 people and destroying much of the town. The roof of the courthouse was damaged. The courthouse served as a refuge for the tornado victims.

History
Edwards County was named for Hayden Edwards, one of the first American settlers of Nacogdoches.

Parent County
1858--Edwards County was created 1 February 1858 from Bexar Land District, but was not officially organized until 1883.


 * County seats:
 * 1) 1883-1884-Bullhead (now called Vance)
 * 2) 1884-1891-Leakey
 * 3) 1891-present-Rocksprings (spelled Rock Springs)

Boundary Changes
1913--Real County was carved out of the eastern section of Edwards County.

Record Loss
1888-- Edwards County Courthouse at Leakey, built in 1883, burned on 10 July 1888.

189 -- Edwards County Courthouse at Rocksprings, built in 1891, burned. Only the walls remained standing. The building was rebuilt. No record loss.

1927-- Edwards County Courthouse at Rocksprings roof damaged by tornado. No record loss.

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
Kerr •  Kimble  •  Kinney  •  Real  •  Sutton  •  Uvalde  •  Val Verde

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

Census

 * 1900 Federal Census - images - USGenWeb Archives Project

Church
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Land

 * Original Land Owners of Texas - USGenWeb Archives Project

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1906 - 1989 — index and images

Local Histories

 * Edwards County History from the Handbook of Texas Online.

Maps

 * Texas Counties Map. Click on the county to go to the TXGenWeb site.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military

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

Mexican-American War

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

Civil War
Online Records
 * 1861 - 1865 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861 - 1865 at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1917 - 1920 at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
Online Newspapers
 * Texas Digital Newspaper Program at The Portal to Texas History

Probate
Online Probate Indexes and Records


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

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Taxation

 * 1846-1910 Texas, County Tax Rolls 1846-1910 at Findmypast ($) — index and images

Birth
Online Birth Indexes and Records


 * 1840-1981 — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1903-1935 (images and index) - How to Use this Collection
 * 1903-1997 (index only) - How to Use this Collection
 * 1926-1995 Texas Births, 1926 - 1995 at MyHeritage ($) — index

Marriage
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * 1802-2010 Texas, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8795 Texas Marriage Collection at Ancestry — index $
 * 1837-1965 — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1837-1973 — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1837-1977 — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1837-1977 Texas Select County Marriage Index at Ancestry — index $
 * 1966-2010 - FamilySearch record collection - How to Use this Collection
 * 1966-2016 Texas Marriages and Divorces at MyHeritage ($) — index

Death

 * 1890-1976 with images - How to Use this Collection 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 — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1903-1982 Texas Death Certificates at Ancestry — index and images $
 * 1964-1998 (no images) - How to Use this Collection Name index to Texas Statewide Death Certificates or four million people who have died since 1964.
 * 1977-1986 — index - How to Use this Collection

Divorce

 * 1966-2016 Texas Marriages and Divorces at MyHeritage ($) — index
 * 1968-2010 — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1968-2011 Texas Divorces at Ancestry — index $

Societies and Libraries
German-Texan Heritage Society 507 East 10th Street GTHS PO Box 684171 Austin, Texas 78768-4171 website

Edwards County Historical CommissionFacebook

FamilySearch Centers

 * Boerne Texas FamilySearch Center
 * Del Rio Texas FamilySearch Center
 * Fredericksburg Texas FamilySearch Center
 * Kerrville Texas FamilySearch Center
 * San Antonio Texas La Cantera FamilySearch Center
 * San Antonio Texas FamilySearch Center
 * San Antonio Texas West FamilySearch Center
 * Stone Oak Texas FamilySearch Center
 * Uvalde Texas FamilySearch Center


 * Lakehills Area Library - an affiliate library
 * Patrick Heath Public Library - an affiliate library
 * San Antonio Genealogical and Historical Society - an affiliate library

Websites

 * TXGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the county
 * USGenWeb project - May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * The catalog is genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) This catalog is different than the indexed Historical Records.