Dickens County, Texas Genealogy

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County Courthouse
History of Courthouse

Dickens County Courthouse P.O. Box 120 Dickens, Texas 79229 Phone: 806-623-5531

County Clerk P.O. Box 120 Dickens, Texas 79229 Phone: 806-623-5531

District Clerk P.O. Box 120 Dickens, Texas 79229 Phone: 806-623-5531

History
DICKENS is centrally located in DICKENS COUNTY, eight miles below the escarpment of the Llano Estacado (below the Caprock). It was a ranch supply point for an area where the first settlements were dugouts used as cowboy line camps for the Spur, Pitchfork, and Matador Ranches. In 1886 there was a camp near the present townsite and by 1889 Dickens was settled. The town became the county seat shortly after the county was organized and by 1893 had a post office, wagon yard, hotel, courthouse, saloon, blacksmith shop and a barber shop. The school was in a dugout on the courthouse square. Preaching was also held in the dugout.

In 1890 the county had a population of 195 and most of the people lived in and around Dickens. Soon after 1900, Dickens had a population of 600, the most it has ever had. There was a decline before World War II but when the boys came back home the town took a new growth with the building of new homes and businesses. This lasted for a few years with another downward surge following. In 1964 the town was voted wet and a new upward surge began with a population of 430. Highway 82 runs through the center of Dickens and has helped the town's businesses do well. As of 1997 the town shows another decline with population around 325.

Parent County
DICKENS county was formed from Bexar, Young, Baylor and Crosby Territories Created August 21, 1876 and organized February 9, 1891 from Crosby County. Named in honor of J. Dickens, who died in the siege of the Alamo.

Espuela was the first County seat temporarily from April 2, 1891 to March 17, 1892. Dickens became the County seat from March 17, 1892 to present.

Populated Places

 * Afton
 * Dickens
 * McAdoo
 * Spur

Neighboring Counties

 * Cottle
 * Crosby
 * Floyd
 * Garza
 * Kent
 * King
 * Motley
 * Stonewall

Cemeteries

 * Amity Cemetery
 * Afton Cemetery
 * Dickens Cemetery
 * Espuela Cemetery
 * Glass Ranch Burial
 * McAdoo Cemetery
 * Red Mud Cemetery
 * Spur Memorial Cemetery
 * Steele Hill Cemetery
 * Woodward Ranch Burial

Churches

 * Bethel Baptist Church, 519 N. Williams, Spur
 * Church of Christ W. Hwy 70, Spur
 * Church of Christ E. Hwy 70, Spur
 * Community Bible Chapel 209 E. Third, Spur
 * Dickens Baptist Church, 1022 Fourth, Dickens
 * Dickens Bible Church of the Nazarene, Afton
 * First Assembly of God Church, third and Cowan, Spur
 * First Baptist Church 120 W. Second, Spur
 * First Christian Church, 610 N. Burlington, Spur
 * First United Methodist Church, 528 N. Burlington, Spur
 * Independent Christian Churches, 507 N. Willard, Spur
 * Lakeside Baptist Church, S. Parker, Spur
 * St. Mary's Catholic Church, E. Sixth, Spur

Local Histories
A History of Dickens County by Fred Arrington 1971

Dickens County, Its Land and People by Dickens County Historical Commission 1986

Surnames of Dickens County

Maps
Maps of Dickens County

Afton, Texas

Dickens, Texas

Obituaries
Burial list with Obituaries

Taxation
Taxes Will and probate (subscription)

Societies and Libraries
Dickens County Public Library, 401 Burlington, Spur, Texas

Dickens County Historical Commission

Web Sites
USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.