Hale County, Texas Genealogy

Guide to Hale 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 Lt. John C. Hale, a hero of the Battle of San Jacinto. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has marriage and land records from 1888 and probate records from 1889; District Clerk has divorce and court records

County Clerk

500 Broadway #140 Plainview 79072 Phone: 806-291-5261

District Clerk

500 Broadway #200 Plainview 79072 Phone: 806-291-5226

History
1883--The first settlers arrived in March 1883.

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

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

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:

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Neighboring Counties
Castro •  Crosby  •  Floyd  •  Hockley  •  Lamb  •  Lubbock  •  Swisher

African American

 * 1865-1870 Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records(images) - FamilySearch

Cemeteries
Additional Cemetery Sources

Hale County Cemetery Records Database by the Hi-Plains Genealogical Society has 37,000+ records. About one-third refer maiden names to associated married names. It can be searched by name or date. Information includes name variations, birth, death, and marriage dates; spouse's and parents’ names; military service; funeral home, the name of the cemetery with location within the cemetery, notes and obituary.


 * African American Cemeteries Online ~ Partial index/transcriptions of African American cemeteries
 * Cemetery Junction ~  Links to cemetery transcriptions

Church

 * Texas Christian Church Directory~ ChurchAngel
 * Catholic Parishes in Texas

Land

 * Original Land Owners of Texas Hale County  ~  USGenWeb Archives Project

Local Histories

 * Texas Museums ~  List of all museums in Texas  ~  Hidden Ancestors

Maps

 * Historical Maps ~  From the Republic to the Turn of the Century  ~  Hidden Ancestors
 * Texas Counties Map Texas Genweb site

Military

 * 1838 - 1900 - Texas Muster Roll Index Cards at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * Military Resources ~ Links to research Civil War to Operation Enduring Freedom ~ Hidden Ancestors
 * Fallen Heroes Partial Index of casualties from Civil War to Operation Enduring Freedom ~ Hidden Ancestors
 * Honoring Our Veterans ~ Partial index of veterans from Civil War to Operation Enduring Freedom ~ Hidden Ancestors

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
 * Confederate Pension Applications ~ Texas State Library and Archives Commission
 * Confederate Pension Applications Index ~ USGenWeb Archives Project

World War I

 * 1917 - 1920 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Home Town News -  Texas Newspaper Index with links
 * Newslink -  Texas Newspaper List (sorted by publication frequency)
 * The Olden Times  -   Historic Texas News Online

Obituaries

 * Obituary Resources ~ Links to research and locate obituaries ~ Hidden Ancestors
 * USGenWeb Archives Obituary Project ~  Texas
 * Afrigeneas ~ African American death notices, obituaries and funeral programs compiled by users from current newspapers and historical sources
 * Obituary Depot ~ Texas Newspaper Citations
 * Obituary Project ~ Hidden Ancestors
 * Obituary Daily Times ~ Citations to over 15,000,000 obituaries

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1800–1990 at FamilySearch — images
 * 1800–2000 Texas Wills and Probate Records at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * Search Tax, Criminal, Land and Wills Records ~ Ancestry.com (subscription)

Birth
Online Birth Indexes and Records


 * 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 $
 * 1966-2005 Texas Marriage Records 1966 - 2005  -  Hidden Ancestors
 * 1996-2010 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 $
 * 1903-2000 Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000 (index) - FamilySearch
 * 1964-1998Texas Death Index 1964 to 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

 * 1850-1930 USGenWeb Census Project Texas 1850 - 1930
 * 1968-2005 Texas Divorce Records 1968- 2005 Hidden Ancestors
 * 1968-2010 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1968-2011 Texas Divorces 1968-2011 at Ancestry.com — index $

Societies and Libraries
Hi-Plains Genealogical Society Unger Memorial Library 825 Austin Street Plainview, TX 79072-7235 Telephone Number: 806-296-1148 E-mail:[mailto:umllibrarian@suddenlinkmail.com umllibrarian@suddenlinkmail.com] John Sigwald, Librarian, Unger Memorial Library

Abernathy Public Library 811 Avenue D Abernathy, TX 79311 Telephone Number: 806-298-4138 Website

Hale Center Public Library Inc 609 Main St Hale Center, TX 79041 Telephone Number: 806-839-2055

Petersburg Public Library 1614 Main St Petersburg, TX 79250 Telephone Number: 806-667-3657

Unger Memorial Library 825 Austin St Plainview, TX 79072 Telephone Number: 806-296-1148 Website

Family History Centers
Plainview Texas Family History Center 4211 SW 2nd St Plainview, Hale, Texas, United States Phone: 806-293-1513 Hours: Tuesday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.


 * Society Hill ~  Links and addresses to Texas genealogical and historical societies

Websites

 * Hale County Archives ~ USGenWeb Archives Project
 * Hale County~ TXGenWeb
 * TXGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the county.
 * USGenWeb Texas Archives Vital statistics, maps, obituaries, Bible records, tombstone transcriptions and many other records.
 * The catalog is genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) This catalog is different than the indexed Historical Records.