Polk County, Texas Genealogy

Guide to Polk 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 His Excellency James Knox Polk of Tennessee, President of the United States. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Polk County Courthouse 101 Church Street West PO Box 2119; Livingston, TX 77351 Phone: 936.327.6804 County Clerk has birth and death records from 1903, cemetery records, marriage, land, probate and court records from 1846, military discharge records from 1940 and school records 1905-1970; District Clerk has divorce records

County Clerk

101 W. Mill Street Ste. 265 Livingston 77351 Phone: 936-327-6805 Fax: 936-327-6874

District Clerk

101 West Mill St. Ste. 216 Livingston 77351 Phone: 936-327-6814

Parent County
1846--Polk County was created 30 March 1846 from Liberty County.
 * County seat: Livingston

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
Angelina •  Hardin  •  Liberty  •  San Jacinto  •  Trinity  •  Tyler

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

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 $

Mexican-American War

 * 1845 - 1848 - US American Volunteer Soldiers Mexican War 1845-1848 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

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 1800-2000 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.
 * 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 to 1998 [no images] Name index to Texas Statewide Death Certificates
 * 1977 - 1986 at FamilySearch.org — index

Divorce

 * 1968 - 2005 http://www.hiddenancestors.com/Texas/texas_divorce_records.htm 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
Polk County Heritage Society 120 Mockingbird Lane Livingston 77351 Polk County Heritage Society 207 N. Beatty St. Livingston, TX 77351 Website

Websites

 * 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.