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Guide to Deaf Smith County, Texas ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The county was named for Erastus "Deaf" Smith[4] (1787–1837), a partially deaf scout and soldier who served in the Texas Revolution and was the first to reach the Alamo after its fall. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Deaf Smith County Courthouse 235 E. 3rd St. Hereford, TX 79045-5515 Phone 806-363-7077 Deaf Smith County Courthouse County Clerk has birth and death records from 1903, marriage, probate and court records from 1891, land records from 1882 and military discharge records from 1919; District Clerk has divorce records and doctor records from 1903

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 extends into New Mexico

History Timeline
The County Clerk's Office is the record keeper of the county. The county records include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, military discharges, land records, real estate records, property records, probate, and civil filings. The Deaf Smith County Clerk has court records, land records, probate records, and marriage records  from 1890, as well as birth and death records from 1903.

Census Records

 * See also Using the Census to find other records about ancestors

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Texas Christian Church Directory at ChurchAngel
 * Catholic Parishes in Texas
 * FamilySearch Places

Local Histories
Deaf Smith County was named for Erastus "Deaf" Smith, a famous scout of the Texas Revolution.


 * The land and its people, 1876-1981: Deaf Smith County, Texas, 1982 by the Deaf Smith County Historical Society, a history book featuring local history, photographs, illustrations, and biographies. Digital book online from The Portal to Texas History.
 * A History of Deaf Smith County, 1964, by Bessie Patterson. Digital book on line from the Portal to Texas History.
 * Hereford, Deaf Smith County, Hustlin' Heritage 75, 1973 by the Hereford Jubilee Book Committee, a brief history of the town of Hereford with pages devoted to individuals, organizations, and businesses. Digital book online from the Portal to Texas History.
 * Hereford, Deaf Smith County, Texas, 1970 by the Hereford Chamber of Commerce, a brief sketch of the city of Hereford, Texas with photographs. Digital book online from the Portal to Texas History.
 * Hereford Tornado, 1971, by Mike Waltrip, a brief description of the damages caused by the tornado that hit Hereford, Texas on April 19, 1971, followed by photographs of the damage that occurred throughout the town. Digital book online from the Portal to Texas History.
 * Deaf Smith County History from the Handbook of Texas Online

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Texas Counties Map. TXGenweb site
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * 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
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images at partner site
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images at partner site

 World War I
 * 1917-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1906-1989 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

Newspapers

 * w3newspapers -  Texas Newspaper Index with links
 * Newslink -  Texas Newspaper List (sorted by publication frequency)
 * The Olden Times  -   Historic Texas News Online
 * Texas Digital Newspaper Program at The Portal to Texas History

Obituaries

 * USGenWeb Archives Obituary Project at  Texas
 * Obituary Daily Times at Citations to over 15,000,000 obituaries including at Ancestry.

Probate Records

 * 1800-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
 * 1800-2000 Texas Wills and Probate Records at Ancestry ($) — 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

Tax Records

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

Birth

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

Marriage

 * 1802-2010 Texas, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($) — index
 * 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 Texas Marriage Collection at Ancestry ($) — index
 * 1837-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1837-1973 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1837-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1837-1977 Texas Select County Marriage Index at Ancestry ($) — index
 * 1966-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1966-2016 Texas Marriages and Divorces at MyHeritage ($) — index

Death

 * 1890-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
 * 1903-1973 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1903-1982 Texas Death Certificates at Ancestry ($) — index and images
 * 1964-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1977-1986 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

Divorce

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

FamilySearch Centers

 * Amarillo Texas FamilySearch Center
 * Borger Texas FamilySearch Center
 * Clovis New Mexico FamilySearch Center
 * Pampa Texas FamilySearch Center
 * Tucumcari New Mexico FamilySearch Center
 * Amarillo Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Deaf Smith County Library 211 E 4th St Hereford, TX 79045 Phone: 806-364-1206 Website

Museums
Deaf Smith County Historical Museum 400 Sampson Street PO Box 1007 Hereford, TX 79045 Phone:806-363-7070 Website

Societies
Deaf Smith County Genealogical Society 211 East 4th St. Hereford 79045 Website

Websites

 * Death Smith TX GenWeb, part of TXGenWeb
 * Death Smith USGWArchives part of USGWArchives Texas Counties
 * Frontier Times Magazine
 * Historic Texas
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.