Houston County, Texas Genealogy

Guide to Houston 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 Sam Houston, a president of the Republic of Texas and Governor of Texas. The County is located in the east-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Houston County Court House PO Box 370; Crockett, TX 75835 Phone:936.544.3255

County Clerk has birth, marriage, and death record from 1903, probate court and land records from 1882; District Clerk has divorce record from 1920; County History Commission has burial records, family &amp; local histories

County Clerk

401 East Houston Ave, 1st Floor P.O. Box 370 Crockett 75835 Phone: 936-544-3255 ext. 240

District Clerk

P.O. Box 1186 Crockett 75835 Phone: 936-544-3255

History
1690--San Francisco de los Tejas, the first Spanish mission in East Texas, was founded in 1690 and abandoned in 1693.

Parent County
1837--Houston County was created 12 June 1837 from Nacogdoches County.
 * County seat: Crockett

Record Loss
1865, 1882 Many county records were destroyed in courthouse fires in February 1865 and November 1882.

Places / Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog



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
Anderson •  Angelina  •  Cherokee  •  Leon  •  Madison  •  Trinity  •  Walker

African American

 * 1865-1870 Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records(images) - FamilySearch
 * African American Griots ~ USGenWeb
 * AfriGeneas ~ African Ancestored Genealogy
 * Texas African American Genealogy ~ Access Genealogy

Cemeteries
Additional Cemetery Sources


 * Houston County Cemetery and Tombstone Transcriptions USGenWeb Cemetery Photographs
 * Texas Cemeteries ~  Texas Escapes

Local Histories

 * The History of Houston County, Texas, 1943 by Armistead Albert Aldrich.
 * 1687-1979 History of Houston County, Texas, 1687–1979, 1979) by the Houston County Historical Commission.
 * Houston County in the Civil War, 1981 by Thomas Nelms Mainer.
 * The First Settlers of Houston County, Texas, 1983, by Gifford E. White.
 * Houston County History from the Handbook of Texas Online.

Maps
www.rootsweb.com
 * Historical Texas Maps - Hidden Ancestors.
 * Texas Counties Map. Click on the county to go to the TXGenWeb site.
 * 1914 Map of Angelina, Gregg, Harrison, Cherokee, Houston, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith &amp; Trinity at

Military

 * 1838 - 1900 - Texas Muster Roll Index Cards at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * Military Resources. Information pertaining to each war, both general and Texas specific.
 * Our Fallen Heroes. Partial index of servicemen who were killed in action.
 * Honoring our Veterans. Partial index of veterans of all wars.

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

World War I

 * 1917 - 1920 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Houston County Courier

Probate
Online Probate Records


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

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 $
 * 1966-2010 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
 * 1964-1998 llection/1375599 Texas Death Index 1964-1998 Texas, Death Index, 1964-1998 - FamilySearch Historical Records Name index to Texas Statewide Death Certificates or four million people who have died since 1964.
 * 1977-1986 at FamilySearch.org - index

Divorce

 * 1968-2005 Texas Divorce Records 1968-2005 (index) - Hidden Ancestors
 * 1968-2010 at FamilySearch.org - index

Societies and Libraries
Houston Polish Gen. Society 3606 Maroneal Houston 77025

Houston Genealogical Forum PO Box 271466 Houston 77277-1466 Website

Family History Centers

 * Texas Museums

Websites

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