Edwards County, Texas Genealogy

United States Texas  Counties E  Edwards County

Guide to Edwards County Texas ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Courthouse
Edwards County Courthouse PO Box 184 Rocksprings, TX 78880-0184 Phone: 830.683.2235

County Clerk has birth and death records from 1903, marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1884

The towns of Bullhead (now called Vance), 1883-1884, and Leakey, 1884-1891, both served as county seats for Edwards County. In 1891, Rock Springs (now Rocksprings) became the county seat. Bullhead and Leakey are both in the portion of Edwards County that became Real County in 1913. Leakey became the county seat of Real County.

The current Edwards County courthouse was built in 1891. In 1898 it was destroyed by fire, with only the outer walls remaining. The building was rebuilt. In 1927, a tornado swept through Rocksprings killing 70 people and destroying much of the town. The roof of the courthouse was damaged. The courthouse served as a refuge for the tornado victims.

Edward County Courthouse County Clerk - Sandra Henry P. O. Box 184 Rocksprings, Texas 78880 (830)683-2235

History
Edwards County was named for Hayden Edwards, one of the first American settlers of Nacogdoches.

Parent County
1858--Edwards County was created 1 February 1858 from Bexar Land District, but was not officially organized until 1883.

County seats: Bullhead (now called Vance), 1883-1884, Leakey, 1884-1891, Rocksprings (spelled Rock Springs), 1891-present

Boundary Changes
1913--Real County was carved out of the eastern section of Edwards County.

Record Loss
1888 -- Edwards County Courthouse at Leakey, built in 1883, burned on 10 July 1888.

1898 -- Edwards County Courthouse at Rocksprings, built in 1891, burned. Only the walls remained standing. The building was rebuilt.

1927 -- Edwards County Courthouse at Rocksprings roof damaged by tornado.

Populated Places
Barksdale | Carta Valley | Rocksprings

Neighboring Counties
Kerr • Kimble • Kinney • Real • Sutton • Uvalde • Val Verde

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

Additional Cemetery Sources

 * Edwards County Cemeteries from the Edwards County TXGenWeb site.
 * Barksdale Cemetery - TXGenWeb
 * Cemeteries of Edwards County- USGenWeb Tombstone Project
 * FindAGrave - transcriptions and photographs

Census

 * 1900 Federal Census - images - USGenWeb Archives Project

Land

 * Original Land Owners of Texas - USGenWeb Archives Project
 * Land Abstract- TXGenWeb

Local Histories

 * Edwards County History from the Handbook of Texas Online.

Maps

 * Texas Counties Map. Click on the county to go to the TXGenWeb site.

Military

 * Confederate Pension Applications - USGenWeb Archives Project
 * 1890 Mortality Schedule -  TXGenWeb

Birth
Online Birth Indexes and Records

Original Birth Records on Microfilm
 * Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997 (index)- FamilySearch
 * Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1935 (images and index) - FamilySearch
 * Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981 - FamilySearch

Marriage
Online Marriage Indexes and Records
 * Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977 ~ FamilySearch records collection''
 * Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973  ~  FamilySearch record collection
 * Texas, Marriages, 1966-2010  ~  FamilySearch record collection

Original Marriage Records on Microfilm

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records


 * 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.
 * Texas Death Index 1964 to 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.

Original Death Records on Microfilm

Divorce

 * Texas Divorce Records 1968 - 2005 (index) - Hidden Ancestors

Web Sites

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