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Galveston County, Texas
Genealogy, History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Galveston County, Texas Facts
When was Galveston County, TX Created?
Allen County was created on May 15, 1838 from Brazoria County and Liberty County.
What is the County Seat of Galveston County, TX?
The County Seat is located in Galveston also, the county government website is www.co.galveston.tx.us/.
What counties are adjacent to Galveston County, TX?
Bordering Counties are Harris County, Chambers County, Brazoria County.
Galveston County, TX Vital Records
Where can find Galveston County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Galveston County vital records can be found at the Texas Office of Vital Records has copies of birth and death records reported from 1903. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Texas for current fees and application process.
You can search online for Galveston County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for Texas Birth and Death Certificate, Marriage or Divorce Verification Application to mail.
- Texas, Galveston County Marriage Records 1976 – 2011
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- Social Security Death Index
- Texas Birth Records 1927-2010
- Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1935
- Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981
- Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977
- Texas Marriage Records 1966 to 2008
- Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973
- Texas, Marriages, 1966-2010
- Texas Divorce Records 1968 to 2008
- Texas Death Records 1964-2010
- Texas, Deaths and Burials, 1903-1973
- Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976
- Texas, Deaths, 1977-1986
Galveston County, TX Census Records
What Galveston County, TX census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Galveston County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Galveston Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Galveston Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Galveston Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. The Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860.
Another census resource is the Texas, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index from 1820-1890. One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also Texas Census Records Research Guide.
Galveston County, TX Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Galveston County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Galveston County. The years listed below are the first noted records with this county. See Also Texas Courthouse Records Research Guide.
PLEASE READ FIRST!!! Please call the clerk’s department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The files are available to interested parties, barring private issues. Many staff will guide individuals in locating the materials, however it’s up to the person to carry out the research. Galveston County Courthouse was destroyed by the Galveston Hurricane in September 1900, swept the island clean, therefore, it is likely the record was destroyed in the hurricane. Check in nearby counties for any such replications of any records from the Galveston area prior to 1900.
Since 1900, a seawall was built along the outward facing shore, and subsequent hurricanes, including Ike in 2008, did somewhat less damage as the seawall for the ost part has kept the storm surge produced by any hurricane from overwashing the island by and large. In fact, one can drive along the seawall itself which will give any visitor an idea of just how serious the 1900 disaster really was.
- Galveston County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: P.O. Box 17253, Galveston 77552-7253
- Galveston County Clerk
- Phone: (409) 766-2200
- Birth & Death Records: 1903
- Marriage Records: 1838
- Land Records: 1838
- Probate Records: 1838
- Court Records: 1839
- Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910
- Texas Land Title Abstracts
- BLM Land Records
Galveston County, TX Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Galveston County, TX?
A list of Galveston County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Texas Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Galveston County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1141, Galveston 77550
- Rosenberg Library, 2310 Sealy, Galveston, TX 77550-2296
- Texas City Ancestry Searchers, P.O. Box 3301, Texas City, TX 77592
- Moore Memorail Library, 1701 9th Avenue, Texas City, TX 77590
- East End Historical Association, P.O. Box 2424, Galveston, TX 77550
- Galveston Co. Records Available on Microfilm (tsl.state.tx.us)
- Texas State Library and Archives Commission, P.O. Box 12927, Austin, TX 78711-2927
- Texas Genealogical Society, 2505 Beluche Drive, Galveston 77551
Where can I connect with other Galveston County, TX Researchers through message boards and forums?
- https://www.archives.gov/research/census
- Texas Genealogy Network Community (plus.google.com)
- Texas State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Galveston County, Texas Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- Galveston County, Texas Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Galveston County, TX?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Galveston County.
Galveston Co. TX Books,Newspapers & Publications
- Texas Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- Texas historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from Texas (1813 – 1993) (genealogybank.com)
- Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Texas) (search.ancestry.com)
- Galveston County, Texas Books (amazon.com)
- Galveston County Texas Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
- Search Texas Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Galveston Co. TX Cemeteries & Church Records
- Galveston Co., Texas Graves (findagrave.com)
- Galveston County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Galveston Co., Texas Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Galveston Co., Texas Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Galveston County, Texas Church Books (amazon.com)
Galveston Co. TX Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Nichols and Related Families (nicholsgenealogy.com)
- Texas, Gonzalez de la Garza Genealogy Collection (familysearch.org)
- The Texas Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
Galveston Co. TX General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Texas
- Galveston County, Texas Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- The Complete story of the Galveston horror (search.ancestry.com)
- Galveston Co., Texas Almanac (texasalmanac.com)
- Texas county histories : a bibliography (search.ancestry.com)
- Galveston County History (tshaonline.org)
- Galveston County, Texas Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Galveston Co. TX Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Galveston County, Texas (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Texas – Counties – Galveston (cyndislist.com)
- Galveston County Texas (genealogytrails.com)
- Galveston Co. TXGenweb (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
- Galveston County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Galveston Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Galveston Co. TX Immigration & Naturalization
- See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for Texas
- Galveston Passenger Lists, 1896-1948 (search.ancestry.com)
- Atlantic Ports, Gulf Coasts, and Great Lakes Passenger Lists, Roll 3: Galveston Texas 1846-1871 (search.ancestry.com)
- Texas, Naturalization Records, 1906-1989 (familysearch.org)
Galveston Co. TX Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Texas Links and Information
- Texas General Land Office Map Collection (glo.texas.gov)
- 1895 Galveston County Map (livgenmi.com)
Galveston Co. TX Military Records
- Texas Military Records Research Guide
- Texas Military Records (fold3.com) offers access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents of the Texas both women and men who served. Suitable for Galveston County genealogists, researchers, historians and more.
Galveston Co. TX Schools & Directories
- Houston, Texas City Directory, 1917 (search.ancestry.com)
- Galveston, Texas City Directories, 1888-91 (search.ancestry.com)