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Harris 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
Harris County, Texas Facts
When was Harris County, TX Created?
Allen County was created on March 17, 1836 as one of the original 23 counties (established as a municipality by the Provisional Government of Texas and originally named Harrisburg County until December 28, 1839).
What is the County Seat of Harris County, TX?
The County Seat is located in Houston also, the county government website is www.harriscountytx.gov/.
What counties are adjacent to Harris County, TX?
Bordering Counties are Montgomery County, Liberty County, Chambers County, Galveston County, Brazoria County, Fort Bend County, Waller County.
Harris County, TX Vital Records
Where can find Harris County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Harris 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 Harris 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, Harris County Death Records 1941 – 1964
- Texas, Harris County Marriage Records 1941 – 1964
- 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
Harris County, TX Census Records
What Harris County, TX census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Harris 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.
Harris Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Harris Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Harris 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.
Harris County, TX Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Harris County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Harris County. The years listed below are the first noted records with this county. See Also Texas Courthouse Records Research Guide.
- Harris County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: P.O. Box 1148, Houston 77251-1148
- Harris County Clerk
- Phone: (713) 755-6965
- Birth & Death Records: 1903
- Marriage Records: 1837
- Land Records: 1837
- Probate Records: 1831
- Court Records: 1837
- Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910
- Texas Land Title Abstracts
- BLM Land Records
Harris County, TX Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Harris County, TX?
A list of Harris County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Texas Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Houston Area Genealogical Association, 2507 Tannehill, Houston, TX 77008-3052
- Bay Area Heritage Society, 220 W Defee, Baytown 77520-4010
- Bay Area Historical Society Museum & Library, 200 W. Defee Ave., Baytown, TX 77520-4010
- Baytown Genealogy Society and Library, 5203 Decker Dr., Baytown, Texas; 281-424-8388
- Hispanic Genealogical Society, 2932 Barksdale, P.O. Box 231271, Houston 77223-1271
- Houston Genealogical Forum, P.O. Box 271466, Houston 77277-1466
Meets 1st Sat. of the month Sept.- May at 9:30 a.m. at Bayland Park Community Center 6400 Bissonnet Hou., TX; “The Genealogical Record” newsletter published quarterly - Houston Polish Genealogical Society, c/o 3606 Maroneal, Houston, TX 77025
- Humble Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 2723, Humble 77347-2723
- Houston Afro-American Genealogical & Historical Society, 302 Harbor Dr., Houston, TX 77062
- Jewish Genealogical Society of Houston, 11727 Riverview Dr., Houston, TX 77077
- Jewish Holocaust Education Center, & Memorial Museum of Houston, 5401 Caroline, Houston, TX 77004-6804
- Polish Genealogical Society of Texas, 218 Beaver Bend, Houston, TX 77037
- Clear Lake Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 24, Seabrook, TX 77586
- Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Julia B. Ideson Bldg., 500 McKinney St., Houston, TX 77002-2534
- Houston Public Library, Jesse H. Jones Bldg., 500 McKinney St., Houston, TX 77002-2534
- Sterling Municipal Library, Genealogy & Reference, 1 Mary elizabeth Wilbanks Ave., Baytown, TX 77520-4258
- Clayton Library, Center for Genealogical Research, 5300 Caroline, Houston, TX 77004-6896
- Czech Heritage Society of Texas, 7411 Kite Hill, Houston, TX 77041
- LaPorte Library, Genealogy & Reference, 526 San Jacinto, LaPorte, TX 77571-5498
- San Jacinto Museum of History Library, 300 Park Rd. 1836, LaPorte, TX 77571
- Bellaire Genealogical Society, 6445 Sewanee, Houston 77706
- Bear Creek Genealogical Society, 1438 Crescent Green Dr., P. O. Box 842661, Houston, TX 77284
- Harris 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 Harris 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)
- Harris County, Texas Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- Harris County, Texas Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Harris County, TX?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Harris County.
Harris 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)
- The Houston Jewish Herald-Voice Index to Vitals and Family Events, 1908-2007 (search.ancestry.com)
- Houston Chronicle Obituaries, 1901-1905 (search.ancestry.com)
- Baytown Sun (Baytown, Texas) (search.ancestry.com)
- Deer Park Progress (Deer Park, Texas) (search.ancestry.com)
- Harris County, Texas Books (amazon.com)
- Harris County Texas Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
- Search Texas Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Harris Co. TX Cemeteries & Church Records
- Harris Co., Texas Graves (findagrave.com)
- Harris County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Harris Co., Texas Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Harris Co., Texas Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Harris County, Texas Church Books (amazon.com)
Harris 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)
Harris Co. TX General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Texas
- Harris County, Texas Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Harris Co., Texas Almanac (texasalmanac.com)
- Texas county histories : a bibliography (search.ancestry.com)
- Harris County History (tshaonline.org)
- Harris County, Texas Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Harris Co. TX Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Harris County, Texas (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Texas – Counties – Harris (cyndislist.com)
- Harris County Texas (genealogytrails.com)
- Harris Co. TXGenweb (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
- Harris County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Harris Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Harris Co. TX Immigration & Naturalization
- See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for Texas
- Texas, Naturalization Records, 1906-1989 (familysearch.org)
Harris Co. TX Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Texas Links and Information
- Texas General Land Office Map Collection (glo.texas.gov)
- 1895 Harris County Map (livgenmi.com)
Harris 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 Harris County genealogists, researchers, historians and more.
Harris Co. TX Schools & Directories
- Houston, Texas Directories, 1882-95 (search.ancestry.com)
- Houston, Texas City Directory, 1917 (search.ancestry.com)