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Shelby 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
Shelby County, Texas Facts
When was Shelby County, TX Created?
Allen County was created on March 17, 1836 as one of the original 23 counties (originally named Tenehaw County, it was created on November 11, 1835 from Nacogdoches County and San Augustine County, established as a municipality by Mexico. It was renamed to Shelby on January 18, 1836 ).
What is the County Seat of Shelby County, TX?
The County Seat is located in Center also, the county government website is www.co.shelby.tx.us.
What counties are adjacent to Shelby County, TX?
Bordering Counties are Panola County, De Soto Parish, Louisiana, Sabine Parish, Louisiana, Sabine County, San Augustine County, Nacogdoches County, Rusk County.
Shelby County, TX Vital Records
Where can find Shelby County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Shelby 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 Shelby 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.
- 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
Shelby County, TX Census Records
What Shelby County, TX census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Shelby 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.
Shelby Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Shelby Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Shelby 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.
Shelby County, TX Courthouse and Government Records
Shelby County CourthouseWhat genealogical records can I find in the Shelby County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Shelby 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. Courthouse burned May 31, 1882 destroying all records. Tax lists were forwarded to Austin so still exist. Deed records were “reconstructed” by the county commissioners.
- Shelby County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: P.O. Box 1987, Center 75935
- Shelby County Clerk
- Phone: (936) 598-6361
- Birth & Death Records: 1903
- Marriage Records: 1882
- Land Records: 1838
- Probate Records: 1881
- Court Records: 1882
- Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910
- Texas Land Title Abstracts
- BLM Land Records
Shelby County, TX Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Shelby County, TX?
A list of Shelby County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Texas Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Shelby County Historical Society, Museum and Genealogy Research Library, PO Box 1542 230 Pecan Street, Center, TX; 75935; Telephone: (936) 598-2613
- Timpson Area Genealogical & Heritage Society, P.O. Box 726, Timpson 75975
- Shelby 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 Shelby 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)
- Shelby County, Texas Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- Shelby County, Texas Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Shelby County, TX?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Shelby County.
Shelby 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)
- Shelby County, Texas Books (amazon.com)
- Shelby County Texas Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
- Search Texas Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Shelby Co. TX Cemeteries & Church Records
- Shelby Co., Texas Graves (findagrave.com)
- Shelby County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Shelby Co., Texas Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Shelby Co., Texas Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Shelby County, Texas Church Books (amazon.com)
Shelby 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)
Shelby Co. TX General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Texas
- Shelby County, Texas Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Shelby Co., Texas Almanac (texasalmanac.com)
- Texas county histories : a bibliography (search.ancestry.com)
- Shelby County History (tshaonline.org)
- Shelby County, Texas Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Shelby Co. TX Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Shelby County, Texas (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Texas – Counties – Shelby (cyndislist.com)
- Shelby County Texas (genealogytrails.com)
- Shelby Co. TXGenweb (countygenweb.com)
- Shelby County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Shelby Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Shelby Co. TX Immigration & Naturalization
- See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for Texas
- Texas, Naturalization Records, 1906-1989 (familysearch.org)
Shelby Co. TX Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Texas Links and Information
- Texas General Land Office Map Collection (glo.texas.gov)
- 1895 Shelby County Map (livgenmi.com)
Shelby 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 Shelby County genealogists, researchers, historians and more.
