Texas Genealogy
Guide to Ancestry and Family Tree Records

Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and other explorers from Spain came to the area that is now Texas throughout the 1500s and 1600s. Some Spanish explorers actually settled near what is now El Paso in 1685, in an area they called Ysleta. Then, in 1685, a French colony was established at Matagorda Bay by Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle. Although, that colony didn’t last very long.

In 1821, a group of Americans settled near the Brazos River. Stephen F. Austin led that group, which came to the area shortly after it gained independence from Spain and came under Mexican control. A very short war took place between the government of Mexico and the American settlers around that time.

Then, in 1836, the Independent Republic of Texas was formed. Sam Houston was soon named the president of that republic. That short war included the battles of San Jacinto and the Alamo. The Mexican War then took place between 1846 and 1848, due largely to border disputes stemming from Texas gaining its statehood in 1845.

Texas Counties – The Republic of Texas existed from March 2, 1836, to February 19, 1846. The State of Texas was created as the 28th state on December 29, 1845. Texas borders Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Mexico. Texas has 254 Counties. The Texas State Capital is in Austin and the state government website is http://www.texas.gov/.

Select a Texas county to view information & records pertaining to each County