Brown County, Texas Genealogy
Guide to Brown County, Texas ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for Henry Stevenson Brown, a commander at the Battle of Velasco, an early conflict between Texans and Mexicans. The county is located in the central area of the state.[1]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Brown County Courthouse
200 S Broadway St
Brownwood, TX 76801
Phone: 325-646-5859
Brown County Website
County Clerk has birth records from 1900, death records from 1903, marriage, land, probate, court and military records from 1880.
District Court has divorce records from 1880.[2]
Brown County, Texas Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1900 | 1880 | 1903 | 1880 | 1880 | 1880 | 1829 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[5]
| Cities | ||
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| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 244 | — |
| 1870 | 544 | 123.0% |
| 1880 | 8,414 | 1446.7% |
| 1890 | 11,421 | 35.7% |
| 1900 | 16,019 | 40.3% |
| 1910 | 22,935 | 43.2% |
| 1920 | 21,682 | −5.5% |
| 1930 | 26,382 | 21.7% |
| 1940 | 25,924 | −1.7% |
| 1950 | 28,607 | 10.3% |
| 1960 | 24,728 | −13.6% |
| 1970 | 25,877 | 4.6% |
| 1980 | 33,057 | 27.7% |
| 1990 | 34,371 | 4.0% |
| 2000 | 37,674 | 9.6% |
| 2010 | 38,106 | 1.1% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records[edit | edit source]
- See Texas Church Records for more information.
- Christian Church Directory for Texas at ChurchFinder
- List of Churches in Brown County from the Brown County TXGenWeb site.
- St. John's Episcopal Church, Brownwood History from the Brown County History site.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Online Court Indexes and Records
- Brown County District Court Records, starting with 1860 are available at the Local History and Genealogy Library, Brownwood, Texas.
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
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Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
- See Texas Land and Property for more information.
- Brown County Bounty-Land Warrant Files A-S are available at the Local History and Genealogy Library, Brownwood, Texas.
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Brown County and may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information.
- See Texas Local Histories for more information.
- In the Life and Lives of Brown County People, compiled by Lorene Bishop ... [et al.] Brownwood, Texas : Brown County Historical Society (Texas), 2000-2006.
FS Catalog book 976.4548 H2b, Vol. 1-21, FS Catalog Collection(*).
- Something about Brown : a history of Brown County, Texas, by T. R. Havins. Brownwood, Texas : Banner Printing, c1958. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- The Promised Land: A history of Brown County, 1941, by James C. White. Partial transcription online at the Brown County TXGenWeb site.
- Frontier Times Magazine by J. Marvin Hunter. Database of magazines 1923-1954 located at the Local History Genealogy Library. The magazines chronicle life in Western and Central Texas in the mid to late 1800s and early 1900s and feature county and town histories, lives of interesting people, biographies of Texas Rangers, etc. Index to the magazines at Frontier Times website.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- 1940 Brown County General Highway Map from the Texas State Library.
- 1961 Brown County General Highway Map Detail of Brownwood and other towns in Brown County from the Texas State Library.
- Map of Historic Brown County with locations of former small communities, schools, etc. available from the Brown County Museum of History and the History and Genealogy Research Library
- Texas Counties Map. Click on the county to go to the TXGenweb site.
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- Veterans Memorials in Brown County from the Heritage Association Brown County.
Brown County World War II Veterans, Surnames A-G with brief biographical sketches. Alphabetical list of veterans who lost their lives; and Brown County World War II Veterans, Surnames H-Z, includes biographical sketches, "Women in the Military" and "Story of Camp Bowie. In the Life and Lives of Brown County People, Vol. 12 & 13. FS Library film 2055301, item 11 and film 2055354, item 5(*).
Mexican-American War
- 1845-1848 US American Volunteer Soldiers Mexican War 1845-1848 at Ancestry — index ($)
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Texas, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images at partner site
- 1861-1865 Texas, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images at partner site
- 1838-1900 Texas Muster Roll Index Cards 1838-1900 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Confederate Pension Applications at Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Civil War Veterans of Brown County. In the Life and Lives of Brown County People, Vol. 10. Includes 440 Veteran listed alphabetically. FS Library film 1750731, item 5 - images.
World War I
- 1917-1920 Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- 1906-1989 Texas Naturalization Records, 1906-1989 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- Brownwood Bulletin Newspaper
- Texas Digital Newspaper Program at The Portal to Texas History
Brownwood Bulletin and Brownwood Banner newspapers archives are available on microfilm at the Local History & Genealogy Library.
- 1800s-Current Texas, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate records of Texas counties were kept by the probate clerk, usually in "probate minutes."
- See Texas Probate Records for more information.
- 1800-1990 Texas Probate Records, 1800-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
- 1800-2000 Texas Wills and Probate Records 1800-2000 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
- See Texas Taxation for more information.
- 1846-1910 Texas, County Tax Rolls 1846-1910 at Findmypast — index & images ($)
- Brown County Tax Rolls 1859-1910 are available at the Local History and Genealogy Library, Brownwood, Texas.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths were recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. Copies can be obtained from the County Clerk's office, or order certified copies online or by mail at the Texas Vital Records State Department of Health. See Texas Vital Records for more information.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1840-1981 Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1903-1935 Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1903-1997 Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index; Key to Texas County Codes; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- 1926-1995 Texas Births, 1926-1995 at MyHeritage — index ($)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1802-2010 Texas, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1814-2011 Texas Marriage Collection 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1837-1965 Texas Marriages, 1837-1965 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1837-1965 Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1837-1973 Texas Marriages, 1837-1973 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1837-1977 Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1837-1977 Texas Select County Marriage Index 1837-1977 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1966-2010 Texas Marriages, 1966-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1966-2016 Texas Marriages and Divorces at MyHeritage — index ($)
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1903-1973 Texas Deaths and Burials, 1903-1973 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1903-1982 Texas Death Certificates 1903-1982 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1964-1998 Texas Death Index, 1964-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1977-1986 Texas Deaths, 1977-1986 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1968-2010 Texas Divorce Index, 1968-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1968-2011 Texas Divorces 1968-2011 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1966-2016 Texas Marriages and Divorces at MyHeritage — index ($)
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Brownwood Texas Genealogical Library - an affiliate library
- Comanche Public Library - an affiliate library
- Dublin Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Brownwood Public Library
600 Carnegie
Brownwood, TX 76801
Phone: 325-646-0155
Website
Local History and Genealogy Library
213 S. Broadway
Brownwood, TX 76801
Phone: 325-646-6006
Website
The library has the Brownwood newspapers on microfilm, City Directories from 1909, phone books, cemetery burial lists, Brown County Tax Rolls, District Court records, World War II records and newspaper clippings, and vital records.
The library's Genealogy holdings are searchable in the Brown County Public Library catalog.
Walker Memorial Library
includes Burress Genealogy Library
Howard Payne University
1000 Fisk St.
Brownwood, TX 76801
Phone: 325-649-8602 Website
Genealogy collections are listed in the library's catalog
Museums[edit | edit source]
Blanket Museum of History
712 Main St
Blanket, TX 76432
Website
Brown County Museum of History
P.O. Box 2006
Brownwood, TX 76804-2006
Phone: 325-641-1926
Website
Also has an Annex located at 209 Broadway Street, across from the Jail.
Societies[edit | edit source]
Brown County Historical Commission
305 North Fisk Avenue
Brownwood, TX 76801
Phone: 325-643-3322
Website
Brown County Historical Society
213 S. Broadway
PO Box 146
Brownwood, TX 76801-0146
Phone: 325-646-8208
Website
Pecan Valley Genealogical Society
213 S. Broadway
Brownwood, TX 76801
Phone: 325-646-6006
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Brown County TX GenWeb part of TX Genweb
- USGWArchives Texas Counties
- Frontier Times Magazine
- Historic Texas
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Brown County, Texas," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_County,_Texas. accessed 07/25/2019
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Brown County, Texas. Page 659 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Brown County, Texas . Page 658-677 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 655-665.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FSC Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Brown County, Texas," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_County,_Texas, accessed 26 March 2019.