Hidalgo County, Texas Genealogy

United States

Texas

Hidalgo County

Guide to Hidalgo County, Texas ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Texas Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Edinburg Organized: August 2, 1852 Parent County(s): Cameron, Starr Neighboring Counties Brooks • Cameron • Kenedy • Starr • Willacy • Tamaulipas (Mexico) See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

Hidalgo county was named for Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, 1753-1811. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the priest known as the "Father of Mexican Independence," was born on May 8, 1753, at his father's hacienda near Guanajuato, Mexico.

County Courthouse

Hidalgo County Courthouse
100 N Closner Blvd
Edinburg, TX 78539
Phone: 956-292-7090
Hidalgo County Website

County Clerk has birth, marriage, death, probate, court and land records.
District Clerk has divorce records

Hidalgo County, Texas Record Dates

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.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1903	1852	1903	1852	1848	1852	1829
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1903. General compliance by the 1930s.

Record Loss

1886 Flood destroyed the town of Hidalgo, which at that time was the county seat. Presumably, the courthouse was also destroyed or heavily damaged. For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see: Burned Counties. By Michael John Neill at 24-7 Family History Circle. When the Records are Gone. By Arlene Eakle at Arlene Eakle's Tennessee Blog. Burned Counties Research in the FamilySearch Research Wiki. List of counties in the United States with Record Loss

Boundary Changes

Parent County(s): Created from Cameron County, on 24 Jan 1852. County Seat: Edinburg Texas Individual County Chronologies - Newberry Library list of all boundary changes by county Texas Historical Borders - Map at Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; Also at: mapofus.org - animated maps illustrating Texas county boundary changes

Populated Places

Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog Edinburg McAllen Mission Progreso

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:

Cities
Alamo Alton Donna Edcouch Edinburg (county seat) Elsa Granjeno Hidalgo	La Joya La Villa McAllen Mercedes Mission Palmhurst Palmview	Penitas Pharr Progreso Progreso Lakes San Juan Sullivan City Weslaco
Unincorporated communities
McCook
Census-designated places
Abram Cesar Chavez Citrus City Cuevitas Doffing Doolittle Faysville Hargill Havana Heidelberg Indian Hills La Blanca	La Homa Laguna Seca Linn Llano Grande Lopezville Los Ebanos Midway North Midway South Mila Doce Monte Alto Muniz	Munillo North Alamo Olivarez Palmview South Perezville Relampago San Carlos Scissors South Alamo Villa Verde West Sharyland

History Timeline

Hidalgo County has had four county seats: Edinburgh, Hidalgo, Hidalgo, Chapin (Edinburg). In 1852, the town of La Habitacion was renamed Edinburgh and became the county seat. Later, the name of the town was changed to Hidalgo. After a severe flood in 1886, the town was moved two miles north. Later, Edinburgh was moved away from the Rio Grande River - the present site and town of Hidalgo. In 1908, the town of Chapin became the county seat. In 1911, the town's name was changed to Edinburg.
The last county courthouse in Hidalgo is still standing. Built in 1886, the building was once two story with a cupola; after a fire in the early 1900s, the building was repaired and rebuilt as one story.

Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Hidalgo County, Texas online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Find a Grave BillionGraves Tombstone Transcription Project TX Gravestones Photo Project Cemeteries of TX USGenWeb Archives Names in Stone Hidalgo TX GenWeb
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	FamilySearch Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Find a Grave FamilySearch Places
See Texas Cemeteries for more information.

Census Records

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	1,182		—
1870	2,387		101.9%
1880	4,347		82.1%
1890	6,534		50.3%
1900	6,837		4.6%
1910	13,728		100.8%
1920	38,110		177.6%
1930	77,004		102.1%
1940	106,059		37.7%
1950	160,446		51.3%
1960	180,904		12.8%
1970	181,535		0.3%
1980	283,229		56.0%
1990	383,545		35.4%
2000	569,463		48.5%
2010	774,769		36.1%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Church Records

• See Texas Church Records for more information.

• Christian Church Directory for Texas at ChurchFinder
• Catholic Parishes in Texas

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
  

Directories

• 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African Americans

• 1865-1870 Texas, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1870 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
• African American Griots at USGenWeb

• Texas African American Genealogy at Access Genealogy

Funeral Homes

Amador Funeral Home Inc. in Edcouch Amador Funeral Home Inc. in Pharr Aurora Funeral Home in Pharr Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home Service in Edinburg De Leon Funeral Home in Pharr Deco Familia in McAllen Eternal Light Funeral Home in Elsa Flores Funeral Home in Mission Funeraria Del Angel & Valley Memorial Gardens in Mission Funeraria del Angel Palm Valley in Pharr Hawkins Funeral Home in Weslaco Hernandez Funerals. LLC. in La Joya Kreidler Funeral Home, Inc. in McAllen Legacy Chapels in Edinburg Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg Memorial Funeral Home in San Juan McCaleb Funeral Home & Sacred Park Cemetery in Weslaco Rivera at Hillcrest Funerals and Cremations in Edinburg Rivera Funeral Home in McAllen Rivera Funeral Home in Mission Salinas Funeral Homes in Elsa Salinas Funeral Homes in Weslaco Serenity Funeral Chapels in Edcouch The Lord & I Funeral Home in Penitas Vaughan Funeral Homes, Inc. in Donna Vaughan Funeral Homes, Inc. in Edinburg Virgil Wilson Mortuary in Mission

Land and Property Records

• See Texas Land and Property for more information.

• Land Survey Abstract Indexes at USGenWeb Archives Project
• Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Local Histories

Local histories are available for Hidalgo County and may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information.

• See Texas Local Histories for more information.

1750 and 1883 Spanish mission and settlements were established by 1750 and Anglo-American settlements by 1883.

• The Centennial Celebration of the Organization of Hidalgo County in Texas, 1952, by the Hidalgo County Centennial Corporation
• The Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, 1954, by J. Lee and Lillian J. Stambaugh.
• Hidalgo County History from the Handbook of Texas Online.
• Texas Indexes (about 20 counties) at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Texas Counties Map. Click on the county to go to the Texas Genweb site
• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

• 1838-1900 Texas Muster Roll Index Cards at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Mexican-American War

• 1845-1848 US American Volunteer Soldiers Mexican War 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
• Confederate Pension Applications at Texas State Library and Archives Commission
• Confederate Pension Applicatons at USGenWeb Archives Project
• Confederate Indigent Families USGenWeb Archives
• Union Texas Volunteers 1st Regiment Hidalgo County TXGenWeb site
• 1890 Veterans Schedule Census for Hidalgo County Hidalgo County TXGenWeb site

World War I

• 1917-1920 Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images

World War II

• Hidalgo County World War II Casualties (Four pages of names, be sure to click "next" at the bottom of the page to reach the name you are looking for). Access Genealogy website

Korean War

• Hidalgo County Korean War Casualties at USGenWeb Archives Project

Newspapers

• w3newspapers-Texas Newspaper Index with links
• Newslink-Texas Newspaper List (sorted by publication frequency)
• The Olden Times - Historic Texas News Online
• Texas Digital Newspaper Program at The Portal to Texas History
• 1800s-Current Texas, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Obituaries

• USGenWeb Archives Obituary Project Texas
• Obituary Daily Times Citations to over 15,000,000 obituaries including interactive search function

Probate Records

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 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• Search Tax, Criminal, Land and Wills Records at Ancestry ($)
• Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Social Security Records

• 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

• See Texas Taxation for more information.

• 1846-1910 Texas, County Tax Rolls 1846-1910 at Findmypast — index & images ($)

Vital Records

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

• 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

• 1800-1965 Texas, U.S., Select County Marriage Records at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1802-2010 Texas, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($) — index ($)
• 1814-2011 Texas Marriage Collection 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 at Ancestry — index ($)
• 1837-1965 Texas Marriages, 1837-1965 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
• 1837-1965 Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
• 1837-1965 Texas, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1837-1965 at Ancestry — index ($)
• 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 ($)
• 1875-2021 Texas, Hidalgo County, Marriage Records, 1875-2021 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1966-2010 Texas Marriages, 1966-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
• 1966-2016 Texas Marriages and Divorces at MyHeritage — index ($)

Death

• 1890-1976 Texas Deaths, 1890-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
• 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 ($)
• 1903-2000 Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
• 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

• 1966-2016 Texas Marriages and Divorces at MyHeritage — index ($)
• 1968-2010 Texas Divorce Index, 1968-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
• 1968-2011 Texas Divorces 1968-2011 at Ancestry — index ($)

Research Facilities

FamilySearch Centers

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

• Hidalgo Texas FamilySearch Center
• McAllen Texas West FamilySearch Center
• Mission Texas FamilySearch Center

Libraries

Alamo Public Library
416 N Tower Rd
Alamo, TX 78516
Phone: 956-787-6160
Facebook

Donna Public Library
301 S Main St
Donna, TX 78537
Phone: 956-464-2221
Website

Dustin Michael Sekula Memorial Library
1906 S Closner Blvd
Edinburg, TX 78539
Phone: 956-383-6246
Website

Elsa Public Library
711 N Hidalgo St
Elsa, TX 78543
Phone: 956-262-3061
Website

Hidalgo Public Library
710 E Texano Dr
Hidalgo, TX 78557
Phone: 956-843-2093
Website

La Joya Municipal Library
925 S Leo Ave
La Joya, TX 78560
Phone: 956-581-4533
Website

McAllen Memorial Library
601 N Main St
McAllen, TX 78501
Phone: 956-688-3300
Website

Mercedes Memorial Library
434 S Ohio St
Mercedes, TX 78570
Phone: 956-565-2371
Website

Pharr Memorial Library
121 E Cherokee Ave
Pharr, TX 78577
Phone: 956-787-3966
Website

Speer Memorial Library
801 E 12th St
Mission, TX 78572
Phone: 956-580-8750
Website

San Juan Public Library
1010 S Standard Ave
San Juan, TX 78589
Phone: 956-702-0926
Website

Weslaco Public Library
525 S Kansas Ave
Weslaco, TX 78596
Phone: 956-968-4533
Facebook

Museums

Museum of South Texas History
200 N. Closner Blvd.
Edinburg, TX 78541
Phone: 956-383-6911
Website

The museum's Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archive holds an extensive collection of regional items, including maps, newspapers, books, genealogical material, audiovisual and digital material, and the largest collection of historical photographs within the lower Rio Grande Valley.

Websites

• Hidalgo TX GenWeb part of TXGenWeb
• Hidalgo USGWArchives part of 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.