Leon County, Texas Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: Centerville
Organized: July 13, 1846
Parent County(s): Robertson
Neighboring Counties
AndersonFreestoneHoustonLimestoneMadisonRobertson
See County Maps
Courthouse
Texas, Leon County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Tx-leon.png

County Information

Description

The county was named for Martín De León, the founder of Victoria, Texas. The county is located in the east-central area of the state.[1]

County Courthouse

Leon County Courthouse
139 E Main
Centerville, TX 75833
Phone: 903-536-2227
Leon County Website

County Clerk has birth and death records from 1903, marriage records from 1885, probate records from 1846, court and land records.[2]

Leon 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[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1903 1885 1903 1846 1836 1846 1829
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1903. General compliance by the 1930s.

Record Loss

Boundary Changes

Populated Places

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:[6]

Cities
Towns
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places
Ghost towns
  • Eunice
  • Robbins

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

History Timeline

The original Courthouse and County Seat was at Leona. It was organized July 13, 1846. The first court was held at the home of Moses Campbell and then a log courthouse was built. After a heated battle, which included the killing of one man and the wounding of another, the County Seat was moved to Centerville in October 1850.

Resources

Bible Records

Biographies

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Leon County, Texas online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Texas Cemeteries for more information.


Census Records

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1850 1,946
1860 6,781 248.5%
1870 6,523 −3.8%
1880 12,817 96.5%
1890 13,841 8.0%
1900 18,072 30.6%
1910 16,583 −8.2%
1920 18,286 10.3%
1930 19,898 8.8%
1940 17,733 −10.9%
1950 12,024 −32.2%
1960 9,951 −17.2%
1970 8,738 −12.2%
1980 9,594 9.8%
1990 12,665 32.0%
2000 15,335 21.1%
2010 16,801 9.6%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".


Church Records

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

Guardianship

Land and Property Records

Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories

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

  • A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas, 1883. Digital book on line from the Portal to Texas History.

Maps and Gazetteers

Limestone CountyFreestone CountyAnderson CountyHouston CountyMadison CountyRobertson CountyTX LEON.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

Military Records

Texas Revolution

Mexican-American War

Civil War

World War I

Naturalization and Citizenship

Newspapers

Obituaries

Other Records

Periodicals

Probate Records

Probate records of Texas counties were kept by the probate clerk, usually in "probate minutes."

School Records

Social Security Records

Tax Records

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

Marriage

Death

Divorce

Research Facilities

Archives

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

Libraries

Museums

Societies

Leon Co. Genealogical Society
PO Box 400
Centerville, TX 75833
Phone: 903-536-2710
Website

Websites

Research Guides

References

  1. Wikipedia contributors, "Leon, Texas" in "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_County,_Texas. accessed 10/08/2019
  2. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Leon County, Texas. Page 668 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  3. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Leon 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.
  4. GenDisasters.com - Centerville, TX Leon County Courthouse Fire, Nov 1885 http://www.gendisasters.com/texas/17828/centerville-tx-leon-county-courthouse-fire-nov-1885
  5. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FSC Book 973 D27e 2002.
  6. Wikipedia contributors, "Leon County, Texas," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_County,_Texas, Last accessed 09 August 2019.