Matagorda County, Texas Genealogy
(Redirected from Matagorda County, Texas)
Guide to Matagorda 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
Description
The county was named for the canebrakes that once grew along the coast (Matagorda is a Spanish word meaning "thick bush"). The county is located in the southeast area of the state.[1]
County Courthouse
Matagorda Courthouse
1700 7th St
Bay City, TX 77414
Phone: 979-244-7680
Matagorda County Website
County Clerk has birth records from 1903, marriage records from 1838, death records from 1917, land records from 1827, probate records form late 1800’s, military records from 1919 and court records from 1981.[2]
Matagorda 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.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1903 | 1838 | 1903 | 1981 | 1827 | 1827 | 1829 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
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]
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
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History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1850 | 2,124 | — |
| 1860 | 3,454 | 62.6% |
| 1870 | 3,377 | −2.2% |
| 1880 | 3,940 | 16.7% |
| 1890 | 3,985 | 1.1% |
| 1900 | 6,097 | 53.0% |
| 1910 | 13,597 | 123.0% |
| 1920 | 16,589 | 22.0% |
| 1930 | 17,678 | 6.6% |
| 1940 | 20,066 | 13.5% |
| 1950 | 21,559 | 7.4% |
| 1960 | 25,744 | 19.4% |
| 1970 | 27,913 | 8.4% |
| 1980 | 37,828 | 35.5% |
| 1990 | 36,928 | −2.4% |
| 2000 | 37,957 | 2.8% |
| 2010 | 36,702 | −3.3% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- 1850 1850 Index
- 1870 1870 African-American Families
- 1870 1870 Palacios Point
- 1910 1910 Collegeport Community
Church Records
- See Texas Church Records for more information.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African-Americans
Funeral Homes
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Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
- See Texas Land and Property for more information.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Matagorda County and may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information.
- See Texas Local Histories for more information.
- Matagorda County Historical Markers
- Texas Settlement Region
Part of Stephen F. Austin's Colony.
Maps and Gazetteers
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
for more resources
- Texas Counties Map. Click on the county to go to the Texas Genweb site
- Texas Historical Commission Atlas
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
Texas Revolution
- 1835 - 1845 Index to the Military Rolls of the Republic of Texas 1835-1845 at Texas State Historical Association
- War Casualties
- Gold Star Mothers
- Republic of Texas
- 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
- Texas in the Civil War
- Confederate Military Information
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
Newspapers
- Bay City Tribune
- Matagorda County Advocate
- Palacios Beacon
- Newspapers Available at Matagorda County Museum
- Texas Digital Newspaper Program at The Portal to Texas History
- Celebrations - Articles about events
- 1800s-Current Texas, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries
- Obituaries-Matagorda TXGenWeb
Other Records
Voting Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate records of Texas counties were kept by the probate clerk, usually in "probate minutes."
- See Texas Probate Records for more information.
- 1800-1990 Texas Probate Records, 1800-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
- 1800-2000 Texas Wills and Probate Records 1800-2000 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
- 1923-1946 Texas, Matagorda County, School Census Records, 1923-1946 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- Matagorda Schools - TXGenWeb
- Texas, Matagorda County, School Census Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
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
- 1840-1981 Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981 - FamilySearch
- 1903-1935 Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903 -1935 (images and index) - FamilySearch
- 1903-1997 Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997 (index) - FamilySearch; Key to Texas County Codes; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- 1926-1995 Texas Births, 1926-1995 at MyHeritage — index ($)
Marriage
- 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 ($)
Death
- 1890-1976 Texas Death Records 1890 – 1976 [with images]
Name index & images of statewide death certificates, 1890-1976. - 1903-1973 Texas Deaths and Burials, 1903-1973 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1903-1982 Texas Death Certificates 1903-1982 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 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
- 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
Archives
- Matagorda County Historical Records
PO Box 275
Blessing, TX 77419-0275
Website
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
- Bay City Public Library
1100 7th St
Bay City, TX 77414
Website - Palacios Library
326 Main St
Palacios, TX 77465
Website
Museums
- City By the Sea Museum
401 Commerce Street
Palacios, TX 77465
Website - Matagorda County Museum
2100 Avenue F.
Bay City, TX 77414
Website
Societies
- Matagorda County Genealogical Society
1100 Seventh Street
Bay City, TX 77414-4915
Email:carolsgibbs@yahoo.com
Website
Websites
- Matagorda TX GenWeb part of TXGenWeb
- Matagorda USGWArchives part of USGWArchives Texas Counties
- Texas Historical Commission
- 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
References
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Matagorda, Texas" in "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matagorda_County,_Texas. accessed 11/21/2019
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Matagorda County, Texas. Page 669 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Matagorda 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, "Matagorda County, Texas," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matagorda_County,_Texas, Last accessed 13 August 2019.