Wise County, Texas Genealogy
(Redirected from Wise County, Texas)
Guide to Wise 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 a Virginia Congressman Henry A. Wise, who had supported annexation of Texas by the United States. He was elected governor of Virginia in 1856. The county is located in the north-central area of the state.[1]
County Courthouse
Wise County Courthouse
308 W Main St
Decatur, TX 76234
Phone: 940-627-5535
Wise County Website
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1903, marriage records from 1881, probate records from 1882, land records from 1852 and court records.[2]
Wise 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 | 1881 | 1903 | 1882 | 1852 | 1882 | 1829 |
Record Loss
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Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
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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 | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
History Timeline
1855 The first white settler arrived in 1854 and the first public school opened in 1855.
1860s Just northwest of Fort Worth and Dallas, in the 1860s, "Wise County had more Indian attacks & kidnappings than any other county in Texas".
1880s In the early days of Wise County there were very large cattle ranches and homestead farms. Starting in the 1880s, coal was mined near the town of Bridgeport. Later limestone rock crushers and gas production became important.
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 3,160 | — |
| 1870 | 1,450 | −54.1% |
| 1880 | 16,601 | 1044.9% |
| 1890 | 24,134 | 45.4% |
| 1900 | 27,116 | 12.4% |
| 1910 | 26,450 | −2.5% |
| 1920 | 23,363 | −11.7% |
| 1930 | 19,178 | −17.9% |
| 1940 | 19,074 | −0.5% |
| 1950 | 16,141 | −15.4% |
| 1960 | 17,012 | 5.4% |
| 1970 | 19,687 | 15.7% |
| 1980 | 26,575 | 35.0% |
| 1990 | 34,679 | 30.5% |
| 2000 | 48,793 | 40.7% |
| 2010 | 59,127 | 21.2% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- 1860-1930 -- Wise County Census Images LARGE images of all year's pages
- 1860 -- 1860 Census Transcription All of Wise County Transcribed with Additional Information, 3,034 names with index
- 1870-1910 -- Wise County Census Indexes of Last Names Only
- 1900-1910 -- Wise County 1900 & 1910 Census Transcriptions & Index of Names, Southwest corner of Wise County only
- 1920 -- 1920 Census All of Wise County Transcribed with Additional Information, 23,117 names with index
- 1930 -- 1930 Census All of Wise County Transcribed with Additional Information, 19,202 names with index (population was less)
Church Records
- See Texas Church Records for more information.
- Catholic Parishes in Texas
- Christian Church Directory for Texas at ChurchFinder
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
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
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 Wise County and may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information.
- See Texas Local Histories for more information.
Maps and Gazetteers
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
for more resources
- 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
Military Records
- 1838-1900 Texas Muster Roll Index Cards 1838-1900 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1916-1990 Texas, Various Counties, Military Discharge Records, 1916-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
Mexican-American War
- 1845-1848 US American Volunteer Soldiers Mexican War 1845-1848 at Ancestry — index ($)
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
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
- Wise County Messenger
- Bridgeport Index Newspaper 1910-1975 15,377 images of pages with names indexed.
- 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 ($)
Obituaries
- 1960-1989 (most 1970s)
Obituaries From Local Papers
4,160 Newspaper clippings online - 1910-1975 (only a few in older years)
Whole Newspaper Pages -The Bridgeport Index
Most years have names indexes - 1976-2008
Obituaries From The Bridgeport Index
7,106 Newspaper clippings online - 2000-2009
Obituary Text From The Wise County Messenger
5,197 Obituaries with complete text - Recent
The Wise County Messenger
Link;Decatur paper obituaries - Recent
The Bridgeport Index
Link - Bridgeport paper obituaries
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate records of Texas counties were kept by the probate clerk, usually in "probate minutes."
- See Texas Probate Records for more information.
- 1800-1990 Texas Probate Records, 1800-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
- 1800-2000 Texas Wills and Probate Records at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
- Old School Pictures & Yearbooks 1900s-1970s Indexed class pictures & yearbooks.
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
- 1864-1933 Wise County Recorded Births & Birth Certificates, 1864-1933 Data of 19,202 births with 9,500 certificates online.
- 1926-2009 Birth,Statistics and Announcements 1926-2009 No longer have online. Sent on request.
- 2003 Wise County Messenger Newspaper Birth announcements 2003-present online
- 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 ($)
- 1866-2001 Wise County Marriages 1866-2001 Bride & Groom & Date of Marriage,10,527 Listings
- 1881-1945 Wise County Marriages 1881-1945 Bride & Groom & Date of Marriage,14,976 Listings
- 1966-2010 Texas Marriages, 1966-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 2000-2009 Wedding Announcements from The Wise County Messenger Newspaper 2000-2009 1,520 with Complete Text
- 1966-2016 Texas Marriages and Divorces at MyHeritage — index ($)
Death
- 1890-1976 Texas Deaths, 1890-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1903-1966 Wise County Death Certificates Online - 1903-1966 7,904 images online
- 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 ($)
- 1903-1990 Wise County Recorded Deaths - 1903-1999 11,324 deaths listed
- 1914-2001 Wise County Funeral Records in Alphabetical Order 1914-2001, 19,000 Pages with older images online
- 1964-1998 Texas Death Index, 1964-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
Divorce
- 1966-2016 Texas Marriages and Divorces at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1968-2001 Wise County Divorces 1968-2001 Divorces With Marriage Dates & Number of Children, 5,904 Records
- 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
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
- Azle Texas FamilySearch Center
- Decatur Texas FamilySearch Center
- Denton Texas FamilySearch Center
- Denton Public Library - multiple locations - an affiliate library
- Fort Worth Public Library - an affiliate library
- Southlake Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Museums
- Bridgeport Historical Museum
812b Halsell St
Bridgeport, TX 76426
Website - Wise County Heritage Museum
1602 S Trinity St
Decatur, TX 76234
Phone: 940-627-5586
Email:wisemuseum@embarqmail.com
Website
Societies
- Paradise Historical Society
PO Box 296
Paradise, TX 76073
Phone: 940-969-2021
Website
Websites
- Wise TX GenWeb part of TXGenWeb
- Wise USGWArchives part of USGWArchives Texas Counties
- Wise County on the Web - Many local links
- 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, "Wise, Texas" in "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wise_County,_Texas. accessed 11/27/2019
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Wise County, Texas. Page 676 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Wise 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, "Wise County, Texas," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wise_County,_Texas, Last accessed 30 August 2019.