CULBERSON COUNTY, TX HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Culberson County, Texas: A Genealogical Overview

Stretching across the vast and rugged Trans-Pecos region of far West Texas, Culberson County is a land of dramatic landscapes, from the highest point in Texas at Guadalupe Peak to the expansive salt flats and desert basins. Its history is relatively recent, forged not by early colonial settlement but by the 19th-century push westward along stagecoach and railroad lines. For genealogists, research in Culberson County is a study of a classic frontier economy based on transportation, ranching, and mining, with records that begin much later than in most other parts of Texas.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Culberson County’s very recent creation is the single most important fact for genealogical research, as all earlier records are held by its parent county.

  • 1911: County Formed: Culberson County was created by the Texas Legislature on March 10, 1911, and officially organized in 1912.
  • Parent County: The county was formed entirely from the eastern portion of El Paso County. Any and all research for ancestors living within the modern boundaries of Culberson County prior to 1911 must be conducted in the records of El Paso County.
  • Subsequent Formations: The county’s boundaries have remained stable since its creation.
  • Name Origin: The county was named for David B. Culberson, a Confederate army veteran, lawyer, and influential U.S. Congressman who represented Texas from 1875 to 1897.
  • County Seat History: Van Horn was designated as the county seat upon the county’s organization in 1912 and has remained so ever since. The town was originally established in the 1880s as a crucial watering and supply stop for the Texas and Pacific Railway.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was the domain of the Mescalero Apache, who utilized the mountains and water sources for centuries.
  • Transportation Routes and Early Settlement: The area’s development was driven by its position on major east-west corridors. The San Antonio-El Paso Road was a key wagon trail for migrants. From 1858 to 1861, the famed Butterfield Overland Mail stage line ran through the county, with the Pinery Station, located at the summit of Guadalupe Pass, being one of its most important stops. However, these routes did not lead to significant permanent settlement.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • Arrival of the Railroad: The single most important event in the county’s history was the arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railway in 1881. The railroad made large-scale ranching feasible and led directly to the founding of Van Horn.
    • Ranching Economy: Following the railroad’s arrival, the vast, open grasslands were quickly claimed by cattle ranchers, establishing the industry that would dominate the county’s economy for the next century.
    • Mining: While some mining for silver, copper, turquoise, and sulfur has occurred throughout the county’s history, it has always been secondary to the ranching and, later, tourism industries.
    • Guadalupe Mountains National Park: Established in 1972, the park protects a significant portion of the county’s northern landscape, including Guadalupe Peak, El Capitan, and McKittrick Canyon, preserving both the natural and historical heritage of the area.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

Due to its late formation, finding records for Culberson County is a straightforward process, beginning in 1911.

  • County Courthouse: The Culberson County Courthouse, located at 300 La Caverna St, Van Horn, TX 79855, is the central repository for all county records.
    • County Clerk’s Office: This is the primary office for genealogical research. It holds all land records (deeds, etc.), marriage licenses, and official birth and death records from the county’s organization to the present.
    • District Clerk’s Office: This office maintains all civil and criminal court records, including crucial genealogical sources like divorce proceedings.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Records from 1911 forward are held by the County Clerk. Certified copies can also be obtained from the Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Unit, in Austin.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage licenses from 1911 to the present are held by the County Clerk.
    • Records Prior to 1911: It is essential to remember that any vital events, land transactions, or court cases involving residents of this area before 1911 are recorded in El Paso County.
  • Libraries and Museums:
    • Culberson County Public Library: Located in Van Horn, this library has local history resources.
    • Clark Hotel Museum: Also in Van Horn, this museum provides exhibits on the history of the town and county.
    • For more extensive regional collections, researchers should consult the Archives of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University in Alpine or the El Paso Public Library.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Hudspeth County, TX (west)
    • Reeves County, TX (east)
    • Jeff Davis County, TX (south)
    • Otero County, New Mexico (north)
    • Eddy County, New Mexico (north)

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks