HALL COUNTY, TX HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Hall County, Texas: A Genealogical Overview

Located in the rolling plains of the Texas Panhandle, Hall County embodies the classic history of the region’s transformation. Once the domain of vast buffalo herds and Comanche hunting grounds, it became the heart of the open-range cattle kingdom before the arrival of the railroad and determined farmers carved it into the agricultural landscape seen today. For genealogists, tracing ancestors in Hall County means exploring the stories of ranchers, cowboys, railroaders, and homesteaders who built a community on the Texas frontier.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Like most Panhandle counties, Hall County existed on paper for years before a functioning government was established, a critical distinction for record seekers.

  • 1876: County Formed: Hall County was officially created by the Texas Legislature on August 21, 1876.
  • Parent County: It was carved from the vast, unorganized lands of the Bexar Territory.
  • 1890: County Organized: For fourteen years, Hall County had no government of its own. It was attached to Donley County for all judicial and administrative purposes. On June 23, 1890, the county was formally organized, its own government was established, and record-keeping began within the county. Any legal records for residents prior to this 1890 organization date would have been filed in Donley County.
  • Name Origin: The county was named for Warren D. C. Hall, a prominent lawyer who served as Adjutant General, Secretary of War, and Congressman for the Republic of Texas.
  • County Seat History: After a spirited contest with the communities of Salisbury and New Berlin, Memphis was chosen as the county seat upon organization in 1890 and has remained the seat of government ever since.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was a vital hunting ground for the Comanche, Kiowa, and other Plains Indian tribes, who followed the massive buffalo herds along the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River.
  • The Age of Ranching: Following the Red River War of 1874-1875, which removed the Native American tribes from the Panhandle, the land was opened to cattle ranching. Large cattle operations, most notably a portion of Charles Goodnight’s famous JA Ranch, along with the Rowe Ranch and the Shoe Bar Ranch, grazed immense herds across the unfenced prairies of Hall County. This was the era of the open range and the long cattle drive.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • The Railroad Arrives: The single most transformative event was the arrival of the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway in 1887. The railroad brought an influx of settlers, established townsites, and provided a means to ship cattle and crops to market, effectively ending the open-range era.
    • Farmers and Fences: The railroad actively promoted land sales to farmers, or “nesters,” who began to plow the prairie and plant cotton, wheat, and sorghum. This shift from ranching to farming led to the classic frontier conflicts over land use and fencing.
    • The Dust Bowl: As part of the Southern Plains, Hall County was severely impacted by the devastating dust storms and drought of the 1930s. This period of economic hardship led many families to abandon their farms and migrate out of the region, creating a significant genealogical event.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

All official county records date from the county’s organization in 1890.

  • County Courthouse: The Hall County Courthouse, 512 W. Main St., Memphis, TX 79245, is the central repository for county records.
    • County Clerk: In Texas, the County Clerk is the primary office for genealogical research. This office holds land records (deeds, mortgages), probate records (wills, estate files), and vital records (birth, death, and marriage).
    • District Clerk: This office maintains the records of the district court, including felony criminal cases, lawsuits, and importantly, divorce records.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Official state registration began in Texas in 1903. Records from 1903 to the present are held by the Hall County Clerk.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage licenses from the county’s organization in 1890 to the present are held by the Hall County Clerk.
  • Libraries and Societies:
    • Memphis Carnegie Library: The public library in Memphis is the best local resource for county histories, family files, cemetery surveys, and microfilm copies of local newspapers like the Hall County Herald.
    • Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum: Located in Canyon (Randall County), this is the premier research institution for the entire Texas Panhandle. Its archives hold extensive collections on ranching history, early settlers, maps, and photographs relevant to Hall County families.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Donley County (north)
    • Collingsworth County (northeast)
    • Childress County (east)
    • Cottle County (southeast)
    • Motley County (south)
    • Briscoe County (west)

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