MEDINA COUNTY, TX HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Medina County, Texas: A Genealogical Overview

Nestled on the border between the Texas Hill Country and the South Texas Plains, Medina County is a unique cultural crossroads. Located just west of San Antonio, its identity was forged not only by Hispanic and Anglo pioneers but, most distinctly, by thousands of European colonists from the Alsace-Lorraine region. Led by empresario Henri Castro, these settlers created a remarkable European cultural island on the Texas frontier. For genealogists, Medina County offers a rich blend of records reflecting its Hispanic heritage, its Alsatian founding, and its classic Texas development.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Medina County was created as part of the Republic of Texas’s efforts to encourage European settlement on its western frontier.

  • 1842: County Formed: Medina County was established on February 12, 1842, from the vast territory of Bexar County. It was formally organized with its own government in August of the same year.
  • Parent County: The county was carved entirely from Bexar County. Any research for individuals or land grants in the area prior to 1842 must be conducted in the records of Bexar County.
  • Subsequent Formations: The county’s original large territory was later reduced to help form other counties, including Bandera County to the north in 1856, as well as portions of Frio and Zavala counties to the south.
  • Name Origin: The county is named for the Medina River, a major waterway that crosses it. The river was named in 1689 by Spanish explorer Alonso de León in honor of Pedro Medina, a noted Spanish cartographer.
  • County Seat History: The county seat has moved once, a shift that reflected the changing economic forces in the county.
    • Castroville: 1844–1892. Founded as the main settlement of Castro’s Colony, it was the natural first choice for the seat of government.
    • Hondo: 1892–Present. The Southern Pacific Railroad bypassed Castroville in 1881, establishing a major depot at Hondo. Hondo quickly grew into the county’s new commercial center, and after a contentious election, it officially became the county seat.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The area was traditional territory for Coahuiltecan peoples and a hunting ground for Lipan Apache and Comanche. The famous El Camino Real de los Tejas (The Royal Road of Texas) passed through the region.
  • Castro’s Colony: The defining event in Medina County’s history was its settlement by European immigrants. In the 1840s, the Republic of Texas contracted with French empresario Henri Castro to bring settlers to the region. He recruited thousands of colonists, primarily from the Alsace region on the French-German border. These settlers, speaking a unique German dialect, founded the towns of:
    • Castroville (1844)
    • Quihi (1845)
    • Vandenburg (1846)
    • D’Hanis (1847)This colonization created a lasting and distinct Alsatian cultural heritage, visible today in Castroville’s unique architecture, language, and customs.
  • The Texas Frontier: For its first three decades, the county was on the edge of the frontier, and its settlements were subject to frequent raids by hostile Native American tribes.
  • The Railroad Era: The arrival of the railroad in 1881 fundamentally changed the county. It spurred the growth of new towns like Hondo and Devine, brought in new waves of Anglo and Hispanic settlers, and shifted the economic focus to large-scale farming and ranching.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

Research in Medina County requires a focus on both civil and crucially important church records.

  • County Courthouse: The Medina County Courthouse, 1100 16th St, Hondo, TX 78861, is the central repository for official records.
    • County Clerk: This office is the primary resource, holding land records (deeds), probate records (wills, estates), marriage licenses, and birth and death records from the county’s organization.
    • District Clerk: This office maintains the records of the district court, including civil case files and all divorce decrees.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Texas began in 1903. The Medina County Clerk holds the local registers.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1842 to the present are held by the County Clerk in Hondo.
  • Church Records: For anyone researching the original Alsatian families, church records are absolutely essential. The colonists were overwhelmingly Roman Catholic, and their church records often predate or are more detailed than civil records. The sacramental registers (baptisms, marriages, burials) of St. Louis Catholic Church in Castroville are a foundational resource for 19th-century Medina County genealogy.
  • Libraries and Societies:
    • Castro Colonies Heritage Association: Located in Castroville, this organization is dedicated to preserving the history of the Alsatian settlers. Its archives and publications are an invaluable resource.
    • Hondo Public Library and other local libraries have local history collections and may have newspaper archives on microfilm.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Bandera County (north)
    • Bexar County (east)
    • Atascosa County (southeast)
    • Frio County (south)
    • Uvalde County (west)

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