SCURRY COUNTY, TX HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Scurry County, Texas: A Genealogical Overview

Situated in the rugged plains of West Texas, Scurry County’s history is a dramatic three-act story of the American frontier. It began with the era of the great buffalo herds and the hunters who pursued them, transitioned to a landscape dominated by vast cattle ranches, and was ultimately and permanently transformed by one of the largest post-World War II oil booms in the United States. For genealogists, Scurry County offers a chance to trace ancestors from classic cowboy stock to the determined wildcatters and workers who flocked to the region seeking black gold.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Like many of its neighbors, Scurry County existed for several years as an unorganized territory attached to another county for administrative purposes, a key fact for finding the earliest records.

  • 1876: County Formed: Scurry County was officially created by the Texas Legislature on August 21, 1876, from lands formerly part of Bexar County.
  • 1884: County Organized: For eight years after its creation, the county remained unorganized and was attached to Mitchell County for all judicial and governmental functions. Scurry County organized its own government on June 28, 1884. This is the most important date for research, as all county-level record-keeping began at this time. Any official records for settlers in the area between 1876 and 1884 must be sought in Mitchell County.
  • Parent County: Bexar County.
  • Name Origin: The county was named for William Read Scurry, a Texas lawyer, politician, and a general in the Confederate Army who was killed at the Battle of Jenkins’ Ferry.
  • County Seat History: The town of Snyder was chosen as the county seat upon organization in 1884 and has held that distinction ever since.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was a prime hunting ground for the nomadic Comanche, who followed the immense herds of American bison that roamed the plains.
  • The Buffalo Hunters: The first significant Anglo-American presence in the area was not ranchers but commercial buffalo hunters in the mid-1870s. The town of Snyder was founded in 1878 by one such hunter, William “Pete” Snyder, who built a trading post of buffalo hides and supplies. The rapid extermination of the buffalo herds cleared the way for the next stage of settlement.
  • The Age of Ranching: By the late 1870s, with the buffalo and Comanche gone, the vast, open grasslands were claimed by cattlemen. Large-scale ranching operations became the county’s economic and cultural backbone for the next several decades.
  • Railroads and Farming: The arrival of the Roscoe, Snyder and Pacific Railway in 1907, followed by the Santa Fe line in 1911, spurred a new wave of settlement. Farmers began to purchase and fence the land, introducing cotton and grain cultivation, though ranching continued to be a major industry.
  • The Great Oil Boom: The single most transformative event in Scurry County’s history began in 1948 with the discovery of the Canyon Reef oil field. This discovery triggered a massive oil boom that captivated the nation. The population of Snyder skyrocketed from roughly 4,000 to an estimated 16,000 in just a few years as workers and fortune-seekers arrived from all over the country, forever altering the county’s economy and demographics.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

All official records are highly centralized at the county courthouse in the city of Snyder.

  • County Courthouse: The Scurry County Courthouse, 1806 25th St., Snyder, TX 79549, is the main repository for historical records.
    • County Clerk: This office is the primary resource for genealogists, holding all land records (deeds, mineral leases), probate records (wills, estates), marriage licenses from 1884, and the county’s birth and death records.
    • District Clerk: This office maintains the records of the district court, including civil and criminal cases, and all divorce proceedings.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Texas began in 1903. The Scurry County Clerk’s office holds the county’s vital statistics registers.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records from the county’s organization in 1884 to the present are held by the County Clerk. Any marriages that might have been recorded between 1876 and 1884 would be located in Mitchell County.
  • Land and Oil Records: Due to the county’s history, land records are exceptionally valuable. They not only show property ownership but also reveal extensive information about oil and gas leases and mineral rights, which can be rich with family information. These are all held by the County Clerk.
  • Libraries and Museums:
    • Scurry County Library: Located in Snyder, the library is the best local resource for genealogical information, including newspaper archives on microfilm, local histories, and family vertical files.
    • Scurry County Museum: An essential destination for understanding the county’s unique history, with exhibits on the buffalo hunters, ranching life, and the monumental oil boom.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Kent County (north)
    • Fisher County (east)
    • Mitchell County (south)
    • Borden County (west)

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