View source for Nolan County, Texas Genealogy

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Guide to '''Nolan County Texas ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page.''' Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records. 

<div id="fsButtons"><span class="online_records_button">[[Texas Online Genealogy Records]]</span></div><br>

{{Infobox U.S. County
| county = Nolan County
| adoption_sign = Adoption Hidden Ancestors
| county_map = Tx-nolan.png
| state = Texas
| state_map = Texas.png 
| founded year = 1876
| founded date = August 21
| seat wl = Sweetwater
| building image = TexasNolanCourthouse.jpg
}} 

== County Information ==

==== Description ====  

The county was named for Philip Nolan, one of the first American traders to visit Texas. The County is located in the west-central area of the state.<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Nolan, Texas" in "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_County,_Texas.'' accessed 11/22/2019</ref> 

==== County Courthouse  ====

[http://www.co.nolan.tx.us/ Nolan County Courthouse]<br> 100 E 3rd Street; PO Box 98<br> Sweetwater, TX 79556-4511<br> Phone: 325-235-2462&nbsp;<br><br>County Clerk has birth, death and court records from 1900,<br>marriage records from 1881, probate records from 1884 <br>and land records from from 1889; District Clerk has&nbsp;divorce<br>records; County Justice of&nbsp;Peace has burial records<ref name="HBG">''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America'', 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Nolan County, Texas. Page 671 {{WorldCat|50140092|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; {{FHL|1049485|item|disp=FHL Book 973 D27e 2002}}.</ref> 

'''County Clerk''' 

100 East 3rd St. Ste 108<br>Sweetwater 79556<br>Phone: 325-235-2462<br>Fax: 325-235-4635 

'''District Clerk''' 

100 East 3rd St. Ste 200<br>Sweetwater 79556<br>Phone: 325-235-2111<br> 

====Nolan County, Texas Record Dates====

{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| bgcolor="#e4d8e5" align="center" colspan="7" | <center>'''Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records'''<ref>''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America'', 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Nolan County, Texas . Page 658-677 {{WorldCat|50140092|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; {{FHL|1049485|item|disp=FHL 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.</ref></center>
|-
| width="14.2%" bgcolor="#e4d8e5" align="center" | '''[[Nolan County, Texas Genealogy#Birth|Birth*]]'''
| width="14.2%" bgcolor="#e4d8e5" align="center" | '''[[Nolan County, Texas Genealogy#Marriage|Marriage]]'''
| width="14.2%" bgcolor="#e4d8e5" align="center" | '''[[Nolan County, Texas Genealogy#Death|Death*]]'''
| width="14.2%" bgcolor="#e4d8e5" align="center" | '''[[Nolan County, Texas Genealogy#Court Records|Court]]'''
| width="14.2%" bgcolor="#e4d8e5" align="center" | '''[[Nolan County, Texas Genealogy#Land and Property Records|Land]]'''
| width="14.2%" bgcolor="#e4d8e5" align="center" | '''[[Nolan County, Texas Genealogy#Probate Records|Probate]]'''
| width="14.2%" bgcolor="#e4d8e5" align="center" | '''[[Nolan County, Texas Genealogy#Census Records|Census]]'''
|-
| width="14.2%" align="center" |1900
| width="14.2%" align="center" |1881
| width="14.2%" align="center" |1900
| width="14.2%" align="center" |1900
| width="14.2%" align="center" |1889
| width="14.2%" align="center" |1884
| width="14.2%" align="center" |1829
|-
| colspan="7"| <center>*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1903. <br>General compliance by the 1930s.</center>
|}

<br>

== History  ==

'''1879--'''The first post office was established at Sweetwater in 1879. 

==== Parent County  ====

'''1876--'''Nolan County was created 21 August 1876 from Bexar Land District.<br> 
*'''County seat:''' Sweetwater <ref>''The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America'',10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).</ref> 

==== Boundary Changes  ====

See an interactive map of Nolan County [http://www.n2genealogy.com/texas/tx-maps.html boundary changes]. 

==== Record Loss  ====
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

== Places / Localities  ==

'''Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog''' 

*{{FHL|United States, Texas, Nolan, Maryneal|place|disp=Maryneal}} 
*{{FHL|United States, Texas, Nolan, Sweetwater|place|disp=Sweetwater}}

==== Populated Places ====

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit [https://Texas.hometownlocator.com/tx/Nolan Hometown Locator]. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Nolan County, Texas," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_County,_Texas,
Last accessed 18 August 2019.</ref>

{{populated places
<!--cities column------------------->
| cities-col1=<div>
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwell,_Texas Blackwell]‡</div>
| cities-col2=<div>
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roscoe,_Texas Roscoe]</div>
| cities-col3=<div>
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetwater,_Texas Sweetwater] (county seat)</div>
<!--unincorp column------------------->
| unincorp-col1=<div>
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryneal,_Texas Maryneal]</div>
| unincorp-col2=<div>
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan,_Texas Nolan]</div>
| unincorp-col3=
<!--ghost towns column------------------->
| ghost-col1=<div>
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_Creek,_Texas Bitter Creek]</div>
| ghost-col2=<div>
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wastella,_Texas Wastella]</div>
| ghost-col3=
}}
<p>‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties</p>

==== Neighboring Counties  ====

[[Coke County, Texas Genealogy|Coke]] {{•}} [[Fisher County, Texas Genealogy|Fisher]] {{•}} [[Jones County, Texas Genealogy|Jones]] {{•}} [[Mitchell County, Texas Genealogy|Mitchell]] {{•}} [[Runnels County, Texas Genealogy|Runnels]] {{•}} [[Scurry County, Texas Genealogy|Scurry]] {{•}} [[Taylor County, Texas Genealogy|Taylor]]

== Resources  ==

==== African American  ====

*'''1865 - 1870''' [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1989155 Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1870](images) - FamilySearch 
*[http://sites.rootsweb.com/~aagriots/TX/texas.htm Texas African American Griots] USGenWeb 
*[http://www.afrigeneas.com AfriGeneas] African Ancestored Genealogy

==== Cemeteries  ====

Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information. 

{| width="75%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2" border="1" 
|-
| width="30%" bgcolor="#E0E0E0" align="center" | '''Tombstone Transcriptions Online''' 
| width="30%" bgcolor="#E0E0E0" align="center" | '''Tombstone Transcriptions in Print'''
| width="30%" bgcolor="#E0E0E0" align="center" | '''List of Cemeteries in the county'''
|-
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial FindAGrave]  
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | {{FHL|506063|subject-id|disp=Family History Library}} 
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery-browse/USA/Texas/Nolan-County?id=county_2696 FindAGrave]
|-
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://www.linkpendium.com/nolan-tx-genealogy/cem/ Linkpendium]
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=su%3ACemeteries+Texas+Nolan+County.&qt=results_page WorldCat] 
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://www.usgwtombstones.org/texas/nolan.html Tombstone Project]
|-
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [https://billiongraves.com/search# BillionGraves (name)] 
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" |  
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://www.cemeteries-of-tx.com/Wtx/Nolan/ListNolan.html Cemeteries of TX]
|-
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/nolan/noltoc.htm GenWeb Archives] 
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" |  
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://texascemeteries.org/nolan/nolan-county-cemeteries Texas Cemeteries]
|-
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [https://billiongraves.com/search/cemetery BillionGraves]
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" |  
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://texasgravestones.org/cemeteries.php?selected_cid=177 TX Gravestones]
|-
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://txgenwebcounties.org/nolan/cemeteries_page.html TXGenWeb]
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | 
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://www.interment.net/us/tx/nolan.htm Interment]
|-
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [http://www.namesinstone.com/CemeteryList.aspx Names in Stone]
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | 
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" | [https://www.familysearch.org/research/places/?reqParents=396081&reqParentsLabel=Nolan%2C%20Texas%2C%20United%20States&reqParentsType=209&reqTypes=20&reqTypeLabel=Cemetery FamilySearch Places]
|-
| bgcolor="#F0F0F0" colspan="3"|See [[Texas Cemeteries|Texas Cemeteries]] for more information. 
|}

''Additional Cemetery Sources''

*[http://africanamericancemeteries.com/tx/ African American Cemeteries Online]&nbsp;~ Partial index/transcriptions of African American cemeteries 
*[http://www.texasescapes.com/DEPARTMENTS/Grave_Thoughts/TexasCemeteries.htm Texas Escapes] Listing of Texas cemeteries with transcriptions and lots of pictures.

==== Census  ====

{{US Census population
|footnote = Source: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_County,_Texas#Demographics "Wikipedia.org".]
|1880= 640
|1890= 1573
|1900= 2611
|1910= 11999
|1920= 10868
|1930= 19323
|1940= 17309
|1950= 19808
|1960= 18963
|1970= 16220
|1980= 17359
|1990= 16594
|2000= 15802
|2010= 15216
}}

==== Church  ====

{{TX Church Intro}} 

*[http://www.churchangel.com/texas.htm Texas Christian Church Directory ]~ ChurchAngel 
*[https://www.catholicdirectory.com/united-states/texas Catholic Parishes in Texas]
<br>
'''List of Churches and Church Parishes'''
*'''[https://www.familysearch.org/research/places/?reqParents=396081&reqParentsLabel=Nolan%2C%20Texas%2C%20United%20States&reqParentsType=209&reqTypeGroups=3&reqTypeLabel=Churches%20and%20Church%20Parishes FamilySearch Places]''' <br>

==== Court  ====

*[[Texas, Nolan County, Civil Court Minutes and Case Files - FamilySearch Historical Records|Texas, Nolan County, Civil Court Minutes and Case Files - FamilySearch Historical Records]]

==== Land  ====

{{TX Land}} 

==== Local Histories  ====

{{TX County Histories}} 

*[http://sites.rootsweb.com/~txnolan/Biographies.html Nolan County Biographies]&nbsp; ~&nbsp; TXGenWeb 
*[http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcn04 Nolan County History] from the Handbook of Texas Online. 
*[http://www.hiddenancestors.com/museums.html Texas Museums]&nbsp; ~&nbsp; List of all museums in Texas&nbsp; ~&nbsp; Hidden Ancestors

==== Maps  ====

{{TX Neighboring Counties Intro|county={{TX Nolan County}}}} 

*[http://sites.rootsweb.com/~txnolan/Maps.htm Sweetwater Maps]&nbsp; ~&nbsp; TXGenWeb 
*[http://www.hiddenancestors.com/maps.html Historical Maps]&nbsp; ~&nbsp; From the Republic to the Turn of the Century&nbsp; ~&nbsp; Hidden Ancestors 
*[http://www.txgenweb.org/tx/txmap.htm Texas Counties Map]. Click on the county to go to the TXGenWeb site.
*[https://www.familysearch.org/research/places/?reqParents=396081&reqParentsLabel=Nolan%2C%20Texas%2C%20United%20States&reqParentsType=209&reqTypeGroups=8&reqTypeLabel=Cities%20and%20Towns FamilySearch Places]:Cities and Towns- [[FamilySearch Places|How to Use FS Places]]

==== Military  ====

*'''1838 - 1900''' - [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2059 Texas Muster Roll Index Cards] at [http://home.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] — index and images $
*[http://www.hiddenancestors.com/military.html Military Resources] ~ Links to research Civil War to Operation Enduring Freedom ~ Hidden Ancestors 
*[http://www.hiddenancestors.com/Fallen_Heroes.htm Fallen Heroes] Partial Index of casualties from Civil War to Operation Enduring Freedom ~ Hidden Ancestors 
*[http://www.hiddenancestors.com/veterans.htm Honoring Our Veterans] ~ Partial index of veterans from Civil War to Operation Enduring Freedom ~ Hidden Ancestors

=====Mexican-American War=====
 
*'''1845 - 1848''' - [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2058 US American Volunteer Soldiers Mexican War] at [http://home.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] — index $

=====Civil War=====

*'''1861 - 1865''' - {{RecordSearch|1932381|Texas, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index
*'''1861 - 1865''' - {{RecordSearch|1932425|Texas, Civil War Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index 
*[https://www.tsl.texas.gov/apps/arc/pensions/ Confederate Pension Applications] ~ Texas State Library and Archives Commission 
*[http://sites.rootsweb.com/~txnolan/Military/confederate_pension_appl.htm Confederate Pension Applications]  TXGenWeb 

=====World War I=====

*'''1917 - 1920''' - {{RecordSearch|2202707|Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index and images
*[http://sites.rootsweb.com/~txnolan/military.htm WWI Registration]  TXGenWeb 

=====World War II=====

*[http://sites.rootsweb.com/~txnolan/military.htm WWII Enlistments] TXGenWeb

==== Newspapers  ====

{{TX Newspaper Abstracts|Nolan}} 

*[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/ Newspaperarchive.com] ($) has historical newspapers available on-line. Their database has digitized [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/BrowseLocations.aspx?cntry=7&st=94&ci=30 {{nowrap|Abilene newspapers}}] that may include residents from Nolan County. 
*Wikipedia has a list of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_online_newspaper_archives online newspaper archives] for Texas. 
*[http://www.hometownnews.com/tx.htm Home Town News]&nbsp; -&nbsp; Texas Newspaper Index with links 
*[http://newslink.org/txnews.html Newslink]&nbsp; -&nbsp; Texas Newspaper List (sorted by publication frequency) 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20171116200030/http://theoldentimes.com/index.html The Olden Times]&nbsp;&nbsp; -&nbsp;&nbsp; Historic Texas News Online

==== Obituaries  ====

*[http://www.hiddenancestors.com/obituaries.html Obituary Resources] ~ Links to research and locate obituaries ~&nbsp; Hidden Ancestors 
*[http://www.usgwarchives.net/obits/tx/obitstx.htm USGenWeb Archives Obituary Project]&nbsp;&nbsp;~&nbsp; Texas 
*[http://www.afrigeneas.com/drdb/ Afrigeneas] ~ African American death notices, obituaries and funeral programs compiled by users from current newspapers and historical sources 
*[http://www.daddezio.com/obituary/depot/OB-TX-NDX.html Obituary Depot&nbsp;] ~&nbsp; Texas Newspaper Citations 
*[http://www.hiddenancestors.com/obituaries.html Obituary Project] ~ Hidden Ancestors 
*[http://sites.rootsweb.com/~obituary/ Obituary Daily Times&nbsp;] ~&nbsp; Citations to over 15,000,000 obituaries including interactive search function

==== Probate  ====

{{TX Probate Intro}} 

'''Online Probate Records''' 

*'''1800 – 1990''' {{RecordSearch|2016287|Texas Probate Records 1800-1990}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search/ FamilySearch] — images
*'''1800 – 2000''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2115 Texas Wills and Probate Records 1800-2000] at [http://search.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] — index and images $ 

*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/category.aspx?cat=36 Search Tax, Criminal, Land and Wills Records] ~ Ancestry.com (subscription)

==== Taxation  ====

{{TX Tax Intro}}
*'''1846-1910''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/texas-county-tax-rolls-1846-1910 Texas, County Tax Rolls 1846-1910] at findmypast ($) — index and images

==== Vital Records  ====

{{TX Vital Intro}} 

===== Birth  =====

''Online Birth Indexes and Records'' 

*'''1903-1935''' [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1803956 Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1935] (images and index) - FamilySearch<br> 
*'''1903-1997''' [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1949342 Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997] (index) - FamilySearch<br>
*'''1926-1995''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10008/texas-births-1926-1995?s=275764761 Texas Births, 1926 - 1995] at MyHeritage ($) — index

===== Marriage  =====

''Online Marriage Indexes and Records'' 

*'''1802-2010''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/united-states-marriages?state=texas%2ctx Texas, United States Marriages] at [http://findmypast.com/ FindMyPast] — index $
*'''1814-1909 and 1966-2011''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8795 Texas Marriage Collection] at [http://home.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] — index $ 
*'''1837-1965''' {{RecordSearch|1803985|Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965}} at [https://familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index and images
*'''1837-1973''' {{RecordSearch|1681052|Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973}} at [https://familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index
*'''1837-1977''' {{RecordSearch|1803987|Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977}} at [https://familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index
*'''1837-1977''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60183 Texas Select County Marriage Index 1837-1977] at [http://home.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] — index $
*'''1966-2005''' [http://www.hiddenancestors.com/Texas/texas_marriage_records.htm Texas Marriage Records] - Hidden Ancestors 
*'''1966-2010''' [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://familysearch.org/searchapi/search/collection/2031191 Texas, Marriages] - FamilySearch record collection
*'''1966-2016''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10069/texas-marriages-divorces?utm_source=organic_blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=supersearch&tr_funnel=supersearch&tr_country=US&tr_creative=dec19secondhalf&utm_content=dec19secondhalf Texas Marriages and Divorces] at MyHeritage ($) — index

===== Death  =====

''Online Death Indexes and Records'' 

*'''1890-1976''' [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1983324 Texas Death Records [with images]] Name index and images of statewide death certificates. The name index has been created by FamilySearch and is tied to images of the Texas death certificates. Few certificates are available prior to 1903.
*'''1903-1973''' {{RecordSearch|1681049|Texas Deaths and Burials}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search/ FamilySearch.org] — index 
*'''1903-1982''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2272 Texas Death Certificates] at [http://home.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] — index and images $
*'''1903-2000''' [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1949337 ''Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000''] (index) - FamilySearch<br> 
*'''1964-1998''' [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1375599 Texas Death Index | Texas, Death Index 1964 - 1998] FamilySearch Historical Records Name index to Texas Statewide Death Certificates or four million people who have died since 1964. 
*'''1977-1986''' {{RecordSearch|1930157|Texas Deaths}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search/ FamilySearch.org] — index

===== Divorce  =====

*[http://whttp://www.hiddenancestors.com/Texas/texas_divorce_records.htm Texas Divorce Records] ~ Hidden Ancestors 
*'''1968-2010''' {{RecordSearch|2038378|Texas Divorce Index}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search/ FamilySearch.org] — index 
*'''1968-2011''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8794 Texas Divorces] at [http://home.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] — index $

<br> 
*'''1850-1930''' [http://www.usgwcensus.org/states/texas/ USGenWeb Census Project] Texas
*'''1966-2016''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10069/texas-marriages-divorces?utm_source=organic_blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=supersearch&tr_funnel=supersearch&tr_country=US&tr_creative=dec19secondhalf&utm_content=dec19secondhalf Texas Marriages and Divorces] at MyHeritage ($) — index

== Societies and Libraries  ==

'''Nolan County Genealogical Assn.'''<br>c/o County-City Library<br>206 Elm<br>PO Box 780<br> Sweetwater, TX 79556 <br>[http://www.genealogyinc.com/texas/nolan-county/#sthash.j120j4nF.dpuf Website]<br><br> 

'''County-City Library'''<br>206 Elm St<br>Sweetwater, TX 79556<br>Telephone Number: 325-235-4978<br>[http://www.sweetwaterlibrary.org/ Website] 

*[http://www.daddezio.com/society/hill/SH-TX-NDX.html Society Hill]&nbsp; ~&nbsp; Links and addresses to Texas genealogical and historical societies

==== Family History Centers  ====

{{Family History Centers Intro}}

== Websites  ==

*[http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/nolan/noltoc.htm Nolan County Archives]&nbsp; ~&nbsp; USGenWeb Archives Project 
*[http://txgenweb.org/ TXGenWeb project]. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select&nbsp;the county. 
*[http://usgwarchives.net/tx/txfiles.htm USGenWeb Texas Archives] Vital statistics, maps, obituaries, Bible records, tombstone transcriptions and many other records. 
*{{FHL|Texas Nolan|subject|disp=FamilySearch Catalog}} — The catalog is genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications)  This catalog is different than the indexed Historical Records.

== References  ==

<references /> 

{{Texas|Texas}} 

[[Category:Nolan_County,_Texas]] [[Category:Texas_Counties]]