Texas land records are very historic. The history of the land records offers an interesting look at their origin and destination. The records can vary from country to county and can be found in a variety of quantities. Some records have been maintained very well, while others have not.
Several jurisdictions created the Texas land records. These jurisdictions were the Republic of Texas, the State of Texas, Mexico, and Spain. In 1836, 11 land districts were formed. Each district contained several counties, totaling 254 that exist today. After Texas gained its statehood, land grants that were previously granted remained honored. After 1836, over 150 million acres were distributed.
Before this time, Texas was not a federal public land state. There were no real records kept of the land distribution. Early land records of distribution before this time can be found at the Texas GLO. Some records that were found there date as far back at 1700s, and should include some land records.
There were several different types of land grants that were issued in Texas. Here is a description of a few and how they affected the land records
Over the years, the Texas county boundaries have changed. If you are trying to locate the land records for a certain area, it is important to go back to the original county boundaries in order to determine the correct grant land records for that piece of land. County names have also changed, making the location of these land records difficult.
Each county has their own records. It is the responsibility of these counties to maintain the land records. This does mean however, that since each county is responsible for their records, there are no records at the state level.
There are 26 depositories across the state containing the different land records. These records are made up of originals and manuscripts. Of the 254 county courthouses, only around 80 have had an inventory done of their records. Fires and floods have destroyed many records, so it is difficult to determine or find some exact records.
In some cases, grantee and grantor indexes exist and can help in finding the correct land record information. Each county clerk office should include a copy of these files and be able to direct you to the correct place to find the land records you are looking for.