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Welcome to Texas Genealogy Trails!
*Volunteers dedicated to putting free data online.*
This County Website is available for adoption.
If interested in joining our group, view our
Volunteer Information Page and
contact Kim.
[Basic webpage design knowledge and a desire to transcribe data is
required]
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In 1876 the state legislature
identified and named the county, but it was not organized until
1890, with the town of LaPlata as the original county seat. The
county was named for Erastus "Deaf" Smith (1787-1837), a
partially-deaf scout and soldier who served in the Texas Revolution.
He was the first to reach the Alamo after its fall. |
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The earliest prehistoric
inhabitants of these prairies gave way to Plains Apaches, who in
turn were forced out by the warlike Comanches and Kiowas. In 1787,
and again in 1788, José Mares followed Tierra Blanca Creek in his
search for a route from Santa Fe to San Antonio.
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The Indian wars of the 1870s, culminating in the Red
River War of 1874-75, led to the nomadic red man's removal to the
Indian Territory. Shortly thereafter ranchers began to appear in the
area, and in 1876 the Texas legislature formed Deaf Smith County
from the Bexar District. The census counted thirty-eight people in
the county in 1880. By 1890 the county's population had increased
to 179, and the census found seventeen farms or ranches in the area,
seven of which were smaller than 500 acres. |
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Cities
and towns
Hereford
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ONLINE DATA |
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Mockingbird
State Bird
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