Swisher County Obituary Records
Swisher County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Tulia, Texas. Located on the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle, Swisher County has vital records dating from 1903.
Swisher County Overview
Swisher County Clerk Death Records
The Swisher County Clerk's office in Tulia is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Swisher County from 1903 to the present are held here. The clerk accepts in-person and mail requests. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 193, records less than 25 years old require qualified applicant status. Records 25 years or older are open to the public.
Swisher County sits on the flat, windswept High Plains of the Texas Panhandle south of Amarillo. Tulia is the county seat. Irrigated agriculture -- primarily corn, cotton, wheat, and grain sorghum -- drives the economy along with cattle feedlots. The county has a significant Hispanic population engaged in agriculture and food processing. The Ogallala Aquifer underlies the county and makes large-scale irrigation possible. The DSHS online system is available for certified death certificate requests.
| Office | Swisher County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 400, Tulia, TX 79088 |
| Phone | (806) 995-3294 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.swisher.tx.us |
Searching Swisher County Obituaries
Order Swisher County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Swisher County from 1903. For genealogy, FamilySearch at familysearch.org and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov are the main free resources. Legacy.com at legacy.com carries obituary notices from the Tulia Herald and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Swisher County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Tulia courthouse.
Requesting Swisher County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Swisher County Clerk, P.O. Box 400, Tulia, TX 79088. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Swisher County Obituary Records
Swisher County death records from the early 1900s reflect homesteading families who broke sod on the Llano Estacado. The county was organized in 1890, and Tulia grew as a farming supply center on the flat plains. Early settlers came from the Midwest seeking cheap land after the open range cattle era ended. Dry farming of wheat was practiced before the introduction of groundwater irrigation in the mid-20th century. The Dust Bowl hit the county hard in the 1930s, destroying crops and forcing some families to leave. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Swisher County entries.
The Swisher County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Tulia.
The Swisher County Clerk in Tulia maintains death certificates and vital records for this Texas Panhandle county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Swisher County Death Records
Under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 193.003, death certificates must be filed within 10 days. Records under 25 years are restricted per Chapter 193. Older records are public. Section 193.007 covers delayed registration. The DSHS at dshs.texas.gov/vs/death maintains the statewide index including Swisher County.
Swisher County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (806) 995-3294, order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov, search at FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Obituaries appear on Legacy.com.
Nearby Counties
Swisher County is located on the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle south of Amarillo.