Swisher County, TX Property Records

    Swisher County is a South Plains county in the Texas Panhandle. Its population at the 2020 U.S. Census was 6,971, with 2025 estimates placing it near 6,703 and declining. The county seat is Tulia; Happy and Kress are the other incorporated communities. The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1890. It is named for James G. Swisher, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.

    The housing market is cheap and slow. The median home value is approximately $100,000, well below the Texas statewide average of approximately $298,000. Homes average roughly 90–174 days on the market, depending on property type, reflecting limited buyer demand in a declining-population county.

    The median household income is approximately $56,607. According to Federal Reserve Economic Data, an estimated 26–30% of households are cost-burdened. The Swisher County Clerk and District Clerk functions are handled through a combined office at the courthouse in Tulia. The Clerk's office also maintains its own website.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    All official land records in Swisher County are maintained by the Swisher County Clerk. The County Clerk and District Clerk functions are combined in a single office at the Swisher County Courthouse in Tulia, Texas.

    What County Property Records Include

    The County Clerk maintains all instruments affecting the ownership and encumbrance of real property. Recorded documents include:

    • Deeds: Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, special warranty deeds, trustee deeds, and correction deeds.

    • Deeds of Trust: The primary mortgage instrument in Texas conveys a security interest to a trustee on behalf of a lender.

    • Releases and Reconveyances: Discharge instruments releasing liens or deeds of trust once obligations are satisfied.

    • Oil and Gas Leases: Mineral leases, assignments, ratifications, and releases.

    • Easements and Rights-of-Way: Pipeline easements, utility easements, and access rights.

    • Mechanic's and Materialman's Liens: Filed under Chapter 53, Texas Property Code.

    • Powers of Attorney: Including durable and real-property-specific instruments.

    • Assignments: Including assignments of leases, rents, and mineral interests.

    • Lis Pendens: Notices of pending litigation affecting title.

    • Subdivision Plats: Plat maps of subdivisions within the county.

    How to Access Swisher County Property Records

    Online Access

    Search Texasfile and select Swisher County. GIS and appraisal data. The Clerk's office also provides county information.

    In Person

    Visit the Swisher County Courthouse at 119 S. Maxwell Ave., Tulia, TX 79088 during office hours. Email attachments must be in PDF or ZIP format.

    By Phone

    Call (806) 995-3504 during business hours.

    By Mail

    Mail requests to P.O. Box 8, Tulia, TX 79088 with instrument details, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

    What's Not at the County Clerk's Office

    • Property Appraisal: Swisher County Appraisal District (Swisher CAD), 130 N. Armstrong Ave., Tulia, TX 79088. Phone: (806) 995-4118. Email: swishercad@gmail.com. Website: swisher-cad.org.

    • Property Taxes: Swisher County Tax Assessor-Collector (Deborah Lemons), 119 S. Maxwell Ave., Room 104, Tulia, TX 79088. Phone: (806) 995-3513.

    • Water District: The High Plains Underground Water Conservation District governs groundwater rights relevant to irrigated agricultural properties.

    • Texas RRC: RRC for any oil and gas activity (limited in Swisher County).

    Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed Online

    To research a property deed using online resources:

    • Search TexasFile: Go to Texasfile and select the county. Search by grantor/grantee name, document type, and date range.

    • Identify the instrument: Note the volume and page number or instrument number and recording date.

    • Retrieve a copy: Download images if available. If not, contact the County Clerk at (806) 995-3504 or mail a request with instrument details and applicable fee to P.O. Box 8, Tulia, TX 79088.

    • Verify appraisal data: Cross-reference the parcel with the county appraisal district to confirm assessed value, ownership, and exemption status.

    • Check mineral interests: For properties with oil and gas activity, search the Texas RRC for well locations and production data.

    • Confirm tax status: Verify current tax payment history with the County Tax Assessor-Collector.

    Cities & Towns in Swisher County

    • Tulia: County seat.

    • Happy: Small community known for its slogan "The Town Without a Frown.".

    • Kress: Small agricultural community.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    County-Specific Nuances

    • Combined County/District Clerk office: The County Clerk and District Clerk functions are handled through a single combined office at the courthouse. When contacting the office, specify whether your inquiry relates to recorded real property instruments (County Clerk function) or court records (District Clerk function)

    • Ogallala Aquifer dependency: Swisher County agriculture depends on Ogallala Aquifer irrigation. Water rights instruments are increasingly significant for understanding long-term land use and value. Search for underground water district instruments when researching agricultural parcels.

    • Feedlot operations and agricultural easements: The county's dominant feedlot economy produces agricultural lease and easement instruments that may encumber rural land. Search for these instruments in addition to standard deed and mortgage records.

    • Declining population, thin market: With a population of under 7,000 and falling, monthly sales volumes are low. Aggregate statistics from real estate platforms are unreliable. Use appraisal district assessed values as the more stable reference point.

    • Texas uses a County Clerk, not a Recorder of Deeds: The County Clerk is the statutory custodian of all recorded land instruments under the Texas Local Government Code.

    • Texas uses deeds of trust, not traditional mortgages: Search for "deed of trust" rather than "mortgage" when examining encumbrances.

    • Severed mineral estates are common: A deed to the surface does not convey mineral rights unless explicitly stated. Mineral ownership must be traced through a separate chain of instruments.

    • Texas homestead rights: Both spouses must sign a deed or deed of trust conveying or encumbering the homestead, even if the title is in only one spouse's name.

    • Community property state: Property acquired during marriage is generally owned equally by both spouses.

    • Agricultural land exemptions: Land qualifying for ag appraisal is valued on productive capacity rather than market value. Assessed values may be substantially lower than market value.

    Typical Contents of a Swisher County Property Record

    • Deeds:

      • Grantor and grantee names

      • Full legal description

      • Consideration.

      • warranty covenants.

      • Acknowledgment.

      • Recording volume and page.

    • Deeds of Trust:

      • Borrower.

      • Lender and trustee names.

      • Loan amount.

      • Legal description.

      • Power of sale clause.

    • Agricultural and Water Leases:

      • Lessor and lessee names.

      • Leased premises description.

      • Term.

      • Permitted use.

      • Water rights provisions.

    • Easements:

      • Feedlot and irrigation easements;

      • Parties,

      • Description,

      • Permitted use,

      • Term.

    • Releases:

      • Reference to the original deed of trust.

      • Statement of satisfaction.

      • Lender signature and notarization.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    All instruments affecting real property must be recorded with the County Clerk. Submissions may be made in person, by mail, or through an approved e-recording service. Documents must satisfy the following requirements:

    • Acknowledgment: Must be acknowledged before a notary public; acknowledgment dated on or after the execution date.

    • Legal Description: Complete legal description referencing the appropriate survey, abstract number, and block/lot designations.

    • Legibility: 8.5 x 11 inches, clearly printed, with a 3-inch top margin on the first page for recording notations.

    • Grantor/Grantee Names: All parties identified by full legal name.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    • Identify the parcel: Obtain the legal description from the deed, tax records, or the county appraisal district.

    • Search the grantor/grantee index: Use TexasFile (www.texasfile.com) or the County Clerk's in-office index.

    • Retrieve deed documents: Trace all deeds in the chain of title. Review for legal description accuracy, warranty covenants, and reservations.

    • Search for encumbrances: Search for deeds of trust, mechanic's liens, lis pendens, and other recorded encumbrances.

    • Review oil and gas instruments: Search mineral-related instruments including leases, assignments, ratifications, and pooling agreements. Determine whether the mineral estate has been severed.

    • Check Texas RRC records: Visit www.rrc.texas.gov for active wells, operators, and production data.

    • Verify appraisal and tax status: Confirm assessed value, exemption status, and tax payment history at the appraisal district and Tax Assessor-Collector.

    • Confirm homestead status: Determine whether the property carries a homestead exemption.

    • Review plat records: For subdivided properties, confirm plat recording and verify the legal description.

    • Obtain certified copies: $5.00 first page, $1.00 per additional page.

    Appendix A Municipalities in Swisher County, TX

    Swisher County has 3 incorporated cities that are served by the Swisher County Recorder of Deeds. They include:

    • Cities: Happy, Kress, and Tulia - Which is the county seat.

    • Unincorporated Communities: Center Plains, Claytonville, Eunice, Kaffir, Lakeview, and Vigo Park. Brooks

    All municipalities listed above record land documents with the Swisher County Clerk's Office (Recorder of Deeds). Every incorporated place in Swisher County falls under the same county recorder jurisdiction. (Wikipedia)

    Appendix B Key Contacts & Portals