Minnesota Genealogy

USA (1,379,301) > Minnesota (27,545)

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Overview of Minnesota records

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Overview of Minnesota Genealogy Records

• History: Minnesota was first settled in 1823, it became part of Wisconsin Territory in 1836, became Minnesota Territory in 1849, and became a state in 1858.
• Birth records: Birth records were kept in Minnesota starting in 1870, but they were incomplete. Statewide registration of births began in 1900 with complete records by 1915. Birth records from 1900 to the present can be obtained from the Minnesota Department of Health.
• Marriage records: Marriage records were generally kept shortly after the creation of the county. Copies of marriage records can be obtained from the district court administrator's office in the respective county.
• Death records: Death records were kept in Minnesota starting in 1870, but they were incomplete. Statewide registration of deaths began in 1908 with complete records by 1915.  Death records from 1908 to the present can be obtained from the Minnesota Department of Health.
• Divorce records: Divorce records can be obtained from the district court administration offices.
• Census records:The first federal census available for Minnesota is 1820. There are federal censuses publicly available for 1820 (listed with Michigan), 1840 (listed with Wisconsin and Iowa), 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950. There were territorial censuses taken in 1849 and 1857, and state censuses taken in 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, and 1905.
County records: Court, land, probate, naturalization, and tax records were kept by the individual counties.
• Other records: Many cities and towns kept newspapers, records kept by churches, cemeteries, histories, school, city directories, and other records that can be located by using the city pages on this site. Records specific to minority groups can be found in the Minority Records section.
• All records: Use the links on this site to locate online indexes and images of many of the above records.