South Dakota Genealogy

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Overview of South Dakota records

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Overview of South Dakota Genealogy Records

• History: South Dakota was first settled in 1858. It became Dakota Territory in 1861, which was divided into North and South Dakota in 1867, and became a state in 1889.
• Birth records: Statewide registration of births in South Dakota began in 1905 with complete records by 1932. A few birth records were kept in some counties previous to 1905. Birth records from 1905 to the present can be obtained from the South Dakota Department of Health.
• Marriage records: Statewide registration of marriages in South Dakota began in 1905 with complete records by 1932. A few marriage records were kept in some counties previous to 1905. Marriage records from 1905 to the present can be obtained from the South Dakota Department of Health.
• Death records: Statewide registration of deaths in South Dakota began in 1905 with complete records by 1932. A few deaths were recorded in some counties previous to 1905. Death records from 1905 to the present can be obtained from the South Dakota Department of Health.
• Divorce records: Divorce records are kept by the clerk of courts in each county. Divorce records from 1905 to the present can be obtained from the South Dakota Department of Health.
• Census records: The first federal census available for South Dakota is 1860. There are federal censuses publicly available for 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950. There were state censuses taken in 1885 (partial), 1890 (partial), 1905, 1915, 1925, and 1935.
• 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.