Becker County, Minnesota Genealogy

United States

Minnesota

Becker County

Guide to Becker County, Minnesota ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Minnesota Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Detroit Lakes Organized: March 1, 1871 Parent County(s): Cass, Pembina (now Kittson) Neighboring Counties Clay  • Clearwater  • Hubbard  • Mahnomen  • Norman  • Otter Tail  • Wadena See County Maps Courthouse Location Map Adoption This page is available for adoption

County Information

Description

The County was named for George Loomis Becker. Becker was one of three men elected to congress when Minnesota became a state, but since Minnesota could only send two, Becker elected to stay behind, and he was promised to have a county named after him. The County is located in the west-central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Becker County Courthouse
931 Lake Ave
Detroit Lakes, MN 56502
Phone: 218-846-7304
Becker County Website

County Recorder has birth, marriage and death records from 1871, divorce, probate and court records from 1940.

Becker County, Minnesota Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1871	1871	1871	1940	1872	1940	1836
*Statewide registration started for births in 1900 and deaths in 1908. General compliance by 1915.

Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes

Parent Counties: Formed from Cass and Pembina (now Kittson) Counties March 18, 1858 County seat: Detroit Lakes Organized Date: March 1, 1871 Interactive Map of Minnesota County Formation History (1790-1897) - animated maps illustrating Minnesota county boundary changes Minnesota Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library

Populated Places

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Cities
Audubon Callaway Detroit Lakes	Frazee Lake Park Ogema	Wolf Lake
Unincorporated communities
Bucks Mill Cormorant Goldenrod Midway	Oak Lake Pine Point Ponsford Richwood	Rochert Shoreham Snellman
Census-designated places
Elbow Lake Osage	Pine Point	White Earth
Townships
Atlanta Audubon Burlington Callaway Carsonville Cormorant Cuba Detroit Eagle View Erie Evergreen Forest Green Valley	Hamden Height of Land Holmesville Lake Eunice Lake Park Lake View Maple Grove Osage Pine Point Riceville Richwood Round Lake Runeberg	Savannah Shell Lake Silver Leaf Spring Creek Spruce Grove Sugar Bush Toad Lake Two Inlets Walworth White Earth Wolf Lake

Resources

Biographies

• Wilcox, Alvin H., A pioneer history of Becker County, Minnesota: including a brief account of its natural history ...,(Saint Paul, Minnesota: Pioneer Press Co. (Minnesota), 1907). Digital image at FamilySearch Digital Library, Google Books, HathiTrust; Indexed at Ancestry ($).

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Becker County, Minnesota online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Becker MNGenWeb Billion Graves Find A Grave Interment.net MN Tombstone Transcription Project USGenWeb Archives
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	Family History Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	FamilySearch Places Find A Grave
See Minnesota Cemeteries for more information.

Census Records

For links to Federal, State, and Territorial censuses, see Minnesota Census.

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1860	386	—
1870	308	−20.2%
1880	5,218	1594.2%
1890	9,401	80.2%
1900	14,375	52.9%
1910	18,840	31.1%
1920	22,851	21.3%
1930	22,503	−1.5%
1940	26,562	18.0%
1950	24,836	−6.5%
1960	23,959	−3.5%
1970	24,372	1.7%
1980	29,336	20.4%
1990	27,881	−5.0%
2000	30,000	7.6%
2010	32,504	8.3%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

State Census

• 1835-1890 Minnesota, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1835-1890 at Ancestry ($)
• 1849-1905 Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 at Ancestry ($)
• 1865 Minnesota State Census, 1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1885 Minnesota State Census, 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1905 Minnesota State Census, 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records

Most church records are held by individual churches. Some denominations are gathering their records into a central repository. For more information, see Minnesota Church Records.

• FamilySearch Places
  

Emigration and Immigration

• 1912-1956 Minnesota Passenger and Crew Lists, 1912-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Funeral Homes

• 1903-1991 Minnesota, Becker County, funeral records, 1903-1991 at FamilySearch Catalog; Scroll down to Film/Digital Notes, then select the camera icon to view images.

Genealogies

• 1880-2005 Minnesota, Becker County, family files and scrapbooks, 1880-2005 at FamilySearch Catalog; Scroll down to Film/Digital Notes, then select the camera icon to view images.

Land and Property Records

The county register of deeds keeps land records once the land was transferred to private ownership. Abstracts and indexes for these records are generally available at the county courthouse.

Online Land Indexes and Records

• Pre-1908 Minnesota, Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 at Ancestry ($)

Local Histories

Local histories are available for Becker County. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Minnesota Local Histories.

• Minnesota County History Name Index at Ancestry ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
• Minnesota Department of Transportation, Becker County municipality and township maps.

Military Records

Civil War

• 1861-1865 U.S., Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1861-1865 Minnesota, Civil War Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1861-1865 Minnesota Civil War Soldiers at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1861-1917 United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection.
• 1861-1934 U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 at Ancestry (Free collection)

Spanish-American War

• 1898-1899 Minnesota Volunteers in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection at Ancestry ($)
• 1898-1899 Minnesota, Spanish American War Muster Rolls and Casualty Lists, 1898-1899 at Ancestry (Free Index)

World War I

• 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1918-1941 Minnesota, World War I Records, 1918-1941 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection.
• 1917-1918 Daniel Nelson, comp and published by. An honor roll : containing a pictorial record of the men and women from Becker County, Minnesota, U.S.A., who served in the great war : 1917--1918--1919.Detroit, Minnesota : D. Nelson, 1919?

World War II

• 1940-1947 Minnesota, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1940-1947 U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 at Ancestry ($)
• 1940-1947 Minnesota, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at Ancestry ($)

Naturalization and Citizenship

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

• 1849-1985 Web: Minnesota, Naturalization Index, 1849-1985 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1872-1962 Minnesota Naturalization Records and Indexes, 1872-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
• 1880-1920 Minnesota, Federal Naturalization Records, 1880-1920 at Ancestry ($)
• 1918 Web: Minnesota, Alien Registration Index, 1918 at Ancestry (Free collection)

Newspapers

• Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub at Minnesota Historical Society — narrow to county (55 listed) or city (106 listed), search for surname, limit by date.

Obituaries

• 1865-2006 Minnesota Obituaries 1865-2006 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1891-2003 Web: Minnesota, Obituary Index, 1891-2003 at Ancestry (Free collection)

Probate Records

Probate records may include wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. They may include the decedent’s date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, etc. See Minnesota Probate Records for additional information.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1801-1925 Minnesota, Wills and Probate Records, 1801-1925 at Ancestry ($)
• 1849-1985 Minnesota Will Records, 1849-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection

Social Security Records

• 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
• 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Tax Records

Since Minnesota tax records include only persons who owned taxable property, many residents were not included. Still they complement land records and can be used in place of missing censuses or the years between censuses. There may also be gaps. For more information, see the wiki page Minnesota Taxation.

Vital Records

Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents.

A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred. See also Minnesota Vital Records.

Birth

• 1840-1980 Minnesota, U.S., Births and Christenings Index, 1840-1980 at Ancestry ($)
• 1900-1934 Minnesota People Records Search - Births at Minnesota Historical Society - free index, images ($)
• 1900-1934 Minnesota, Birth Index, 1900-1934 at MyHeritage; index ($)
• 1935-2000 Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index, 1935-2000 at Ancestry ($)

Marriage

• 1850-2019 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System, 1850-2019 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1860-1949 Minnesota, County Marriages, 1860-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1885-present Minnesota Official Marriage System at MOMS.mn.gov; search by county, name or date, and request copy.
• 1970-2003 Minnesota Marriage Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives ($)
• 1976-2003 Minnesota, Marriages, 1976-2003 at MyHeritage; index ($)

Death

• 1850-2001 Minnesota, County Deaths, 1850-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1887-2001 Minnesota Deaths, 1887-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1904-2001 Minnesota People Records Search - Deaths at Minnesota Historical Society - free index, images ($)
• 1904-2001 Minnesota, Death Index, 1904-2001 at MyHeritage; index ($)
• 1908-2017 Minnesota, U.S., Death Index, 1908-2017 at Ancestry ($)

Divorce

• 1970-1995 Minnesota, U.S., Divorce Index, 1970-1995 at Ancestry ($)
• 1970-2003 Minnesota Divorce Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives ($)

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Becker County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Minnesota Archives and Libraries.

Family History Centers

Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries

• Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
• FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
  

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

• Alexandria Minnesota Family History Center
• Bemidji Minnesota Family History Center
• Detroit Lakes Minnesota Family History Center
• Fargo North Dakota Family History Center
• Lake Agassiz Regional Library - Moorhead Public Library - an affiliate library.
• Park Rapids Minnesota Library - an affiliate library.

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Becker County. For state-wide library facilities, see Minnesota Archives and Libraries.

Detroit Lakes Library
1000 Washington Ave
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Phone: 218-847-2168
Website

Museums

Becker County Historical Society & Museum
714 Summit Ave
P.O. Box 622
Detroit Lakes, MN 56502
Phone: 218-847-2938
Website

Societies

Listed below are societies in Becker County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Minnesota Societies.

Becker County Historical Society & Museum
714 Summit Ave
P.O. Box 622
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Phone: 218-847-2938
Email: info@beckercountyhistory.org
Website

Websites

• The Becker County MNGenWeb Project, a member of The MNGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
• Minnesota Historical Society
• Iron Range Research Center The Iron Range Research Center contains one of the largest collections of genealogical and local history research materials in the Upper Midwest and includes census, naturalization records, passenger arrival records, mining company newsletters, and a survey of Women in Industry taken in 1919, among many others.
• USGenWeb Archives for Becker County.
• Cyndi's List: Becker County
• FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access.

The collection is free on this subscription website.

FamilySearch affiliate libraries may have access to center-only databases, but do not always have all services normally provided by a family history center.