Dakota County, Minnesota Genealogy

United States

Minnesota

Dakota County

Guide to Dakota 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: Hastings Organized: October 27, 1849 Parent County(s): Non-County Neighboring Counties Goodhue  • Hennepin  • Pierce (WI)  • Ramsey  • Rice  • Scott  • Washington See County Maps Courthouse Location Map Adoption This page is available for adoption

County Information

Description

The County was named for the Dakota people. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse

Dakota County Courthouse
1590 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033
Phone: 651-437-3191
Dakota County Website

Clerk District Court has birth and death records from 1870, marriage records from 1857, divorce and court records from 1853

Dakota 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
1870	1857	1870	1853	1852	1863	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: Created from non-county October 27, 1849. County seat: Hastings Organized Date: March 5, 1853 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
Apple Valley Burnsville Coates Eagan Farmington Hampton Hastings	Inver Grove Heights Lakeville Lilydale Mendota Mendota Heights Miesville New Trier	Northfield Randolph Rosemount South St. Paul Sunfish Lake Vermillion West St. Paul
Unincorporated communities
Castle Rock Etter	Eureka Center	Waterford
Townships
Castle Rock Douglas Empire Eureka Greenvale	Hampton Marshan Nininger Randolph	Ravenna Sciota Vermillion Waterford
Ghost towns
Lewiston	Nininger

Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Dakota County, Minnesota online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Billion Graves Dakota County Historical Society online cemetery records Find A Grave MNGenWeb Project 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.	%±
1850	584	—
1860	9,093	1457.0%
1870	16,312	79.4%
1880	17,391	6.6%
1890	20,240	16.4%
1900	21,733	7.4%
1910	25,171	15.8%
1920	28,967	15.1%
1930	34,592	19.4%
1940	39,660	14.7%
1950	49,019	23.6%
1960	78,303	59.7%
1970	139,808	78.5%
1980	194,279	39.0%
1990	275,227	41.7%
2000	355,904	29.3%
2010	398,552	12.0%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

State Census

• 1835-1890 Minnesota, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1835-1890 at Ancestry ($)
• 1849-1905 Minnesota, U.S., Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 at Ancestry ($)
• 1865 Minnesota State Census, 1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
• 1875 Minnesota State Census, 1875 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.
• Dakota County Census Index at Dakota County Historical Society — Indexed years -1857, 1860, 1865, 1875, 1880, 1885, 1900, 1920; Native American Census for 1900 and 1910; Registrations for 1918.

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.

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 , U.S., Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 at Ancestry ($)

Local Histories

Local histories are available for Dakota 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.

• Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; History of Dakota and Goodhue counties, Minnesota; (Tucson, Arizona: W.C. Cox & Co., 1974); Volume 1 online at FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust; Volume 2 online at FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust.
• Neill, Edward D.; Williams, John Fletcher; History of Dakota County and the city of Hastings: including the explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, ...; (Tucson, Arizona: W.C. Cox & Co., 1974); Online at FamilySearch Catalog; Scroll down to Film/Digital Notes, then select the camera icon to view images, HatiTrust, Google Books.
• Minnesota County History Name Index at Ancestry ($)
• Dakota County Historical Society, various local historical topics.

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Dakota County Maps at Dakota County Historical Society — Interactive maps of towns and villages; history and early landowners.
• Dakota County, Minnesota Map at David Rumsey Map Collections
• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
• Minnesota Department of Transportation, Dakota County municipality and township maps

Military Records

Multiple Wars

• 1898-1899 Minnesota Volunteers in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection at Ancestry ($)

Civil War

• 1861-1865 U.S., Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free collections)
• 1861-1865 , U.S., Civil War Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free collection)
• 1861-1865 Minnesota Civil War Soldiers at Ancestry (free collections)
• 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 collections)

Civil War service men from Dakota County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Dakota County.

-1st Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry (Mounted Rangers), Companies A and G.

-1st Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company H.

-2nd Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry, Companies F and H.

-3rd Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Companies B and F.

-4th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company C.

-5th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company G.

-6th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company A.

-7th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company F.

-8th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Companies F and K.

-10th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company H.

-Brackett's Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry, Company D.

-Hatch's Independent Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry , Companies C and F.

Spanish-American War

• 1898 U.S., Spanish American War Volunteers Index to Compiled Military Service Records, 1898 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1898-1899 , U.S., Spanish American War Muster Rolls and Casualty Lists, 1898-1899 at Ancestry (Free index)

World War I

• 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Civilian Draft Registrations, 1917-1918 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry ($)
• 1918-1941 Minnesota, World War I Records, 1918-1941 at FamilySearch — How to use this collection.

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 ($)
• 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at Ancestry ($)

Naturalization and Citizenship

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

• 1849-1985 Web: Minnesota, U.S., 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 , U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1880-1920 at Ancestry ($)
• 1918 Web: , U.S., Alien Registration Index, 1918 at Ancestry (Free collection)

Newspapers

• Dakota County Newspapers Directory. Links to locations and contact information.
• 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, U.S., Obituary Index, 1891-2003 at Ancestry (Free Index)
• Online Obituaries at Dakota County Historical Society

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 , U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1801-1925 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
• 1849-1985 Minnesota Will Records, 1849-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection - Three Minnesota counties are not in this collection: Hennepin, Marshall, and St. Louis.

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.

• 1880-1901 - Dakota County Minnesota, County Auditor; Minnesota, Dakota County, tax records, 1880-1901; Online at FamilySearch Catalog; Scroll down to Film/Digital Notes, then select the camera icon to view images.

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 Dakota 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

• Bloomington Minnesota Family History Center
• Lakeville Minnesota Family History Center
• Cannon Falls Library - an affiliate library.
• Goodhue County Historical Society Research Library - an affiliate library.
• Minnesota Genealogical Society - an affiliate library.

Libraries

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

Dakota County Library
Phone: 651-450-2900
Email: askalibrarian@co.dakota.mn.us
Website
Multiple locations

Minnesota Genealogical Society
Hoffman Research Library
1385 Mendota Heights Road, Suite 100
Mendota Heights, MN 55120-1367
Phone: 651-330-9312
Website

Museums

Lawshe Memorial Museum
130 Third Ave N
South St Paul, MN 55075
Phone: 651-437-3191 or 800-247-1056
Website

Dakota City Heritage Village Museum
P.O. Box 73
4008 220th Street W
Farmington, MN 55024-0073
Phone: 651-460-8050
Website

Societies

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

Czechoslovak Genealogical Society and International Library
PO Box 16225
St Paul, MN 55116-9225
Phone: 561-964-2322
Website

Dakota County Historical Society
130 3rd Avenue N
South St Paul, MN 55075-2002
Phone: 651-552-7548
Website
Facebook
Eagan Historical Society
Eagan City Hall
3830 Pilot Knob Rd
Eagan, MN 55122
Phone: 651-675-5038
Email: HistoricalSociety@cityofeagan.com
Website

Farmington Area Historical Society
2890 Pilot Knob Rd
Eagan, MN 55121
Phone: 651-454-4056

Hastings Area Historical Society
Pioneer Room at Hastings City Hall
101 E 4th Street
Hastings, MN 55033
Phone: 651-480-2367
Email: csmith@hastingsmn.gov
Facebook

Lakeville Area Historical Society
Lakeville Heritage Center
20110 Holyoke Ave
Lakeville, MN 55044
Phone: 952-985-4680
Email: lahs1995@gmail.com
Website

Rosemount Area Historical Society
13885 S Robert Trail
Rosemount, MN 55068
Phone: 651-423-4603 or 952-255-8545
Email: rosemounthistory@charter.net
Website

Websites

• The Dakota County MNGenWeb Project, a member of The MNGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
• PeopleFINDER (Family History) at Minnesota Historical Society
• USGenWeb Archives for Dakota County.
• Dakota County Historical Society
• Dakota County at Cyndi's List
• Minnesota Genealogy Trails
• 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.
• 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.

The index 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.