St. Louis County, Minnesota Genealogy
Guide to St. Louis County, Minnesota ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for St. Louis River. The County is located in the northeast area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
St. Louis County Courthouse
100 North 5th Avenue West
Duluth, MN 55802-1202
Phone: 218-726-2000
St. Louis County Website
Clerk District Court has birth, death and marriage records from 1870, burial permits from 1938, divorce, court and land records from 1859.
County Court has probate records. [4]
St. Louis County, Minnesota Record Dates[edit | edit source]
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.
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1870 | 1870 | 1870 | 1859 | 1859 | Unknown | 1836 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
1869-70 Courthouse suffered a county record loss; cause unknown. For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
|
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
|
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
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:[8]
Cities | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
Census-designated places | ||
Townships | ||
Unorganized territories | ||
Ghost towns | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
For links to Federal, State, and Territorial censuses, see Minnesota Census.
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1860 | 406 | — |
1870 | 4,561 | 1023.4% |
1880 | 4,504 | −1.2% |
1890 | 44,862 | 896.0% |
1900 | 82,932 | 84.9% |
1910 | 163,274 | 96.9% |
1920 | 206,391 | 26.4% |
1930 | 204,596 | −0.9% |
1940 | 206,917 | 1.1% |
1950 | 206,062 | −0.4% |
1960 | 231,588 | 12.4% |
1970 | 220,693 | −4.7% |
1980 | 222,229 | 0.7% |
1990 | 198,213 | −10.8% |
2000 | 200,528 | 1.2% |
2010 | 200,226 | −0.2% |
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.
Church Records[edit | edit source]
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.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Ward and Branch Records
- Duluth
Lutheran
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
- 1912-1956 Minnesota Passenger and Crew Lists, 1912-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
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, U.S., Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 at Ancestry ($)
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for St. Louis County. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Minnesota Local Histories.
- Van Brunt, Walter. Duluth and St. Louis County, Minnesota : their story and people; an authentic narrative of the past, with, Vol. 2. American Historical Society, Chicago, 1921. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Woodbridge, Dwight Edwards., Pardee, John Stone. History of Duluth and St. Louis county, past and present; v. 01 and 02. C.F. Cooper and Company, Chicago, 1910. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 1; FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 2.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- Minnesota Department of Transportation, St. Louis County municipality and township maps
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Multiple Wars
- 1861-1917 United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Free index, images ($)
- 1898-1899 Minnesota Volunteers in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection at Ancestry ($)
Civil War
- 1861-1865 U.S., Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 at Ancestry; Free index
- 1861-1865 Minnesota, U.S., Civil War Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry; Free index
- 1861-1865 Minnesota Civil War Soldiers at Ancestry; Free index
- 1861-1934 U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 at Ancestry; Free index
Spanish-American War
- 1898 U.S., Spanish American War Volunteers Index to Compiled Military Service Records, 1898 at Ancestry; Free index
- 1898-1899 Minnesota, U.S., Spanish American War Muster Rolls and Casualty Lists, 1898-1899 at Ancestry; Free index
World War I
- 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Civilian Draft Registrations, 1917-1918 at Ancestry (Free collection)
- 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry; Free index, images ($)
- 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; Free index, Images($).
- 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at Ancestry; Free index
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1849-1985 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Naturalization Index, 1849-1985 at Ancestry (Free collection)
- 1872-1962 Minnesota Naturalization Records and Indexes, 1872-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1880-1920 Minnesota, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1880-1920 at Ancestry ($)
- 1918 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Alien Registration Index, 1918 at Ancestry (Free collection)
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub at Minnesota Historical Society; narrow to county or city, search for surname, limit by date.
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- 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 collection)
- 1948-Present - Duluth Public Library has an Index to Obituaries printed in the Duluth News Tribune newspaper from 1948 to the present.
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
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, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1801-1925 at Ancestry; index and images ($)
- 1849-1985 Minnesota Will Records, 1849-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Three Minnesota counties are not in this collection: Hennepin, Marshall, and St. Louis.
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($); index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
- 1850-2001 Minnesota, County Deaths, 1850-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1870-2000 St. Louis County Death Certificate Index at Duluth Public Library
- 1870-2000 St. Louis County Death Record Index (Rootsweb)
- 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 ($)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1970-1995 Minnesota, U.S., Divorce Index, 1970-1995 at Ancestry ($)
- 1970-2003 Minnesota Divorce Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives ($)
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in St. Louis County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Minnesota Archives and Libraries.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
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
- Duluth Minnesota Family History Center
- Virginia Minnesota Family History Center
- Ironwood Carnegie Public Library - Michigan - an affiliate library.
- Jessie F. Hallett Memorial Library - an affiliate library.
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in St. Louis County. For state-wide library facilities, see Minnesota Archives and Libraries.
Duluth Public Library
Main Library
520 W Superior St
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: 218-730-4200
Website
Arrowhead Library System
Main Library
5528 Emerald Ave
Mountain Iron, MN 55768
Phone: 218-741-3840
Email: als@alslib.info
Website
Kathryn A. Martin Library
University of Minnesota
416 Library Dr
Duluth, MN 55812
Phone: 218-726-8102
Email: libaskus@d.umn.edu
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center
506 W Michigan St
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: 218-727-8025
Email: kenbuehler@aol.com
Website
Minnesota Discovery Center
1005 Discovery Dr
Chisholm, MN 55719
Phone: 218-254-7959
Email: info@mndiscoverycenter.com
Website
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
902 East 1st Street
Duluth, MN
Website
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in St. Louis County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Minnesota Societies.
St. Louis County Historical Society
506 W Michigan St
Duluth, MN 55802-1505
Phone: 218-733-7580
Website
Canosia Historical Society
5508 Martin Road
Duluth, MN 55811
Phone: 218-729-8963
Email: wwsIII@msn.com
Website
Twin Ports Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 16895
Duluth, MN 55816-0895
Phone: 218-206-7880
Email: contact@proctorhistory.org
Website
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
Duluth Public Library
500 Superior St
Northshore Room
Duluth, MN
Email: edwardcnewman@juno.com
Website
Britt Community Historical Society
Box 154
Virginia, MN 55792
Email: info@britthistory.org
Website
Ely-Winton Historical Society
1900 Camp St E
Ely, MN 55731
Phone: 218-365-3226
Email: ewhs@vcc.edu
Facebook
Eveleth Heritage Committee
P.O. Box 555
Eveleth, MN 55734
Email: evelethheritagecommittee@gmail.com
Website
Hermantown Historical Society
5255 Maple Grove Rd
Hermantown, MN 55811
Phone: 218-499-5966
Facebook
Hibbing Historical Society
400 East 23rd Street
Hibbing, MN 55746-1923
Phone: 218-263-8522
Email: hibbinghistory@mchsi.com
Website
Iron Range Historical Society
5454 Grand Ave
McKinley, MN 55741
Phone: 218-749-3150
Email: ironrangehistsoc@gmail.com
Website
Proctor Area Historical Society
100 Pionk Drive
Proctor, MN 55810
Phone: 218-206-7880
Email: contact@proctorhistory.org
Website
SISU Heritage, Inc.
P.O. Box 127
Embarrass, MN 55732
Phone: 218-984-3012
Email: info@sisuheritage.org
Website
Tower-Soudan Historical Society
P.O. Box 465
404 Pine St
Tower, MN 55790
Phone: 218-753-5021
Email: tshistory@accessMN.com
Website
Virginia Area Historical Society
800 Ninth Ave N
P.O. Box 736
Virginia, MN 55792
Phone: 218-741-1136
Email: virginiamnhistory@gmail.com
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- St Louis County, a member of MNGenWeb Project, an affiliate of USGenWeb Project.
- Research at Minnesota Historical Society — links to Records and Indexes; See also MHS Wiki Page
- 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.
- St. Louis County, a member of MN USGenWeb Archives, an affiliate of USGenWeb Archives.
- 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.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Minnesota Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed 3 March 2021.
- ↑ Minnesota Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed 3 March 2021.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "St. Louis County, Minnesota" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_County,_Minnesota accessed 15 Nov 2018
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Minnesota.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Minnesota.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Minnesota.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Minnesota Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed 3 March 2021.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "St. Louis County, Minnesota," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_County%2C_Minnesota, accessed 20 February 2020.