Washington County, Minnesota Genealogy

United States

Minnesota

Washington County

Guide to Washington 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: Stillwater Organized: October 27, 1849 Parent County(s): Unorganized territory Neighboring Counties Anoka  • Chisago  • Dakota  • Pierce (WI)  • Polk (WI)  • Ramsey  • St. Croix (WI) See County Maps Courthouse Location Map Adoption This page is available for adoption

County Information

Description

The County was named for George Washington. The County is located in the east-central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Washington County Courthouse
14949-62nd St N
Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone: 651-430-6263
Washington County Website

Clerk District Court has birth and death records from 1870, marriage records from 1845, divorce and court records from 1847 and probate records from 1850.

Washington 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	1845	1870	1847	1856	1850	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

1849--Washington County was created 27 October 1849 from unorganized territory. County seat: Stillwater Organized date: 27 October 1849 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
Afton Bayport Birchwood Village Cottage Grove Dellwood Forest Lake Grant Hastings Hugo	Lake Elmo Lake St. Croix Beach Lakeland Lakeland Shores Landfall Mahtomedi Marine on St. Croix Newport Oak Park Heights	Oakdale Pine Springs St. Marys Point St. Paul Park Scandia Stillwater White Bear Lake Willernie Woodbury
Unincorporated communities
Arcola Basswood Grove	Carnelian Junction Maple Island	Siegel
Townships
Baytown Denmark	Grey Cloud Island May	Stillwater West Lakeland
Ghost towns
Garen	Point Douglas

Resources

Biographies

• Washington County Name Index compiled by the Washington County Historical Society (150,000+ records)

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Washington County, Minnesota online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	BillionGraves Find A Grave Minnesota Gravestones MNGenWeb 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	1,056	—
1860	6,123	479.8%
1870	11,809	92.9%
1880	19,563	65.7%
1890	25,992	32.9%
1900	27,808	7.0%
1910	26,013	−6.5%
1920	23,761	−8.7%
1930	24,753	4.2%
1940	26,430	6.8%
1950	34,544	30.7%
1960	52,432	51.8%
1970	83,003	58.3%
1980	113,571	36.8%
1990	145,896	28.5%
2000	201,130	37.9%
2010	238,136	18.4%
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

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
  

Lutheran
1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry ($)

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

Local Histories

Local histories are available for Washington 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.

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Minnesota Maps at David Rumsey Map Collection
• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
• Minnesota Department of Transportation, Washington County municipality and township maps

Military Records

Multiple Wars

• 1861-1917 United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Free index, images ($)
• 1898-1899 Minnesota Volunteers in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection at Ancestry ($)
• 1917-1990 Minnesota, Military Discharge Records, ca.1917 - ca.1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only

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

Civil War service men from Washington 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 Washington County.

- 1st Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company B.

- 2nd Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry, Company K.

- 2nd Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company F.

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

- 5th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company K.

- 6th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company I.

- 7th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company C.

- 8th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company C.

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

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

• Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub at Minnesota Historical Society; narrow to county or city, 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 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, 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.

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 Washington County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Minnesota Archives and Libraries.

• Historical Records Survey (Minnesota), Works Progress Administration Inventory of the county archives of Minnesota, no. 82, Washington County (Stillwater). 1938. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library

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

• Lakeville Minnesota Family History Center
• Minneapolis Minnesota Family History Center
• Oakdale Minnesota Family History Center
• St Paul Minnesota Family History Center
• Hennepin County Library - multiple locations - an affiliate library.
• Minnesota Genealogical Society - an affiliate library.
• Minnesota Historical Society - an affiliate library.
• Ramsey County Public Library - multiple locations - an affiliate library.
• University of Minnesota Libraries - an affiliate library.

Libraries

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

Washington County Library
8595 Central Park Pl
Woodbury, MN 55125
Phone: 651-275-8500
Website

Stillwater Public Library
224 Third St N
Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone: 651-275-4338
Email: splinfo@ci.stillwater.mn.us
Website

Museums

Washington County Historical Society Museums & Research Center
P.O. Box 167
Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone: 651-439-5956
Email: information@wchsmn.org
Website

Afton Historical Museum
3165 St Croix Trail S
Afton, MN 55001
Phone: 651-436-3500
Email: stan@rossdesigninc.com
Website

Woodbury Heritage House and Garden
8025 Lake Road
Woodbury, MN 55125
Phone: 651-714-3564
Email: heritagesociety@ci.woodbury.MN.us
Facebook

Societies

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

Afton Historical Society
3165 St Croix Trail S
P.O. Box 178
Afton, MN 55001
Phone: 651-436-3500
Email: stan@rossdesigninc.com
Website

Washington County Historical Society
P.O. Box 167
602 N Main St
Stillwater MN 55082-0167
Phone: 651-439-5956
Email: information@wchsmn.org
Website

South Washington Heritage Society
1221 Summit Ave
St Paul Park, MN 55071-1445
Website

Denmark Township Historical Society
14008 90th Street S
Hastings, MN 55033
Phone: 612-616-2519
Email: valdavan@msn.com
Website

Hugo Historical Commission
14669 Fitzgerald Ave N
Hugo, MN 55038
Phone: 651-762-6300
Website

Marine Historical Society
241 5th Street
Marine on Saint Croix, MN 55047
Phone: 651-433-3636
Email: jdeagleton@excite.com
Facebook

Marine Restoration Society
P.O. Box 131
Marine on Saint Croix, MN 55047
Email: marinerestosociety@gmail.com
Facebook

Woodbury Heritage Society
8301 Valley Creek Rd
Woodbury, MN 55125
Phone: 651-714-3564
Email: heritagesociety@ci.woodbury.MN.us
Facebook

Websites

• 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.
• Washington County, a member of MN USGenWeb Archives, an affiliate of USGenWeb Archive
• Washington County, a member of MNGenWeb Project, an affiliate of USGenWeb Project.
• 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.