Minnesota Emigration and Immigration

Online Resources
'''Minnesota has no ports of entry. Most immigrants to Minnesota arrived at a major eastern port such as New York (New York), Boston (Massachusetts), Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), or Quebec (Canada).'''
 * 1500s-1900s All U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s at Ancestry; index only ($); includes those with Destination of Minnesota; Also at MyHeritage; index only ($)
 * 1894-1954 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1895-1956 United States, Border Crossings from Canada, 1895-1956 at MyHeritge; index & images ($); includes those with Destination of Minnesota
 * 1910-1923 Minnesota, Baudette, Warroad, and International Falls Passenger Lists, 1910-1923 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1912-1956 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1918 Web: Minnesota, Alien Registration Index, 1918 at Ancestry; index only ($).
 * 1919 Iron Range Research Center, Minnesota Discovery Center; index only ($)
 * 1920-1939 Germany, Bremen Emigration Lists, 1920-1939 at MyHeritge; index only ($); includes those with Destination of Minnesota
 * 1922-1958 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Index of Wagon Train Emigrants From Minnesota to Montana.
 * Germans Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritge; index only ($); includes those with Destination of Minnesota
 * Italians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritge; index only ($); includes those with Destination of Minnesota
 * Russians Immigrating to the United States at MyHeritage; index only ($); includes those with Destination of Minnesota

Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society has Alien Registration Records made in February 1918, listing most non-U.S. citizens in Minnesota. The indexes and records are on microfilm but are not at the Family History Library. The registration form gives name, place of birth (sometimes the town), port of entry, date of arrival, names of children, and occupation. Contact the Minnesota Historical Society Library at the address listed in the "Archives and Libraries" article for further information.

Immigration History Research Center
Information about immigrant groups from eastern and southern Europe is at the Immigration History Research Center described in the "Archives and Libraries" article.

Background

 * Pre-statehood residents of Minnesota were primarily American Indians and French and British immigrants.
 * After 1858 settlers in Minnesota generally came from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and New York. After 1860 thousands of immigrants came from Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Canada, and Denmark.

Minnesota Alien Registration Index - 1918
Content of the index information:
 * Name
 * City and county of residence
 * Age
 * Roll and frame number

Original documents
The Minnesota Alien Registration of 1918 registered all foreign born individuals living in Minnesota and who had not yet become citizens. Registration was completed in all 87 Minnesota counties.

A 35-question form was required and much personal information can be found in the original registration.

The repository for these records is the Iron Range Research Center, a library and archive devoted to Minnesota research in Chisholm, Minnesota.

County Histories
Consult Minnesota county wiki pages for available county histories. Many of these histories contain information about ethnic groups which settled that county.

Websites

 * Iron Range Research Center 1918 Minnesota Alien Registration Index

Tips

 * 1) When you enter information into the search box, the results will also include other databases on this site.

Copies of the original alien registration document are $10 per search. Payment is preferred by Visa or Master Card through the website.