Renville County, Minnesota Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for Joseph Renville, a fur trader. The County is located in the south-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Renville County Courthouse 500 DePue Ave E Olivia, MN 56277 Phone: 320-523-3680 Renville County Website District Court has birth, marriage, and death records from 1870, divorce, probate and court records. County Recorder has land records.

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:

Biographies

 * Cutiss-Wedge, Franklyn; The History of Renville County, Minnesota (Chicago, Illinois : H. C. Cooper, 1916) Volume 2 (biographies) online at FamilySearch Digital Library, Google Books, Internet Archive.

Census Records
State Census
 * 1835-1890 U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1835-1890 at ($)
 * 1849-1905 U.S., Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 at ($)
 * 1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
 * 1875 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
 * 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
 * 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.

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 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Pre-1908 Minnesota, U.S., Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 at Ancestry ($)

Local Histories

 * Cutiss-Wedge, Franklyn; The History of Renville County, Minnesota (Chicago, Illinois : H. C. Cooper, 1916) Volume 2 (history and industries) online at FamilySearch Digital Library, Google Books, Internet Archive.
 * Neill, Edward D.; Renville County, Minnesota: Excerpts from historical writings Online at FamilySearch Digital Library.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Minnesota Maps at David Rumsey Map Collection
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
 * Minnesota Department of Transportation, Renville County municipality and township maps

Military Records
Multiple Wars
 * 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 U.S., Civil War Records, 1861-1865 at ; 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 ; Free index
 * 1898-1899 U.S., Spanish American War Muster Rolls and Casualty Lists, 1898-1899 at ; 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
 * 1918-1941 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection

World War II
 * 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
 * 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at Ancestry; Free index

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1849-1985 Minnesota, U.S., Naturalization Index, 1849-1985 at (Free collection)
 * 1872-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1920 U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1880-1920 at ($)
 * 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 at  — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1891-2003 Minnesota, U.S., Obituary Index, 1891-2003 at (Free collection)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1801-1999 U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1801-1925 at ; index and images ($)
 * 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 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.

Birth

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

Marriage

 * 1850-2019 Minnesota, U.S., Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System, 1850-2019 at (Free collection)
 * 1860-1949 at  — 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 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 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 U.S., Death Index, 1908-2017 at ($)

Divorce

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

Family History Centers

 * Hutchinson Minnesota Family History Center
 * Mankato Minnesota Family History Center
 * Great River Regional Library - multiple branches - an affiliate library.
 * Willmar Public Library - an affiliate library.

Libraries
Renville Public Library 221 N Main St P.O. Box 609 Renville, MN 56284 Phone: 320-329-8193 Email: [mailto:renville.staff@pioneerland.lib.mn.us renville.staff@pioneerland.lib.mn.us] Website Bird Island Public Library 260 S Main St P.O. Box 217 Bird Island, MN 55310 Phone: 320-365-4640 Email: [mailto:birdisland.staff@pioneerland.lib.mn.us birdisland.staff@pioneerland.lib.mn.us] Website Fairfax Public Library 101 1st Street SE Fairfax, MN 55332 Phone: 507-426-7269 Email: [mailto:fairfax.staff@pioneerland.lib.mn.us fairfax.staff@pioneerland.lib.mn.us] Website Hector Public Library 126 S Main St P.O. Box 625 Hector, MN 55342 Phone: 320-848-2841 Email: [mailto:hector.staff@pioneerland.lib.mn.us hector.staff@pioneerland.lib.mn.us] Website Olivia Public Library 405 South 10th Street Olivia, MN 56277 Phone: 320-523-1738 Email: [mailto:olivia.staff@pioneerland.lib.mn.us olivia.staff@pioneerland.lib.mn.us] Website

Museums
Renville County Historical Museum 441 N Park Dr Morton, MN 56270 Phone: 507-697-6147 Email: [mailto:info@renvillecountyhistory.com info@renvillecountyhistory.com] Website Hector Historical Center P.O. Box 698 213 Main St S Hector, MN 55342 Phone: 320-848-3013 Email: [mailto:sharonfstark@gmail.com sharonfstark@gmail.com] Website Fairfax Historical Depot Museum 200 Park St S P.O. Box 434 Fairfax, MN 55332 Phone: 507-426-7919 Website Facebook Sacred Heart Area Museum P.O. Box 462 300 5th Avenue Sacred Heart, MN 56285 Phone: 320-765-8868 Email: [mailto:sonja@hcinet.net sonja@hcinet.net] Website

Societies

 * Renville County Historical Society P.O. Box 266 441 N Park Dr Morton, MN 56270 Phone: 320-523-5625 Website
 * Bechyn Historical Society 30208 735th Avenue Redwood Falls, MN 56283 Email: [mailto:info@bechynczechfest.org info@bechynczechfest.org] Website
 * Bison Archive 50450 800th Avenue Hector, MN 55342 Email: [mailto:alkoenig@yahoo.com alkoenig@yahoo.com] Facebook
 * Danube Historical Society 1st Street near Railroad Avenue P.O. Box 33 Danube, MN 56230 Email: [mailto:danubehs@gmail.com danubehs@gmail.com] Website
 * Hector Historical Center 213 S Main St P.O. Box 698 Hector, MN 55342 Phone: 320-848-3013 Email: [mailto:sharonfstark@gmail.com sharonfstark@gmail.com] Website
 * Renville Historic Preservation Commission and Museum 211 N Main Renville, MN 56284 Phone: 320-329-8210 Email: [mailto:historicrenville@gmail.com historicrenville@gmail.com] Website
 * Sacred Heart Area Historical Society 300 5th Avenue P.O. Box 462 Sacred Heart, MN 56285 Phone: 320-765-8868 Email: [mailto:shahs@hcinet.net shahs@hcinet.net] Website

Websites

 * Research at Minnesota Historical Society — links to Records and Indexes; See also MHS Wiki Page
 * Renville County at MNGenWeb.
 * Iron Range Research Center
 * Renville County at USGenWeb Archives
 * – 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.