Buffalo County, South Dakota Genealogy
South Dakota Buffalo County
Buffalo County, South Dakota genealogy and family history research page. Guide to genealogy, history, and courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.
| Buffalo County, South Dakota | |||||||||
| Map | |||||||||
 Location in the state of South Dakota | |||||||||
 Location of South Dakota in the U.S. | |||||||||
| Facts | |||||||||
| Founded | January 6, 1864 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Seat | Gann Valley | ||||||||
| Courthouse | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Contents
County Courthouse
Buffalo County Courthouse
PO Box 148
Gann Valley, SD 57341-0148
Phone: 605.293.3234
Register of Deeds has birth and death records from 1905,
burial records from 1941 and land records; County Treasurer
has marriage records from 1887; County Clerk has divorce
records from 1915, probate and court records from 1885[1]
History
Parent County
1864--Buffalo County was created 6 January 1864 from Brugier County was Eliminated 6 Jan 1864, and Charles Mix Counties, and unorganized territory.
County seat: Gann Valley [2]
Boundary Changes
Record Loss
Places/Localities
Populated Places
Indian Reservation
A portion of the Crow Creek Indian Reservation is located in Buffalo County. The remaining part is in Hyde County.
Neighboring Counties
Resources
Cemeteries
Census
1905, 1915, 1925 State Censuses --Unique information could include: Ethnic Background, Maiden Name, Church Affiliation & Military Service
1905 state census with images can be viewed free at FamilySearch Record Search
1915 state census with images can be viewed free at FamilySearch Record Search
1925 state census with images can be viewed free at FamilySearch Record Search
1935 state census with images can be viewed free at FamilySearch Record Search
1945 state census with images can be viewed free at FamilySearch Record Search
Church
Church records vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about South Dakota denominations, view the South Dakota Church Records wiki page.
Court
Land
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See South Dakota Land and Property for additional information about early South Dakota land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse, where records are currently housed.
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Buffalo County, South Dakota Genealogy. County and town histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section South Dakota Local Histories.
Maps
Military
Newspapers
Probate
In most counties in South Dakota, probate records have been kept by the county judge. They include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets. The records are available at the county courthouse.
The FamilySearch Catalog lists films of probate records. To find the records for this county, use the Place Search for South Dakota, Buffalo then click Probate records.
Taxation
South Dakota tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the records.
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. See the CDC Where to Write website for information on acquiring copies of these records.
Societies and Libraries
Family History Centers
Web Sites
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
- Family History Library Catalog
References
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002)Buffalo County, South Dakota, p.622
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
