North Dakota Family History Records

North Dakota stands at a fascinating crossroads of American history, shaped by indigenous cultures, European settlement, territorial conflicts, and waves of immigration. Whether you are tracing pioneer homesteaders, early fur trappers, or families that arrived during the Northern Pacific Railroad expansion, North Dakota’s records offer unique opportunities for uncovering your ancestors’ lives. This guide provides authoritative insights into the historical context, jurisdictional framework, and archival resources essential for building a robust family history.

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Understand the HistoryUnderstand the History

Research the Territorial PastResearch the Territorial Past

Dakota Territory (1861–1889): North Dakota was part of the larger Dakota Territory until it was split into North and South Dakota in 1889. Check territorial records to locate early settlers and administrative documentation.
Native American Heritage: Indigenous tribes, such as the Sioux (Lakota and Dakota), Chippewa (Ojibwe), and Mandan, have deep roots in the region. Learning about tribal treaties and the reservation system can be crucial in documenting both Native and non-Native ancestors.

Timeline of Key EventsTimeline of Key Events

French and British Influences: Prior to American expansion, French-Canadian and British fur traders shaped the area. Look for fur trade company records and Hudson’s Bay Company archives.
Early Settlers: Scandinavian, German, and Eastern European immigrants formed large communities. Cultural societies or local historical societies may have specialized records. Numerous genealogical, historical, and cultural organizations preserve the records and traditions of these groups, and many books detail their histories. Among the largest are Norwegian and German communities (including Germans from Russia), supplemented by Swedes, Danes, Finns, Icelanders, Canadians, English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Polish, Czech, Jewish, Greek, Italian, Syrian-Lebanese, Belgian, and Dutch populations.

Understand the Geography and JurisdictionUnderstand the Geography and Jurisdiction

Located in the northern Great Plains, North Dakota is largely covered by grassland and borders Canada’s provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north. The state’s eastern region includes the flat, fertile Red River Valley, which drains northward. Moving west, the Drift Prairie and Missouri Plateau span the central area, while the western Badlands feature rugged hills and buttes. East of the Missouri River, the climate is humid continental, while the west is semi-arid with lower humidity and precipitation.

Territorial ChangesTerritorial Changes

North Dakota’s early territory lines shifted over time. Consult historical maps to see how these jurisdictional changes affect record-keeping locations.

Local vs. State JurisdictionLocal vs. State Jurisdiction

Township and County Offices: These offices often kept land transactions, probate actions, and vital records.
State Archives: Records like statewide birth indexes or state census microfilms are commonly stored at the North Dakota State Archives.

State BoundariesState Boundaries

Before statehood, much of what is now North Dakota was either unorganized territory or part of various U.S. territorial administrations. Records—particularly census documents—produced under these jurisdictions appear in those territories’ archives.

1803: The Louisiana Purchase brought the southwestern half of present-day North Dakota under U.S. control, while the northeastern section remained British territory (Rupert’s Land).
1803–1804: Louisiana Purchase lands were briefly classified as Unorganized Territory.
1804–1805: These lands were organized as the District of Louisiana.
1805–1812: Renamed the Territory of Louisiana.
1812–1821: Became the Missouri Territory.
1818: By treaty, Rupert’s Land below the 49th Parallel was incorporated into the Missouri Territory.
1821–1834: Former Missouri Territory lands reverted to Unorganized Territory.
1834–1836: Lands east of the Missouri River joined the Michigan Territory.
1836–1838: Reassigned to the Wisconsin Territory after Michigan’s statehood.
1838–1846: Shifted to the Iowa Territory once Wisconsin became a state.
1846–1849: After Iowa achieved statehood, the region again fell under Unorganized Territory.
1849–1858: Areas east of the Missouri River were incorporated into the Minnesota Territory.
1854–1861: Lands west of the Missouri River became part of the Nebraska Territory.
1858–1861: When Minnesota became a state, its former territorial lands in the region returned to Unorganized Territory.
1861–1889: Both ex-Nebraska and ex-Minnesota territories were consolidated into the Dakota Territory.
1889: The Dakota Territory was divided to form the states of North Dakota and South Dakota.

Consult Historical MapsConsult Historical Maps

Check maps from the Dakota Territory period to see how the boundary lines for what became North Dakota evolved.
The Library of Congress map collections or specialized genealogy map collections (e.g., David Rumsey Map Collection) can be invaluable.

Cross-Border RecordsCross-Border Records

If your ancestor lived near the state line, investigate records in South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, and Manitoba (Canada). Boundaries might not have been as rigid in daily life as they appear on modern maps.

County BoundariesCounty Boundaries

Identify County Formation DatesIdentify County Formation Dates

Many North Dakota counties formed after statehood in 1889. Record-keeping may have started or moved when county boundaries changed.
Reference county formation timelines available on genealogical websites (e.g., MyHeritage Wiki) to see if your ancestor’s county used to belong to a different jurisdiction.

Locating Older RecordsLocating Older Records

If a county was formed from another, older records may be stored in the parent county’s courthouse. Verify which county seat to contact before requesting documents.

MigrationMigration

In the late 19th century, numerous farmers from eastern states and other parts of the Midwest migrated to North Dakota after their home soil lost fertility. They were motivated by the success of expansive “bonanza” wheat farms, which thrived thanks to new milling methods for the region’s spring wheat. Many settlers purchased land from railroad companies or acquired homesteads, spurring the growth of agricultural trade hubs in Fargo, Minneapolis, and Duluth. North Dakota soon rose to national prominence in wheat and flax production.

Railroad ExpansionRailroad Expansion

The Northern Pacific and Great Northern railroads played major roles in populating North Dakota. Records of land grants, ticket purchases, or immigrant guides published by railroad companies may yield clues.
Rail expansion was a decisive factor in North Dakota’s settlement. Initially, travelers relied on rivers, stagecoaches, or ox carts. Hoping to spur development, railroad companies ran extensive marketing campaigns in Europe and the eastern United States, encouraging would-be farmers to migrate. Among the most influential lines were the Northern Pacific, the Great Northern (formerly the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway), and the Soo Line (Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie). By 1898, three transcontinental routes operated within the state. The railroads sold land along their corridors, enabling quick transport of wheat to markets (especially Minneapolis for milling) and boosting the establishment of major cities such as Fargo, Valley City, Jamestown, and Bismarck. Smaller lines, such as the Farmers’ Grain and Shipping Company and the Bismarck Washburn & Great Falls Railroad, emerged to serve agricultural and mining needs.

Trails and RiversTrails and Rivers

Overland trails and the Missouri River were major routes. Diaries and letters (sometimes digitized in historical societies’ collections) can highlight when and how families arrived.

Chain MigrationChain Migration

Immigrants often settled near friends or relatives from the same region or country. Church records, local ethnic newspapers, and genealogical societies dedicated to specific ethnic groups (e.g., Germans from Russia) are important resources.

Vital Records – Birth, Death, and MarriageVital Records – Birth, Death, and Marriage

In North Dakota’s 53 counties, two primary offices handle most county records. The county recorder oversees patents, deeds, mortgages, judgments, decrees, and related indexes. After county courts were dissolved in 1995, the clerk of district court assumed responsibility for all court files—civil, criminal, child support, probate, guardianships, burial permits, and vital records of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths. In smaller counties (fewer than 6,000 residents), a single individual fulfills both roles. In 1979, the district court system was consolidated into eight judicial districts. Some counties have made more recent case information (from about 1991 onward) publicly searchable via the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry site, which connects to a statewide case management system.

Relatively few historical county records are indexed online (Cass County is an exception). Many counties have transferred portions of their historical documents to the State Archives; the State Historical Society of North Dakota (SHSND) website includes a county-by-county list of these holdings. The Family History Library does not have microfilm copies of county-level materials for North Dakota.

North Dakota introduced statewide birth and death registration in 1893, but this law was rescinded in 1895 and reinstated in 1908; records from the late 19th and early 20th century may be sporadic because of incomplete compliance. The state began recording marriages in July 1925 after creating the Division of Vital Records. Presently, vital records are available from several sources:

Division of Vital Records (North Dakota Department of Health) maintains death certificates dating from July 1870 onward and birth certificates starting in 1881.
County District Clerks may keep local registers of births, marriages, divorces, and deaths from each county’s establishment date.
SHSND Archives has received some early county records, listed by county on its Local Government Records web page.
Online Death Index (1881 to approximately one year before the current date) is searchable in 10-year intervals on the Division of Vital Records website.
Internal Marriage/Divorce Databases (marriages from 1925, divorces from 1947) are held by both the Division of Vital Records and SHSND Archives; they will conduct lookups upon request (phone, email, or mail).

Certified birth and death certificates are issued by the Division of Vital Records or by county clerks, while certified marriage, divorce, or annulment records must be obtained from the district clerk in the county of occurrence. SHSND Archives can sometimes provide non-certified copies of older records no longer held locally.

As of 2008, only immediate family members (with valid identification) can obtain certified birth and death certificates, although birth certificates older than 100 years become public. Non-family members may request death certificates with cause of death redacted. Direct descendants (e.g., great-grandchildren) can access cause of death, but more distant relatives require a court order.

Because formal record retention policies took shape in the 1970s, some early documents may have been destroyed. Divorce case files are retained for 50 years; if they were never transferred to the archives, older files may have been discarded or merged into civil case records.

Notably, an 1866 territorial law enabled a quick 90-day divorce process (with no citizenship requirement), making Fargo infamous as the “divorce capital of the West.” This practice ended in 1899, when the law changed to mandate a one-year residency plus U.S. citizenship, effectively eliminating “ten-minute divorces.”

State and County OfficesState and County Offices

Birth and Death Records: North Dakota began statewide registration for births and deaths in 1907. Earlier records may exist at the county level.
Marriage Records: Typically filed with the county clerk’s office. Check for both civil and ecclesiastical marriage records.

Online ResourcesOnline Resources

The North Dakota Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, offers certified copies. For historical records, some indexes are accessible through websites like MyHeritage. Always confirm the coverage dates.

Census Records – Federal and StateCensus Records – Federal and State

Prior to statehood, North Dakota residents might appear in various territorial censuses, including Wisconsin Territory (1836), Iowa Territory (1840), Minnesota Territory (1850 and 1857), Nebraska Territory (1860), and Dakota Territory (1860, 1870, 1880, 1885). A special Civil War Veterans schedule accompanied the 1885 Dakota census, and the surviving portion of the 1890 Civil War Union Veterans and Widows schedule is also available. Federal censuses exist for 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940, while North Dakota itself conducted state censuses in 1905, 1915, and 1925. Additional schedules include Mortality Schedules (1860, 1880, 1885), Agricultural and Manufacturing (1880, 1885), Social Statistics (1870, 1885), and a Defective/Dependent/Delinquent schedule (1880). Most of these census materials can be found at the State Historical Society of North Dakota or online.

Federal CensusFederal Census

Federal censuses from 1870 onward may include residents in Dakota Territory (though coverage might vary). The 1890 census was largely destroyed, but territorial or state censuses can fill gaps.

State CensusState Census

North Dakota conducted state censuses in various years, such as 1885, 1915, and 1925. These are especially valuable for bridging the gap created by the loss of the 1890 federal census records.

Where to Find Census RecordsWhere to Find Census Records

Most North Dakota censuses are available on subscription genealogy websites and may also be accessible for free at Family History Centers or the North Dakota State Archives.

Immigration and Naturalization RecordsImmigration and Naturalization Records

The First Dakota Boom (1879–1886) drew over 100,000 newcomers, primarily wheat-farming homesteaders from Norway, Canada (often Scottish by descent), and U.S. states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, and Iowa. Smaller numbers arrived from Germany, England, Ireland, Sweden, Russia (including ethnic Germans), and Midwestern states like Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. Railroad companies facilitated this movement, offering reduced travel costs and promoting new settlement opportunities across North Dakota. These promotions appealed especially to Europeans affected by the Industrial Revolution and population pressures, with the majority entering through East Coast ports and continuing overland.

The Second Dakota Boom attracted additional Canadians (with English and Celtic backgrounds), Swedes, Danes, Czechs, and other Europeans, along with further arrivals from Midwestern states. By statehood in 1889, immigrants or their children constituted about 70% of North Dakota’s population—a figure that reached 79% by 1915. Many became U.S. citizens under the Homestead Act’s requirement for naturalization. The State Historical Society of North Dakota hosts a statewide naturalization index listing 212,000 individuals, while some online genealogical sites like MyHeritage offer Canadian border-crossing and other immigration records.

Port of Entry and Ship Passenger ListsPort of Entry and Ship Passenger Lists

Many arriving immigrants first landed at major U.S. ports (e.g., New York, Philadelphia). Use passenger arrival lists to track your ancestor’s entry route before they moved on to North Dakota.

Naturalization PapersNaturalization Papers

After 1906, naturalization became a federal process, so records are found at the National Archives (NARA). For earlier records, check county courts where the naturalization took place.

Military RecordsMilitary Records

Early forts in North Dakota primarily served as trading posts during the fur trade era. The Plains Indian Wars were the first military engagements conducted under U.S. authority in this region. During the Civil War, the Dakota Territory raised two companies of the 1st Battalion Cavalry (1862–1865), charged with frontier defense and campaigns against the Sioux. In the Spanish-American War (1898–1899), the 1st North Dakota Volunteer Infantry served in the Philippines, where 10 soldiers received the Congressional Medal of Honor. North Dakotans have also contributed to U.S. forces in both World Wars, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and more recent Middle Eastern conflicts. Since 1957, the state has hosted two Air Force bases (Grand Forks and Minot) and maintains the Eastern Dakota missile field, a vestige of the Cold War.

Major ConflictsMajor Conflicts

Ancestors in North Dakota may have served in the Civil War (some in Dakota Territory regiments), the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, or later conflicts.

Where to LookWhere to Look

State Archives or County Courthouses: For local militia or draft registration records.
National Personnel Records Center (NPRC): Holds most 20th-century military service records, but many were lost in a 1973 fire (especially Army and Air Force). Alternate sources (e.g., local newspapers, family records) may help fill in the details.

Land and Property RecordsLand and Property Records

As part of the federal public domain, North Dakota’s lands were made available for homesteading. The first federal land office opened in Pembina in 1870, followed by others in Fargo (1874), Grand Forks (1877), and Devils Lake (1884). Railroad expansion created high demand for farmland, leading about 40,000 settlers to file homestead claims and another 20,000 to use the Timber Culture Act to secure additional acreage. Railroad corporations, most notably Northern Pacific, received vast land grants—Northern Pacific alone obtained 10.7 million acres, roughly a quarter of the entire state. Other railroads purchased parcels from the federal government and sold them to settlers, typically for $2.50 to $5.00 per acre.

If individuals bought land directly from a railroad, these transactions were recorded in county or territorial deed books. For homesteaded parcels, the original federal land patent is archived with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Billings, Montana, with images accessible via the BLM website. The North Dakota State Water Commission also hosts digital versions of the BLM’s initial survey plat maps.

Homestead RecordsHomestead Records

The Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged settlement in the region. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) General Land Office records show initial land patents. County offices may have subsequent transactions.

Property Deeds and TransfersProperty Deeds and Transfers

After the patent was issued, future sales or divisions of land are typically recorded at the county register of deeds. These records can reveal familial relationships and migration patterns.

Court RecordsCourt Records

County CourthouseCounty Courthouse

Civil and criminal case files may help when standard genealogical records are missing. Probate, divorce, or guardianship records can reveal personal details.

Online DatabasesOnline Databases

Some court records have been digitized and indexed on subscription or free websites. Check the coverage for specific counties, as many remain paper-based in local archives.

Wills and Probate RecordsWills and Probate Records

Understand Probate JurisdictionUnderstand Probate Jurisdiction

Probate matters are typically handled at the county level. Older estates might be in the parent county if boundaries changed.

Surrogate Court / Probate CourtSurrogate Court / Probate Court

The Surrogate (Probate) Court oversees wills, inventories, and final distributions. Review indexes at the courthouse or online. These records can reveal heirs, property, and family dynamics.

Tax RecordsTax Records

Why Use Tax RecordsWhy Use Tax Records

Before official census schedules or civil registrations existed, tax records can place a person in a specific locale and timeframe.

Where to FindWhere to Find

Generally stored at county courthouses or state archives. They might not be fully digitized, so contacting local repositories can be necessary.

Church and Cemetery RecordsChurch and Cemetery Records

Roughly two-thirds of North Dakota’s population belongs to the Lutheran or Roman Catholic faiths, with Methodists, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians also forming significant congregations. Catholic dioceses in Fargo and Bismarck administer the eastern and western regions of the state, respectively. Archives.com hosts a large collection of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America records, which comprise over four million birth, baptism, christening, marriage, death, and burial entries. The Chester Fritz Library at the University of North Dakota holds 99 microfilm reels of American Lutheran Church records (the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection). Meanwhile, Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, houses archives for several Lutheran synods. The State Historical Society of North Dakota stores records for multiple denominations—Baptist, Catholic, Congregational, Episcopal, Jewish, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian—while the Family History Library catalog provides references to various microfilmed church registers and congregational histories, including those for Mennonites and the Church of the Brethren (Dunkers).

Church RegistersChurch Registers

Lutheran, Catholic, and other denominations kept meticulous baptism, marriage, and death records, especially for immigrant communities like Norwegians, Swedes, and Germans from Russia.
Find the denominational archives or local parish office; records may still be maintained at the congregation.

Cemetery TranscriptionsCemetery Transcriptions

Gravestone inscriptions, sexton records, and burial registers provide birth, death, and family relationship details. Check local genealogical societies or websites like BillionGraves.

African-American and Indigenous RecordsAfrican-American and Indigenous Records

African-American RecordsAfrican-American Records

Though the African-American population in early North Dakota was smaller compared to other states, look for Freedmen’s Bureau records (especially if they settled via chain migration).
Local newspapers, church records, and community histories can provide clues. Some families relocated from eastern states or Canada.

Indigenous RecordsIndigenous Records

Long before European settlement, many Indigenous nations inhabited what is now North Dakota, including the Arikara, Anishinaabe (Chippewa, Ojibwe), Cheyenne, Crow, Hidatsa, Mandan, Mni Wakan Oyate, and Sioux (Assiniboine, Lakota, Dakotah, Nakota, Yanktonai). Métis communities from Canada also established themselves in the region. Today, relationships between tribes and the state are coordinated by the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission. The principal reservations include those of the Three Affiliated Tribes, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Spirit Lake Tribe, and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Historical tribal records—such as Indian census rolls, birth and death lists, and agency files from the 1870s–1950s—are preserved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the National Archives.

Tribal enrollment records, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) documents, and reservation censuses (often called “Indian Census Rolls”) are essential.
Contact tribal historic preservation offices or the National Archives for federal Indian records.

Historical NewspapersHistorical Newspapers

A large collection of North Dakota newspapers is on microfilm at the SHSND and can be requested through interlibrary loan. Several digital collections are available via subscription websites such as MyHeritage and OldNews.com. Some historical newspapers served specific ethnic and Indigenous communities, and copies of these may also be available.

Local NewspapersLocal Newspapers

Obituaries, birth announcements, marriage notices, and community news can fill gaps not found in official records.
The State Historical Society of North Dakota and local libraries hold microfilmed archives.

Online Newspaper ArchivesOnline Newspaper Archives

Chronicling America (from the Library of Congress) and subscription-based websites like OldNews often have digitized North Dakota newspapers. Use keyword searches or date ranges to narrow results.

Local and State RepositoriesLocal and State Repositories

North Dakota State Archives (Bismarck)North Dakota State Archives (Bismarck)

Home to the official government records, manuscript collections, photographs, maps, and newspapers. Plan a research trip or consult their online catalog for remote requests.

Public LibrariesPublic Libraries

Larger public libraries (e.g., Fargo Public Library, Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library) often have local history/genealogy rooms with unique materials such as county histories, genealogical journals, and local indexes.

County Historical SocietiesCounty Historical Societies

Even small societies often preserve unique photos, diaries, and compiled family histories. Contact them directly or check their websites to see if they have online guides.

Genealogical and Historical SocietiesGenealogical and Historical Societies

Local GroupsLocal Groups

Joining a county or regional genealogical society can offer insider knowledge, especially when it comes to new or obscure record sets.

North Dakota Genealogical SocietyNorth Dakota Genealogical Society

A statewide organization that may provide publications, newsletters, or conferences to connect with experienced researchers.

ConclusionConclusion

Tracing family history in North Dakota is an exciting venture, combining traditional genealogical methods with the state’s unique historical tapestry. Begin by reviewing territorial and state boundaries, then follow the paper trail of vital records, census schedules, land deeds, military files, and more. Don’t overlook local resources—courthouses, historical societies, and libraries often hold the most valuable documents to confirm ancestral details.

Explore more about North Dakota family history recordsExplore more about North Dakota family history records

North Dakota - Collection Catalog at MyHeritage
Atlas of Historical County Boundaries Project - North Dakota - The Newberry Library
Chronicling America – North Dakota Newspapers - Library of Congress
North Dakota - Cyndi's List
North Dakota Vital Records
North Dakota Gen Web
North Dakota State Archives
North Dakota State Library
North Dakota State Genealogical Society
USGenWeb Archives Project - North Dakota