Hennepin County, Minnesota Genealogy

Guide to Hennepin 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 Father Louis Hennepin. The County is located in the east-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Hennepin County Government Center is the courthouse and primary county government administration building for Hennepin County.

Hennepin County Government Center 300 S 6th Street Minneapolis, MN 55487-0001 Phone: 612-348-6000 Hennepin County Website

Fourth Judicial District Court Clerk District Court has birth and death records from 1870, marriage, divorce and court 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:


 * 1659 to 15 November 1880 "Principal Events Chronologically Arranged" Chapter LXXXV pages 662-668 in History of Hennepin County and the city of Minneapolis: including the explorers and pioneers ... (Minneapolis: North Star Publishing Company, 1881)

Biographies

 * late 1800s - 1990s Minneapolis and Hennepin County Biography Files at Hennepin County Library Special Collections. See sidebar for extensive alphabetical listing.


 * 1849 - current |Hennepin| "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present" at the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library; select Search for Legislators by County Represented, and then select Hennepin; the result is (10/01/2021) 752 hits. See sample biography of Baldie Hartkopf.


 * Sue Hunter Weir. ‘Tales from Pioneers & Soldiers Cemetery’ is a collection of articles (over 190) written for The Friends of the Cemetery, and published in the Phillips Neighborhood newsletter, The Alley. The biographical sketches are online HERE and continue HERE.

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

 * Minnesota Gazetteer and Business Directory, for 1865: Containing a List of Cities, Villages, and Post Offices in the State; a List of Business Firms; State and County Organizations. Search keyword "Hennepin" for 99 results.  Persons are listed alphabetically under their residence, i.e. St. Anthony - Broad, Elisha manufacturer of edge tools, Hennepin Island, and again listed alphabetically under occupation, i.e. Edge Tool Manufacturer - Broad Elisha, Saint Anthony, Hennepin.

Cemeteries

 * 1860-1926 at FamilySearch-How to Use this Collection; index and images. This is the oldest cemetery in Minneapolis (first burial 1853) and currently referred to as Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery. The Friends of the Cemetery support its preservation; their website includes a burial search and historical articles.
 * 1870 - current Fort Snelling National Cemetery at National Cemetery Administration; includes a history of the cemetery and a "Grave Locator" on the right sidebar.
 * 1871 - current Lakewood Cemetery is located in Minneapolis and serves a large area. Website includes a search feature to find a burial or grave.

Census Records
Territorial and State Census Minnesota Territory and State censuses for Hennepin County [1857-1905] are indexed and have images at Minnesota Historical Society. The site's feature, "Minnesota People Records Search", is excellent for comparing spellings and improving search results.
 * 1835-1890 Minnesota, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1835-1890 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1849-1905 Minnesota, U.S., Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1857 Minnesota Territorial Census, 1857 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
 * 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.
 * 1895 Minnesota State Census 1895 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
 * 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.

Church Records
Baptist
 * FamilySearch Places


 * 1909 - 1999 Temple Baptist Church Collection at Hennepin History Museum. Minneapolis.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Congregational


 * 1857-1976 Collection on Plymouth Congregational Church at Hennepin County Library Special Collections; the collection overview includes church history, list of ministers, and founding members; the collection (5 boxes) "documents the life and death of parishioners".

Lutheran
 * Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($) has the following information:
 * Bethany Lutheran Church, Minneapolis,
 * Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
 * Gethsemane Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
 * Immanuel Lutheran Church, Minneapolis'
 * Liberty Evangelical Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
 * Minnesota Historical Society has a Collection Findng Aid for the following:
 * Evangelical Lutheran Church of America: An Inventory of Selected Congregational Records of the American Lutheran Church in Minnesota.

Presbyterian


 * 1888 - 2001 Andrew Church and Riverside Church Collection at Hennepin History Museum.

Directories

 * 1941-1977 Edina City Directories at Hennepin County Library
 * 1942-1977 Hopkins City Directories at Hennepin County Library
 * 1859-1950 Minneapolis City Directories at Hennepin County Library
 * 1865-1923 Minneapolis City Directories 1865-1923 at fold3 ($)
 * 1933-1977 St. Louis Park City Directories at Hennepin County Library

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1912-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Minnesota Federation of Women's Clubs, scrapbook 1920s-1940s at Hennepin County Library Special Collections.

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

Local Histories
Additional local publications written or provided by local societies are denoted with ♦ on the Society list; see contents.
 * Holcombe, Return Ira, Compendium of history and biography of Carver and Hennepin counties, Minnesota, (Chicago: Henry Taylor & Co., 1915); Online at FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.
 * Holcombe, Return Ira; Bingham, William H.; Loring, Charles M.; Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota (Chicago: Hanry Taylor & Co., 1914) Online at FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust, Internet Archive.
 * Warner, George E; Foote, C.M.; Neill, Edward D.; Williams, John Fletcher; History of Hennepin County and the city of Minneapolis: including the explorers and pioneers ... (Minneapolis: North Star Publishing Company, 1881) Online at FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust, Google Books.
 * Minnesota Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1848-1857 Minnesota Government Land Office Historic Plat Map Retrieval System. These are the first official records of land boundaries in Minnesota.  According to the Bureau of Land Management, surveying defines, retraces or re-establishes the boundaries and subdivisions of Federal Lands of the United States.  It is also the art and science of measuring the land to locate the limits of an owner's interest.  On the sidebar, click download by county and select Hennepin; there are 64 zip files (identified by township and range) to view if downloaded.


 * Hennepin County historic and current section maps: coverage of Section Map information within Hennepin County. Each Section Map provides links to pdf documents for: Current 1/2 & 1/8 Parcel Maps, Historic Parcel Maps, and Section Sheets.
 * 1850-2020 Hennepin County chart of plat map and county atlas holdings at John R. Borchert Map Library; includes online links if available. Also access digitized maps directly (sidebar "counties beginning with H).
 * 1856 City of St. Anthony and Minneapolis at Minnesota Digital Library; important reference to accompany historical texts on development of the city.
 * 1874 T.A. Andreas: Hennepin County in Minnesota State Atlas at David Rumsey Map Collections
 * 1879 Panoramic view of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota at Library of Congress. Identifies 124 locations (schools, churches, public buildings, and businesses) in sharp magnification.
 * 1885 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota online at Library of Congress. Sanborn maps were originally created to help insure particular properties against fire. They are detailed maps showing the footprint and construction materials of residences, industrial sites, and commercial buildings.  Property boundaries, building use, house and block numbers, as well as names and widths of streets are notated in these maps. Additional years online are 1889 1912 Vol. 5, 1912 - Dec 1950
 * 1887 Map of Ramsey and Washington counties : with adjacent portions of Anoka, Dakota & Hennepin counties, Minnesota, and parts of St. Croix & Pierce counties, Minnesota at Library of Congress. This map includes the names of property owners in Brooklyn, Champlin, Crystal, Golden Valley, St. Louis Park, Richfield, and Bloomington; also large land holders in Minneapolis. Houses and public buildings are marked; roads, railroads, and boundaries are clear. The map magnifies sharply.
 * 1891 Bird's eye view of Minneapolis at Library of Congress. Identifies 53 major locations in sharp magnification.
 * 1892 Minneapolis Plat Book
 * 1898 P. M. Dahl Plat Book of Hennepin County; colored maps compiled and drawn from official records and actual surveys; includes index and patrons' directory. The digitized maps are interactive and transcribed by Minnesota Historical Society and posted in Minnesota Digital Library.
 * 1903 Minneapolis Plat Book.
 * 1910-1955 Hennepin County map of racial covenants with an animated timeline and zoom features.
 * 1910-1940 Minneapolis “Mapping Prejudice” pdf maps (to download) of racial covenants for each decade. https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/217261
 * 1912-1951 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Vol. 6a. 73 images. Includes Crystal Bay, Deephaven Station, Edina, Excelsior, Glen Lake, Grove Land, Hopkins, Linwood, Long Lake, Minnetonka Beach, Minnetonka Mills, Morningside, Mound, Navarre, Saint Louis Park. Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata, and Williston Park.
 * 1913 P. O. Westby Atlas of Hennepin County Minnesota. Includes comprehensive index to Additions.   For individual 1913 plats of cities and towns, select the name of the city or town of interest:


 * 1921 Hudson's Map Of Minneapolis at Minnesota Digital Library. Map with parkland and streetcar lines illustrated; also includes an index to streets.
 * 1933 and 1944 Hennepin County Maps by the county highway department detailing the types of surfaces of the major roads.
 * 1952 Historical Sites and Progressive Growth of Minneapolis, Minnesota. A very unique map showing historical sites and the growth of the city. Facts about the historical sites and valuable dates are listed on the edges of the map.
 * Current: FamilySearch Places Reference for 83 Cities and Towns (current to October 2021) in Hennepin County that includes a location map with latitude and longitude, research links, and alternative names. See also How to Use FS Places.
 * Current: Minnesota Department of Transportation, Hennepin County municipality and township maps

Military Records
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
 * War Record of Hennepin County — Taken From the Adjutant General's Report, After the Same Had Been Carefully Scrutinized and Corrected By Resident Members of the Several Companies. Chapter 35 pages 188-211 in History of Hennepin County and the city of Minneapolis.....
 * Descriptive Book of Members of the Grand Army of the Republic, Hennepin County, Minnesota at Minnesota Digital Library

Civil War service men from Hennepin 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 included men of Hennepin County.
 * - 1st Battalion, Minnesota Infantry Volunteers, Companies A, B.
 * - 1st Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery
 * - 1st Minnesota Company Sharpshooters
 * - 1st Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry (Mounted Rangers), Companies A, C, F, G, K, M.
 * - 1st Regiment, Minnesota Heavy Artillery, Companies A, B, C, H.
 * - 1st Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Companies D, E, F, I, K.
 * - 2nd Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery
 * - 2nd Minnesota Company Sharpshooters
 * - 2nd Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry, Companies A, D, F, I, L.
 * - 2nd Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Companies B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K.
 * - 3rd Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery
 * - 3rd Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Companies A, B, F. G, H, I
 * - 4th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Companies B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K.
 * - 5th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Companies D, E, F, G, I, K.
 * - 6th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, I, K.
 * - 7th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry
 * - 8th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Companies A, E, H, K.
 * - 9th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Companies A, B, C, I, K.
 * - 10th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company K.
 * - 11th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Companies F, G.
 * - Brackett's Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry, Companies A, B, C, D.
 * - Hatch's Independent Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F.

Spanish-American War


 * 1898 U.S., Spanish American War Volunteers Index to Compiled Military Service Records, 1898 at Ancestry (Free collection)
 * 1898-1899 Minnesota, U.S., Spanish American War Muster Rolls and Casualty Lists, 1898-1899 at Ancestry; Free index
 * 1898-1974 Company B Last Man Club and the 13th Minnesota Regimental Association Collection at Hennepin History Museum. An organization of Spanish-American War Veterans that first met as a club on December 4, 1926 in Minneapolis, and continued until 1963.

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

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1849-1985 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Naturalization Index, 1849-1985 at Ancestry (Free Collection)
 * 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
 * Minnesota Newspapers at Chronicling America (Library of Congress) Currently the following Minnesota titles are available on Chronicling America, with more to follow:
 * 1889-1922 The Appeal. (Saint Paul, Minn.) African-American newspaper
 * 1901 The Minneapolis Journal (Minneapolis, Minn.)
 * Newspaper Collection - Minnesota Historical Society's Gale Family Library

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 index

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

School Records
Minneapolis


 * Minneapolis Public Schools Collection at Hennepin County Library Special Collections. The overview includes an informative history; the collection is composed of 102 boxes--each with an online inventory list,  plus 2 oversized map boxes.
 * 1876-1984 Central High School Collection at Hennepin History Museum; the first high school in Minneapolis. It existed under three names: Union School (1860-1863), Washington School (circa 1867-1878), and Central High School (1878-1982).
 * 1915-2004 St. Andrew’s School of Nursing and its Alumnae Association Collection at Hennepin History Museum. Includes membership lists.

Rural Areas


 * 1850-1950 Myers, Pamela J. Classroom Voices: Students' Memories : Grade Schools and Mound Consolidated High School, District #85, Mound, Mn, 1850s-1950. Minneapolis, MN: Syren Book Co, 2009. Print. Available at Westonka Museum and online store.

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 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 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 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1866-1916 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and some images (collection only covers Minneapolis and St. Paul)
 * 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 ($)
 * 1970-2003 Minnesota Divorce Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives ($)

Family History Centers
Centers

Bloomington Minnesota Family History Center 9700 Nesbitt Avenue South Bloomington, MN 55437-1912 Phone: 952-893-2393 Minneapolis Minnesota Family History Center 2801 Douglas Drive North Crystal, MN 55422 Phone: 763-544-2479 St Paul Minnesota Family History Center 100 Silver Lake Road Northwest New Brighton, MN 55112 Phone: 651-636-9058

Affiliates

University of Minnesota Wilson Library 309 19th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55455 Phone: 612-624-4125 Minneapolis Central Library 300 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55401-1925 Phone: 612-543-8319

Libraries
Hennepin County Library James K. Hosmer Special Collections Minneapolis Central Library 300 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55401 Phone: 612-543-8200 Website Serving at 42 libraries: Locations

Immigration History Research Center (IHRC) University of Minnesota Elmer L. Andersen Library, Suite 311 222 21st Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55455-0439 Phone: 612-625-4800 Website

University of Minnesota Libraries 65 Wilson Library 309 19th Ave South Minneapolis, MN 55455 Website

Museums
Hennepin History Museum 2303 3rd Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55404-3505 Phone: 612-870-1329 Website Includes Research Library and Archival Collections Westonka Museum Mound Centennial Building on Levels 4 and 5 5341 Maywood Rd Mound, MN 55364 Phone: 952-472-9800

Societies
♦ denotes society has online archives and local publications available

Brooklyns Historical Society ♦ 5600 85th Ave Brooklyn Park, MN 55443 Phone: 763-392-5356 Website Serves Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park Champlin Historical Society Champlin City Hall 11955 Champlin Drive Champlin, MN 55316 Facebook  Deephaven Historical Society 20225 Cottagewood Rd Deephaven, MN 55331 Website  Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society ♦ Archives at Old Excelsior Public School Building 261 School Avenue Lower Level, Suite 102 Excelsior, MN 55331 Website Eden Prairie Historical Society Eden Prairie City Center 8080 Mitchell Rd Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Phone: 952-949-8580 Website Edina Historical Society ♦ 4711 W. 70th Street Edina, MN 55435 Phone: 612-928-4577 Website Golden Valley Historical Society 6731 Golden Valley Rd Golden Valley, MN 55427 Phone: 763-588-8578 Website

Hopkins Historical Society ♦ Hopkins Activity Center 33 14th Avenue N Hopkins, MN 55343 Phone: 952-548-6480 Website Maple Grove Historical Preservation Society ♦ 9030 Forestview Lane N Maple Grove, MN  55369 Phone: 763-494-5983 Website  Plymouth Historical Society 3400 Plymouth Blvd Plymouth, MN 55447-1448 Website  Richfield Historical Society ♦ History Center and Museum 6901 Lyndale Ave S Richfield, MN 55423 Phone: 612-798-6140 Website  St. Louis Park Historical Society ♦ 3700 Monterey Drive St Louis Park, MN 55416-4902 Phone: 952-924-2538 Website  Wayzata Historical Society, Archives and History Center ♦ 620 Rice Street East Wayzata, MN 55391-1651 Phone: 952-473-3631 Website Open Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. lower level of the Wayzata Library. Serves Wayzata and the Lake Minnetonka area. Westonka Historical Society ♦ Chamber Room of Mound Centennial Building 5341 Maywood Rd Mound, MN 55364 Phone: 952-472-9800 Website Serves Minnetonka Beach, Minnetrista, Mound, Orono, and Spring Lake. Military Historical Society of Minnesota Camp Ripley 15000 Highway 115 Little Falls, MN 56345 Phone: 320-616-6050 Website The museum reference library on military history contains 15,000 circulating books, manuscripts, and pamphlets. In addition, it maintains a large collection of historic military technical and field manuals. Special attention is given to collecting materials that specifically relate to the military experiences of Minnesotans and to military units with Minnesota ties. Has online search catalog.

Websites

 * The Hennepin County MNGenWeb Project, a member of The MNGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * USGenWeb Archives for Hennepin County.
 * Hennepin County Resource Page at Ancestry ($)
 * Cyndi's List: Hennepin County
 * Hennepin County MN Genealogy at LDS Genealogy
 * Minnesota Historical Society
 * Iron Range Research Center
 * – 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.