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Guide to Douglas 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 Stephen Douglas, of Illinois. The County is located in the west-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Douglas County Courthouse 305 Eighth Avenue West Alexandria, MN 56308 Phone: 320-762-3033 (Court Administration) Phone: 320-762-3877 Douglas County Website County Recorder has birth, marriage, and death records from 1890, land records from late 1800s and military records. Clerk of Courts has divorce, probate and court records.

Populated Places
 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:

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
Forty-four churches were established between 1860 and 1910 by key ethnic groups in Douglas County. These ethnic groups included Norwegian (11 churches), German (10 churches), Swedish (20 churches), Finnish (2 churches), Danish (1 church), and American/British ethnicity (8 churches).

Lutheran First English Lutheran Church, Alexandria


 * Records of First English Lutheran Church, Alexandria, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

East Moe Lutheran Church, Garfield


 * Records of East Moe Lutheran Church, Garfield, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Farwell Lutheran Church


 * Records of Farwell Lutheran Church in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Our Savior's Lutheran Congregation, Evansville


 * Records of Our Savior's Lutheran Congregation, Evansville, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Trysil Lutheran Church, Farwell


 * Records of Trysil Lutheran Church, Farwell, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

West Moe Lutheran Church, Garfield


 * Records of West Moe Lutheran Church, Garfield, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Emigration and Immigration

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

Land and Property Records

 * County Recorder has land records from the late 1800s.
 * The government land office, headquarters for a large area of the northwest, was located in Alexandria beginning 1868.
 * The land office moved to Fergus Falls, Minnesota in 1876 because most of the land in Douglas County had either been bought or homesteaded.
 * The Recorder's Office at the Douglas County Courthouse, located in Alexandria, Minnesota has all the Indexes and the Land Abstracts digitized. These records extend back to the late 1860s. In order to access these records you need to tell them the address of the house or farm or else the Plat map description so that they can determine the Block and Lot numbers. Copies of the Index listings for that Block and Lot Land description as well as the matching Land Abstracts can be obtained for ($).50 per page, as of 1 Nov 2011.

Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Pre-1908 Minnesota, Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 at Ancestry ($)
 * The original Land Transfer Books for Douglas County (previously kept at the Courthouse) are available at the Douglas County Historical Society in Alexandria. They begin about 1869 and extend to about 1970. Information is recorded under the Township numbers and then Block and Lot numbers. The name of the last Grantee (person’s signature) and the Date of Transfer are also recorded.

Local Histories

 * Douglas County Album of the Ages. (Douglas County Historical Society: Taylor Publishing Co., 1982)
 * Larson, Constant. History of Douglas and Grant Counties, Minnesota: their people, industries, and institutions. (Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bowen &amp; Company, Inc, 1916).
 * Minnesota Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Family Maps of Douglas County (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
 * Minnesota Maps at David Rumsey Map Collection

Military Records
Online Civil War Indexes and Records
 * 1861-1865 U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Civil War Records, 1861-1865 at (Free collection)
 * 1861-1865 Minnesota Civil War Soldiers at Ancestry ($)
 * 1861-1917 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection

Spanish-American War
 * 1861-1934 U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1898 U.S., Spanish American War Volunteers Index to Compiled Military Service Records, 1898 at Ancestry (Free collection)
 * 1898-1899 Minnesota Volunteers in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection at Ancestry ($)

World War I
 * 1898-1899 U.S., Spanish American War Muster Rolls and Casualty Lists, 1898-1899 at (Free index)
 * 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 ($)
 * 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 ($)
 * 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at Ancestry ($)

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * Douglas County Naturalization Records1867 to 1947

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 U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1880-1920 at ($)
 * 1918 Web: MInnesota, U.S., Alien Registration Index, 1918 at Ancestry (Free collection)

Newspapers

 * Douglas County newspapers which begin in 1871 are available on microfilm for searching at the Douglas County Historical Society. They can also be obtained through Interlibrary Loan from the Minnesota Historical Society. As of 10 Nov 2011 the charge by the Minnesota Historical Society is ($)3.00 per microfilm. The local library requesting the microfilm may also charge an additional fee, which is usually less than $10. For a list of the Alexandria area newspapers and the years they existed, see the website of the Douglas County Historical Society. (Click on the link on this page under Societies and Libraries.)
 * Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub at Minnesota Historical Society — narrow to county (55 listed) or city (106 listed), search for surname, limit by date.

Obituaries

 * 1865-2006 at  — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
 * 1891-2003 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Obituary Index, 1891-2003 at Ancestry (Free Index)

Other Records
Churches founded in Douglas County between 1860 - 1910 Norwegian Churches:
 * Alexandria Township: First Lutheran Church (founded 1872); Bethesda Lutheran Church (founded 1907)
 * Brandon Township: Chippewa Lutheran Church (founded 1871); Grace Lutheran Church (founded 1881)
 * Evansville Township: Our Savior's Lutheran Church (founded 1869)
 * Moe Township: West Moe Lutheran Church (founded 1867); East Moe Lutheran Church (founded 1886)
 * Urness Township: St. Petri Lutheran Church (founded 1887)
 * Osakis Township: Our Savior's Lutheran Church (founded 1871)
 * Holmes City Township: Trysil Lutheran Church (founded 1870)
 * Solem Township: Solem Lutheran Church (founded 1876)

Danish Church
 * Osakis Township: Danish Lutheran Church (founded 1871)

Finnish Churches
 * Urness Township: Finnish Apostolic Church (founded 1877)
 * Moe Township: St. Paul's Lutheran Church (founded 1902)

Swedish Churches
 * Alexandria Township: First Baptist Church (founded 1881); Svea (Calvary) Lutheran Church (founded 1877)
 * Osakis Township: Fahlun Lutheran Church (founded 1871)
 * Holmes City Township: Trinity Lutheran Church (founded 1875); Oscar Lake Lutheran Church (founded 1866); Swedish Baptist Church (founded 1904)
 * Urness Township: Fryksende Lutheran Church (founded 1877)
 * Lund Township: Christian Lake Lutheran Church (founded 1871)
 * Millerville Township (founded ca. 1880)
 * Ida Township: St. Luke's Lutheran Church (founded 1869); Ida Mission Covenant Church (founded 1889)
 * Solem Township: Wennersborg Lutheran Church (founded ca. 1879); Kensington Covenant Church (founded 1875)
 * Evansville Township: Immanuel Lutheran Church (founded 1883); Zionsborg Lutheran Church (founded 1884); Calvary Mission Covenant Church (founded 1887)
 * Spruce Hill Township: Free Mission Covenant Church (founded 1886); Rose City Swedish Baptist Church (founded ca. 1890); Spruce Hill Methodist Church (founded 1890s); Spruce Hill Lutheran Church (founded 1876)

German Churches
 * Alexandria Township: St. Mary's Catholic Church (founded 1879); Zion Lutheran Church (founded 1880)
 * Carlos Township: Immanual Lutheran Church (founded 1874)
 * Belle River Township: St. Nicholas Catholic Church (founded 1870)
 * Ida Township: St. John's Lutheran Church (founded 1910)
 * Brandon Township: St. Ann's Catholic Church (founded 1902)
 * Leaf Valley Township: Ebenezer Lutheran Church (founded 1875)
 * Miltona Township: St. Paul's Lutheran Church (founded 1890)
 * Millerville Township: Trinity Lutheran Church (founded 1892); Church of Seven Dolors Catholic Church (founded 1867)

Yankee and British Churches
 * Alexandria Township: First Methodist Church (founded 1879); Emmanuel Episcopal Church (founded 1868); United Methodist Church (founded 1867); Congregational Church (founded 1867)
 * Ida Township: First Presbyterian Church of Garfield (founded ca. 1900)
 * Carlos Township: Carlos Prebyterian Church (founded ca. 1900)
 * Hudson Township: Free Methodist Church (founded ca. 1891); Forada Presbyterian Church (founded ca.1898)
 * FamilySearch Places

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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.

Tax Records

 * Personal property tax records that cover the period of about 1869 to about 1950 are available at the Douglas County Historical Society. They provide information on the property held by an individual at a specific time period and the dollar value of the property.

Vital Records

 * County Recorder has birth, marriage, and death records from 1890

Birth

 * 1900-1934 Minnesota, Birth Index, 1900-1934 at MyHeritage($) — index
 * 1840-1980 U.S., Births and Christenings Index, 1840-1980 at ($)
 * 1900-1934 Minnesota Births, 1900-1934 at Minnesota Historical Society - free index, images ($)
 * 1900-1934 People Records Search select Birth Records (1900-1934), at Historical Society — Index only, search by name, date, a related surname, or county.
 * 1935-2000 U.S., Birth Index, 1935-2000 at ($)

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 mn.gov — search by county, name or date, and request copy.
 * 1970-2003 Minnesota Marriage Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archive ($)
 * 1976-2003 Minnesota, Marriages, 1976-2003 at MyHeritage($) — index

Death

 * 1904-2001 Minnesota, Death Index, 1904-2001 at MyHeritage($) — index
 * 1850-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
 * 1887-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
 * 1904-2001 Minnesota Deaths, 1904-2001 at Minnesota Historical Society - free index, images ($)
 * 1904-2001 Minnesota People Records Search, select Death Records (1904-2001), at Minnesota Historical Society — Index only, search by name, date, a related surname, or county.
 * 1908-2017 Minnesota, Death Index, 1908-2017 at Ancestry ($)

Divorce

 * 1970-1995 Minnesota, Divorce Index, 1970-1995 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1970-2003 Minnesota Divorce Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives ($)

Family History Centers

 * Alexandria Minnesota Family History Center

Libraries

 * Douglas County Historical Society 1219 Nokomis St Alexandria, MN 56308-3712 Phone: 320-762-0382 Website
 * Evansville Historical Foundation PO Box 337 304 Gran Street South Evansville, MN 56326 Phone: 218-948-2010 Website
 * Osakis Area Heritage Center PO Box 8 11 East Main Street Osakis, MN Phone: 320-859-3777 Website
 * West Central Minnesota Historical Research Center University of Minnesota–Morris Morris, MN 5626 Website
 * Douglas County Genealogical Society PO Box 505 Alexandria, MN 56308

Websites

 * Douglas County GenWeb
 * Cyndi's List: Douglas County
 * Research at Minnesota Historical Society — links to Records and Indexes; See also MHS Wiki Page
 * USGenWeb Archives for Minnesota; select desired county.
 * 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.
 * – 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.