Clearwater County, Minnesota Genealogy

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

Minnesota Online Genealogy Records

Description
The County was named for Clearwater Lake and Clearwater River. The County is located in the north-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Recorder has birth, marriage, death, land, and military records from 1903. Court Administrator has divorce, probate, court and naturalization records.

Parent County

 * 1902--Clearwater County was created 20 December 1902 from Beltrami County. County seat: Bagley

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Minnesota County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Minnesota County Boundary Maps" (1849-1960) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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:

Neighboring Counties

 * Becker
 * Beltrami
 * Hubbard
 * Mahnomen
 * Pennington
 * Polk

Census
State Census
 * 1865 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1885 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1905 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Church
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court

 * Minnesota Historical Society Library holds naturalization records for all 87 counties and the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1912 - 1956 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps

 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1872-1962 - at FamilySearch — index

Obituaries

 * 1865-2006 - at FamilySearch— index and images

Probate
Online Probate Records
 * 1801 - 1999 Minnesota Wills and Probate Records 1801-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Birth

 * 1900-1934 Minnesota, Birth Index, 1900-1934 at MyHeritage($) — index

Marriage

 * 1850-2019 WEB: Minnesota, Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System, 1850-2019 at Ancestry($) — index
 * 1860 - 1949 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1976-2003 Minnesota, Marriages, 1976-2003 at MyHeritage($) — index

Death

 * 1850-2001 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1887-2001 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1904-2001 Minnesota, Death Index, 1904-2001 at MyHeritage($) — index

Societies and Libraries

 * Clearwater County Historical Society and Museum PO Box 241 Bagley, MN 56621 Phone: 218-785-2000 Website
 * North Central Minnesota Historical Center The A. C. Clark Library Bemidji State University Bemidji, MN 56601

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

 * Minnesota Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Clearwater County GenWeb
 * Cyndi's List: Clearwater County
 * Cyndi's List: Clearwater County