Burleigh County, North Dakota Genealogy

Guide to Burleigh County, North Dakota ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Description
Founded in 1873. The County Seat is Bismarck. The County is located in center area of the state.

County Courthouse
Burleigh County Courthouse 514 E Thayer Ave PO Box 5518 Bismarck, ND 58501-4413 Phone: 701.222.6690 Burleigh County Website Clerk District Court has marriage and probate records from 1898 Court Records from 1876 and burial records from 1950’s

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:

See also
 * National Register of Historic Places listings in Burleigh County North Dakota

Biographies

 * Burleigh County Biographies (North Dakota Genealogy Trails website) - alphabetical list of early settlers and prominent individuals from county histories
 * North Dakota Biography Index at North Dakota State University Archives - Index only; gives references to publications containing information on North Dakotans, living and deceased

Cemeteries

 * 1877-1999 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Census Records

 * Burleigh County Census Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Territory and State Census Records

 * 1836 1836 Wisconsin Territory Census – index only; North Dakota was included in the 1836 Wisconsin Territory Census
 * 1840 at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; North Dakota was included in the 1840 Iowa Territory Census - How to Use this Collection
 * 1850 at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; North Dakota was included in the 1850 Minnesota Territory Census - How to Use this Collection
 * 1860 at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; North Dakota was included in the 1860 Dakota Territory Census - How to Use this Collection
 * 1870 at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; North Dakota was included in the 1870 Dakota Territory Census - How to Use this Collection
 * 1880 at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; North Dakota was included in the 1880 Dakota Territory Census - How to Use this Collection
 * 1885 Dakota Territory 1885 Census Index at NDSU Archives – index only
 * 1885, 1915, 1925 North Dakota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1885, 1915, 1925 at Ancestry.com – ($), index and images
 * 1915 at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1925 at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Federal Census Records
Federal Censuses were taken for the state of North Dakota starting in 1890, although no records survived. The 1900 Census is the next Federal Census available. For links to Federal census indexes, see North Dakota Census.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Online Church Records Lutheran Church Presbyterian Church
 * 1875-1940 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Dates vary for each county
 * 1927-1935 U.S., Presbyterian Records, 1701-1970 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Westminster Presbyterian Church of Stewartsdale, 1927-1935

Directories

 * 1822-1995 U.S. City Directories 1822-1995 at Ancestry ($) - collection for the City of Bismark
 * 1902 Bismark Medical Directory, 1902 (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1909 Burleigh County Attorneys (USGenWeb Archives)

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1800-1953 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Funeral Homes

 * Bismarck Funeral Home and Cemetery in Bismarck
 * Eastgate Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Bismarck

Land and Property Records
Online Land Records For more information see North Dakota Land and Property
 * Burleigh County BLM Landowner Records by Name (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
 * 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry - index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
 * 1863-1908 U.S. Homestead Records 1863-1908 at Ancestry - ($), index and images

Local Histories

 * Burleigh County - Early History (Genealogy Trails)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * Interactive Formation Boundary Map of North Dakota - shows boundary changes for North Dakota Counties
 * North Dakota Maps at NDGenWeb -historical maps

Military Records
Civil War Battle The following Civil War battle was fought in Burleigh County.
 * July 28, 1863 = Stony Lake

Online collections
These collections are unique to North Dakota. You will find nationwide databases for military records on U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records and North Dakota Military Records. Civil War World War I World War II Korean War Vietnam War For further information see North Dakota Military Records.
 * 1861 -1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1890 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * List of Pensioners on the Rolls as of Jan 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
 * Map showing Civil War battles in North Dakota.
 * 1917 - 1918 North Dakota Military Men 1917-1918 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1917 - 1918 Roster of the men and women who served in the army or naval service (including the Marine Corps) of the United States or its allies from the state of North Dakota in the World War, 1917-1918, Vols. 1-4 at Ancestry ($)
 * World War I Casualties, Burleigh County (Genealogy Trails)
 * World War II Army Casualties, Burleigh County (Genealogy Trails)
 * World War II Navy Casualties, Burleigh County (Genealogy Trails)
 * Korean War Casualties, Burleigh County (Genealogy Trails)
 * Vietnam War Casualties, Burleigh County (Genealogy Trails)

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1868-1924 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1873-1955 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1877-1955 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1907-1956 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * North Dakota Naturalization Records Index at NDSU Archives – index only, covers various dates and counties

Newspapers
North Dakota Newspaper Catalogs
 * State Historical Society of North Dakota - contains inventory and catalog of all known ND newspapers
 * U.S. Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present on Chronicling America - contains a list of all known newspapers and the dates they cover; once you locate a newspaper name, contact the local library to see if they have copies of the newspaper

North Dakota Newspapers Online
 * Chronicling America - contains images of some North Dakota newspapers; searching tips
 * Elephind - Free; search engine that retrieves newspaper images from other free newspaper websites
 * GenealogyBank ($)
 * Newspaper Archive ($)
 * Papers from the Past at Community History Archives

Obituaries

 * Burleigh County Obituaries and Death Notices (Genealogy Trails)
 * Burleigh County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1800–1985 North Dakota and South Dakota Wills and Probate Records 1800-1985 at Ancestry.com — index and images($)
 * 1890-1900 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images

School Records

 * 1908 Bismark High School Graduates of1908. Includes biographical information. (Genealogy Trails)

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

 * Burleigh County Birth Announcements taken from local newspapers. (Genealogy Trails)

Marriage

 * 1872-1958 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1872-2017 North Dakota, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1872-2017 at Ancestry - index & images, ($)
 * Burleigh County Marriage Announcements taken from local newspapers. (Genealogy Trails)

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records


 * 1892-present NDDH Public Death Index, 1892-present at North Dakota Dept. of Health – index only

Family History Centers

 * Bismarck North Dakota Family History Center
 * Dickinson North Dakota Family History Center


 * Dickinson Area Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Bismarck Veterans Memorial Library 515 N 5th St Bismarck, ND 58501 701-355-1480 Website Facebook

Museums
State Historical Museum 612 East Boulevard Avenue Bismarck, North Dakota 58505 701-328-2666 Email: [mailto:history@nd.gov history@nd.gov] Website

Societies
Germans From Russia Heritage Society 1125 Turnpike Ave. Bismarck, ND 58501-8115 701-223-6167 Email: [mailto:rachel.grhs@midconetwork.com rachel.grhs@midconetwork.com] Website Facebook

Missouri Valley Historical Society 3805 East Bismarck Expressway Bismark, ND

North Dakota Foundation State Historical Society 612 East Boulevard Ave Bismark, ND

Websites

 * Burleigh County at Cyndi's List — a comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online
 * Burleigh County at Genealogy Trails — volunteer transcriptions of genealogical and historical data
 * Burleigh County at North Dakota USGenWeb - free online resources for genealogical research
 * Burleigh County at North Dakota USGenWeb Archives - free online data for genealogical research
 * Burleigh County, North Dakota at Linkpendium - genealogy and family history
 * Burleigh County, North Dakota Genealogy at LDSGenealogy.com - collection of links by state, county, city, and record type
 * 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.