Steele County, North Dakota Genealogy

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

Description
The county seat of Steele County is Finley. The county was named for Edward Steele of the Red River Land Company. Steele County was founded in 1883. The County is located in center east area of the state.

County Courthouse
Steele County Courthouse 201 Washington Ave W PO Box 296 Finley, ND 58230 Phone: 701.524.2152 Steele County Website Clerk District Court has birth and death records 1894-1896 and 1900-1901, divorce and court records from 1886; County Judge has marriage records from 1883 and probate records from 1886; Register of Deeds has land records

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:

Biographies

 * Index to Steele County Biographies on 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

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
 * 1850 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; North Dakota was included in the 1850 Minnesota Territory Census
 * 1860 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; North Dakota was included in the 1860 Dakota Territory Census
 * 1870 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; North Dakota was included in the 1870 Dakota Territory Census
 * 1880 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; North Dakota was included in the 1880 Dakota Territory Census
 * 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
 * 1925 at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images

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.
 * 1900 1900 Census Surname Index With Page Image Scans By Township (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1910 Index of Steel County Census Records - images. (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1920 Index of Steel County Census Records - images. (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1930 Index of Steel County Census Records - images. (USGenWeb Archives)

Church Records
Online Church Records Steele County Church Histories Lutheran Church
 * Index to Steele County Churches (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1875-1940 - U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Dates vary for each county

Directories

 * 1909 Steele County Attorneys (USGenWeb Archives)

Funeral Homes

 * City of Finley Funeral Home Index (USGenWeb Archives)

Land and Property Records
Online Land Records For more information see North Dakota Land and Property
 * Index to Steele County BLM Land Records (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.com - ($), index and images

Local Histories

 * Steele County ND History (Genealogy Trails)
 * History of Riverside Township, Steele County. By Myrtle Bemis. n.p.: n.p. (FamilySearch)
 * Index to Early Township Histories (Genealogy Trails)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Interactive Formation Boundary Map of North Dakota - shows boundary changes for North Dakota Counties
 * North Dakota Maps at NDGenWeb - historical maps
 * Steele County Townships Map (USGenWeb Archives)

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.
 * 1883 - Steele County ND 1883 Pensioners List (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1890 - at FamilySearch.
 * 1890 - Steele County ND 1890 Veterans Census (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1893 - Steele County ND 1892 Members of the Grand Army of the Republic (Genealogy Trails)
 * 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 Inductees, Steel County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)
 * World War I Casualties, Steel County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)
 * World War II Army Steel County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails),
 * World War II Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Casualties, Steel County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)
 * World War II Enlistments, Steel County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1950-1957 - Korean War Casualties, Steel County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1957-1995 - Vietnam War Casualties, Steel County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * North Dakota Naturalization Records Index at NDSU Archives – index only, covers various dates and counties

Newspapers
 North Dakota Newspapers Online North Dakota Newspaper Catalogs
 * GenealogyBank - ($), contains images of North Dakota newspapers
 * Newspaper Archive - ($), contains images of North Dakota newspapers
 * Chronicling America - contains images of some North Dakota newspapers; searching tips
 * Elephind - Free; search engine that retrieves newspaper images from other free newspaper websites
 * 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
 * State Historical Society of North Dakota - contains inventory and catalog of all known ND newspapers

Obituaries

 * Index to Steel County Obituaries and Death Notices (Genealogy Trails)

Probate Records
''Online Probate Records
 * 1800–1985 - North Dakota and South Dakota Wills and Probate Records 1800-1985 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * Steele County ND Wills, Legal Records and Notices (Genealogy Trails)

School Records

 * 1905-1939 - Hope High School Graduates (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1907-1950 - Hope High School Teachers (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1919-1930 - Finley High School Graduates (Genealogy Trails)

Marriage

 * 1872-1958 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Index to Steel County Marriage Announcements, Alphabetical by grooms' names and brides' names. (Genealogy Trails)
 * Steele County Marriage Announcements (Genealogy Trails)

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records
 * 1892-present - NDDH Public Death Index, 1892-present at North Dakota Dept. of Health – index only
 * Index to Steele County Obituaries and Death Notices (Genealogy Trails)

Archives
North Dakota State University Archives West Building 3551 7th Avenue N Fargo, ND 58102 Mailing Address: NDSU Archives Libraries NDSU Dept #2080 PO Box 6050 Fargo, ND 58108-6050 Phone: 701-231-8914 Fax: 701-231-5632 Email: [Mailto:ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu] Website

Societies
Steele County Historical Society 301 Steele Ave PO Box 144 Hope, North Dakota 58046 Telephone: 701-945-2394 E-mail: [mailto:steelecomuseum@steelecomuseum.com steelecomuseum@steelecomuseum.com] Website

Websites

 * Steele County, North Dakota, USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
 * Steele County, North Dakota, USGenWeb Archives
 * 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.
 * Steele County, North Dakota Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Steele County Genealogy (LDS Genealogy)
 * Steele County, North Dakota, Genealogy and History (Genealogy Trails)