North Dakota and South Dakota Naturalization Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains declaration of intention records for the U.S. Territorial Court for the Second (Yankton) District of the District of Dakota, 1851-1889.
 * Declarations of Intention for Citizenship, 1861 - 1883; 1861-1883; Box 1 DGS 103744380
 * Declarations of Intention for Citizenship, 1861 - 1883; 1861-1883; Vol 1 DGS 103744381

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Find church and vital records such as birth and baptism records
 * Use the record to see if other family members immigrated with the person you are looking for
 * Search for the family in census records
 * Search for naturalization records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Search the indexes and records of other port cities
 * Look for the Declaration of Intent soon after the immigrant arrived. Then look for the Naturalization Petition five years later, when the residency requirement would have been met. Look for naturalization records in federal courts, then in state, county, or city courts. An individual may have filed the first and final papers in different courts and sometimes in a different state if the person moved. Immigrants who were younger than 18 when they arrived did not need to file a Declaration of Intent as part of the process

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in North Dakota South Dakota.
 * Guided Research: North Dakota | South Dakota
 * Record Finder: North Dakota | South Dakota
 * Research Tips and Strategies: North Dakota | South Dakota
 * North Dakota Genealogy
 * South Dakota Genealogy

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Newman, John J. American Naturalization Records;1790-1990: what they are and how to use them. Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1998. FS Library 973 P47na
 * Szucs, Loretto Dennis They became Americans: finding naturalization records and ethnic origins Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, c1998 FS Library 973 P47t

 North Dakota
 * U.S. Circuit Court. North Dakota Southeastern Division. Declarations of intention, 1890-1924
 * U.S. Circuit Court. North Dakota. Northwestern Division. Declarations of intention, 1891-1906
 * U.S. Circuit Court. North Dakota. Northeastern Division. Declarations of Intentions,1892-1909
 * U.S. Circuit Court. North Dakota. Southwestern Division. Declarations of Intentions, 1892-1917
 * U.S. Circuit Court. North Dakota. Western Division. Declarations of Intentions,1906-1916
 * U.S. Circuit Court. North Dakota. Southeastern Division. Naturalization Records,1906-1924

 South Dakota
 * U.S. District Court. South Dakota. Declaration of intention, 1890-1924
 * U.S. District Court. South Dakota. Naturalization records, 1904-1906; petitions and records, 1906-1928
 * U.S. Circuit Court. South Dakota. Declarations of intention, 1891-1906
 * U.S. Circuit Court. South Dakota. Naturalization records, 1907-1923

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.