Clay County, Minnesota Genealogy

Guide to Clay 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 the American statesman Henry Clay, member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century. The County is located in the west central area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Recorder has:
 * Birth, marriage, death and land records from 1872
 * Military records from 1917

Court Administration has:
 * Divorce and court records from 1931
 * Probate records from 1885

History
The county is named after U.S. Speaker of the House Henry Clay (1777-1852).

Parent County
1858--Clay County was created 18 March 1858 from Pembina (Old) County. County seat: Moorhead

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
 * Cass County, North Dakota
 * Norman
 * Otter Tail
 * Richland County, North Dakota
 * Wilkin

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

Lutheran
Clay County


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Clay County, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Dillworth Lutheran Church


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

Hawley


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Hawley, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Barnesville


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

Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead


 * Records of the Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Ulen

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Ulen, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).
 * FamilySearch Places

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1912 - 1956 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Land
A wiki article describing an online collection is found at:

Minnesota, Clay County Land and Property Records, 1872-1947

Local Histories

 * Biographies of Clay and Norman County, Minnesota 1918 Online biographical sketches of Clay and Norman county residents taken from the book A History of Clay and Norman Counties, Minnesota Vol. 2, pub. by B. F. Bowen and Co.

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
 * 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 $

Schools
Online Records
 * 1909 - 1962 at FamilySearch — images

A wiki article describing an online collection is found at:

Minnesota, Clay County School Census Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Marriage

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

Death

 * 1850-2001 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1872-Present - Clay County Death Records
 * 1887-2001 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Societies and Libraries

 * Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County The Hjemkomst Center 202 First Avenue North Moorhead, MN 56560 Phone: 218-299-5511 Website
 * Barnesville Heritage Society PO Box 126 412 6 St NE Barnesville, MN 56514 Phone: 218-354-2364
 * Ulen Historical Museum PO Box 182 Ulen MN 56585 Phone: 218 596-8121
 * Red River Valley Genealogical Society PO Box 9284 112 N University Drive, Suite L116 Fargo, ND 58106 Phone: 701-239-4129 Website

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

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