Nelson County, North Dakota Genealogy

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

Description
The County is located in the northeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Nelson County Courthouse 210 W B Ave PO Box 565 Lakota, ND 58344 Phone: 701.247.2462 Nelson County Website Clerk District Court has birth and death records from 1903, marriage, probate and land records from 1880, divorce, Court and burial 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

 * Nelson 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

Cemeteries

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

Census Records

 * Nelson 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 Dutch Reformed Church Lutheran Church
 * 1905 - U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Salem Reformed Church in Mapes, Membership Records, 1905
 * 1875-1940 - U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Dates vary for each county
 * Records of Center Lutheran Church, Nelson County, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).
 * Records of Warwick Lutheran Church, Nelson County, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Directories

 * 1902 - Aneta Medical Directory 1902 USGenWeb Archives

Emigration and Immigration

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

Land and Property Records
Online Land Records For more information see North Dakota Land and Property
 * Index to Nelson 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.com - index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
 * 1861-1908 - U.S. Homestead Records 1863-1908 at Ancestry.com - ($), index and images

Local Histories

 * 1906 - County Description and Overview (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1914 - Farm Home-Making In Nelson County (Genealogy Trails)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- 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

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
 * 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 Nelson County Military Records USGenWeb Archives)
 * World War I Casualties, Nelson County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)
 * World War II Army Casualties, Nelson County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)
 * World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, Nelson County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)
 * Korean War Casualties, Nelson County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)
 * Vietnam War Casualties, Nelson County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1868-1924 - at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * North Dakota Naturalization Records Index at NDSU Archives] – index only, covers various dates and counties

Newspapers
North Dakota Newspaper Catalogs North Dakota Newspapers Online
 * 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
 * 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

 * Nelson 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 ($)

School Records

 * Index to Lakota School Records. Scroll down to "Schools." (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1917-1930 - Graduates of McVille High School (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1906-1930 - Michigan City, ND High School Graduates (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.

Marriage

 * 1872-1958 - at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * Nelson 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
 * Nelson 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
Nelson County Historical Society PO Box 141 Pekin, ND 58361 Telephone: 701-296-4599 Email to: [mailto:stumplakevillage@gondtc.com emailofsociety] Facebook

Websites

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