South Dakota, Department of Health, Birth and Marriage Indexes - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection is a database of births from 1843 to 1914 and marriages from 1950 to 2016 provided by the South Dakota Department of Health. Statewide registration of vital statistics began in 1905 and was generally complied with by 1932. Delayed birth records date from the early 1900's. Pre-1905 records exist for some South Dakota counties and are located in the office of the registrar of deeds in each county.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: Birth • 2 Marriage • 2

Collection Content
This collection does not contain any marriage records prior to 1950 or for the years 1986-1994. The collection does not include any birth records after 1915.

Coverage Table - Births
This table shows the number of birth records in this collection for each county. To search a specific county click the link in the Search column. 

Coverage Table - Marriages
This table shows the number of marriage records in this collection for each county. To search a specific county click the link in the Search column. 

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this index it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the individual
 * Approximate date and or location 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
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

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

 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Try searching by surname only
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of South Dakota.
 * South Dakota Guided Research
 * South Dakota Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1905 | 1905-Present

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

FamilySearch Catalog

 * South Dakota Historical Records Survey, Division of Community Service Programs, South Dakota Work Projects Administration, Guide to public vital statistics records in South Dakota Mitchell, South Dakota : Historical Records Survey (South Dakota), 1942 FHL 978.3 V23s
 * Rapid City Society for Genealogical Research, South Dakota, obituaries card index, 1870–1997
 * Rapid City Society for Genealogical Research, South Dakota, extractions of vital statistics, 1876-1927

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.