Benton County, Minnesota Genealogy

Guide to Benton 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 Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S. Senator from Missouri. The County is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Recorder has birth records from 1870, marriage records from 1887, death records from 1871 and land records from 1850. Court Administrator has divorce and court records from 1900 and probate records from 1850.

Parent County

 * 1849--Benton County was created 27 October 1849 from St. Croix County, Eliminated 27 Oct 1849. County seat: Foley

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

 * Mille Lacs
 * Morrison
 * Sherburne
 * Stearns

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

Church
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1912 - 1956 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps

 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Civil War
Civil War service men from Benton County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Benton County.


 * 7th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company I.

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

Probate
Online Probate Records
 * 1801 - 1999 Minnesota Wills and Probate Records 1801-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Birth

 * 1900-1934 Minnesota, Birth Index, 1900-1934 at MyHeritage($) — index

Marriage

 * 1850-2019 WEB: Minnesota, Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System, 1850-2019 at Ancestry($) — index
 * 1860 - 1949 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1976-2003 Minnesota, Marriages, 1976-2003 at MyHeritage($) — index

Death

 * 1850-2001 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1887-2001 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1904-2001 Minnesota, Death Index, 1904-2001 at MyHeritage($) — index

Societies and Libraries

 * Benton County Historical Society 218-1st Street North Box 426 Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 Phone: 320 253-9614 Website
 * Sartell Historical Society PO Box 1907 Sartell, MN 56377 Website
 * Central Minnesota Historical Center St. Cloud University Centennial Hall, Room 148 St. Cloud, MN 5630 Website

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

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