Cook County, Minnesota Genealogy

Guide to Cook 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 Michael Cook, Territorial and State Senator. The County is located in the northeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Recorder has birth and death records from 1900, marriage records from 1901, land records from 1886, and military records from 1919. Court Administrator has divorce, court and probate records.

Parent County

 * 1874--Cook County was created 3 November 1874 from Lake County. County seat: Grand Marais

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

 * Lake

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

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

 * Cook County Historical Society PO Box 1293 Grand Marais, MN 55604-1293 Phone: 218-387-2883 Website
 * North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum & Tofte Historical Society PO Box 2312 Tofte, MN 55615-2312 Phone: 218-663-7804 Website
 * Schroeder Area Historical Society PO Box 337 7932 West Highway 61 Schroeder, MN Phone: 218-663-770 Website

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

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