Ward County, North Dakota Genealogy

United States North Dakota  Ward County

Ward County, North Dakota genealogy and family history research page. Guide to genealogy, history, and courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.

County Courthouse
District Court Clerk has birth, death, burial and divorce records from 1900; County Judge has marriage and probate records; Register of Deeds has land records.

Parent County
1885--Ward County was created 14 April 1885 from Stevens (Old), Wynn (Old), and Renville Counties. County seat: Minot

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Populated Places
Aurelia Berthold Carpio Donnybrook Douglas Kenmare Minot Niobe Ryder Sawyer

Indian Reservation
A portion of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation is located in Ward County. The remainder of the reservation is in Mountrail, McKenzie, Mercer, and Dunn Counties.

Neighboring Counties
Burke | McHenry | McLean | Mountrail | Renville

Census
Online Territory and State Census Indexes and Records
 * 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
 * 1925 – at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images
 * 1890
 * 1900
 * 1910
 * 1920
 * 1930

Lutheran

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

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * North Dakota Naturalization Records Index at NDSU Archives – index only, covers various dates and counties

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1800 – 1985 North Dakota and South Dakota Wills and Probate Records 1800-1985 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records
 * 1892-present - NDDH Public Death Index, 1892-present at North Dakota Dept. of Health – index only

Societies and Libraries
Ward County Historical Society PO Box 994 Minot, ND 58702 Telephone Number: 701-838-9679 Website

Lake County Historical Society PO Box 83 Kenmare, ND 58746 Telephone Number: 701-385-4248

Ryder Historical Society 20510 184th St. S.W. Ryder, ND 58779 Telephone Number: 701-758-2527

Scandinavian Heritage Association 1020 S. Broadway Minot, ND 58701 Telephone Number: 701-852-9161 Website

Family History Centers

 * Minot North Dakota Family History Center

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Ward County, North Dakota Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Ward County, North Dakota Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)