Brown County, Minnesota Genealogy

Guide to Brown 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 Joseph Renshaw Brown, a member of the Governor's Council of Minnesota in 1855. The County is located in the south central area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Recorder has birth and death records from 1870, marriage records from 1857 and land records. Clerk District Court has divorce and probate records from 1856 and court records from 1885. Minnesota Historical Society has naturalization records.

Parent County

 * 1855--Brown County was created 20 February 1855 from Blue Earth County. County seat: New Ulm

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

 * Blue Earth
 * Cottonwood
 * Nicollet
 * Redwood
 * Renville
 * Watonwan

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


 * 1st Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry (Mounted Rangers), Company L.
 * 2nd Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry, Companies G and M.
 * 2nd Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company G.

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($) — index
 * 1900-1934 Minnesota Births, 1900-1934 at Minnesota Historical Society - free index, images ($)

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($) — index
 * 1904-2001 Minnesota Deaths, 1904-2001 at Minnesota Historical Society - free index, images ($)

Societies and Libraries

 * Brown County Historical Society 2 N Broadway St New Ulm, MN 56073-1714 Phone: 507-233-2616 Website
 * Browns Valley Historical Society PO Box 165 Browns Valley, MN 56219
 * Comfrey Area Historical Society PO Box 218 Comfrey, MN 56019-0218
 * Sleepy Eye Area Historical Society 100 Oak Street PO Box 544 Sleepy Eye, MN 56085 Phone: 507-794-5053
 * Springfield Area Historical Society Box 113 Springfield, MN 56087-0113

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

 * Minnesota Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Brown County MNGenWeb
 * Cyndi's List: Brown County
 * Cyndi's List: Brown County