Chippewa County, Minnesota Genealogy

Guide to Chippewa 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 Chippewa River. The County is located in the west central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Clerk District Court has birth, marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1870. County Recorder has land records from 1870. City Clerks have burial records.

Parent County
1862--Chippewa County was created 20 February 1862 from Pierce (eliminated 20 Feb 1862) and Davis (eliminated 20 Feb 1862) Counties. County seat: Montevideo

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
HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Neighboring Counties

 * Kandiyohi
 * Lac Qui Parle
 * Renville
 * Swift
 * Yellow Medicine

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

Lutheran

 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry ($) - index and images

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

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

 * Chippewa County Historical Society PO Box 303 151 Pioneer Drive (Jct. 7 and 59) Montevideo, MN 56265-0303 Phone: 320 269-7636 Website
 * West Central Minnesota Historical Center University of Minnesota–Morris Morris, MN 56267 Website
 * Friesen Historical Society PO Box 26 Clara City, MN 56222

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

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