Wilkin County, Minnesota Genealogy

Guide to Wilkin County, Minnesota ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The County was named for Colonel Alexander Wilkin, a lawyer who served as Minnesota’s U.S. marshal and was later killed in the Civil War. The County is located in the west central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Clerk District Court has birth records from 1874, marriage and divorce records from 1890, death records from 1875 and court records from 1858. Probate Judge has probate records.

Parent County

 * 1858--Wilkin County was created 18 March 1858 from Cass and Pembina (Old) Counties. County seat: Breckenridge
 * For a brief history of how Wilkin County was named, click here, then select Wilkin County.

Record Loss
1883 The courthouse burned in 1883, destroying most county records. 1924 The courthouse burned, but with no record loss.

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

 * Cass County, North Dakota
 * Clay
 * Grant
 * Otter Tail
 * Richland County, North Dakota
 * Traverse

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

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1912 - 1956 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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 $

Marriage

 * 1860 - 1949 at FamilySearch — index and images

Death

 * 1850-2001 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1887-2001 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Societies and Libraries
Wilkin County Historical Society 704 Nebraska Avenue Breckenridge 56520 Telephone: 218-643-1303 E-mail:[mailto:sylviawchs@hotmail.com sylviawchs@hotmail.com] Website

Red River Valley Genealogical Society PO Box 9284 112 N University Drive Suite L116 Fargo, ND 5810 Website

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

 * Wilkin County MNGenWeb
 * Wilkin County, MN Genealogy Forum (GenForum)