Adams County, North Dakota Genealogy

Guide to Adams County, North Dakota ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The County was named for John Quincy Adams. The County is located in southwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Adams County Courthouse 602 Adams Avenue Hettinger, ND 58739 Phone: 701.567.2460 Clerk District Court Adams County website has marriage,divorce, and land records from 1907

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:

Biographies

 * Adams County Biographies on North Dakota Genealogy Trails website - alphabetical list of early settlers and prominent individuals from county histories.
 * North Dakota Biography Index at North Dakota State University Archives - Index only; gives references to publications containing information on North Dakotans, living and deceased Insert non-formatted text here

Cemeteries

 * 1877-1999 - at FamilySearch — index and images  - How to Use this Collection

Territory and State Census Records
Census Territory Census Territory Census Territory Census Territory Census
 * 1836 - 1836 Wisconsin Territory Census – index only; North Dakota was included in the 1836 Wisconsin Territory Census
 * 1840 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; North Dakota was included in the 1840 Iowa Territory  - How to Use this Collection
 * 1850 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; North Dakota was included in the 1850 Minnesota  - How to Use this Collection
 * 1860 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; North Dakota was included in the 1860 Dakota  - How to Use this Collection
 * 1870 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; North Dakota was included in the 1870 Dakota -  How to Use this Collection
 * 1880 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; North Dakota was included in the 1880 Dakota  - How to Use this Collection
 * 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  - How to Use this Collection
 * 1925 at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images  - How to Use this Collection

Federal Census Records
Federal Censuses were taken for the state of North Dakota starting in 1890, although no records survived. The 1900 Census is the next Federal Census available. For links to Federal census indexes, see North Dakota Census.
 * 1910 Federal Census, USGenWeb Archives.
 * 1920 Federal Census, USGenWeb Archives.
 * 1930 Federal Census, USGenWeb Archives.

Church Records
Online Church Records Lutheran Church
 * 1875-1940 - U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Dates vary for each county

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1800-1953 - at FamilySearch — index  - How to Use this Collection

Land and Property Records
Online Land Records For more information see North Dakota Land and Property
 * BLM Landowner Records - Adams County - Index, NDGenWeb Project.
 * Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
 * 1796 - 1907 - U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry - index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
 * 1863 - 1908 - U.S. Homestead Records 1863-1908 at Ancestry.com - ($), index and images

Local Histories
Online County Histories
 * Prairie pioneers; a story of Adams County. 1973. Bismarck, North Dakota; Taylor Pub. Co. ;.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
 * Interactive Formation Boundary Map of North Dakota - shows boundary changes for North Dakota Counties
 * North Dakota Maps at NDGenWeb -historical maps

Online Collections
These collections are unique to North Dakota. You will find nationwide databases for military records on U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records and North Dakota Military Records. Civil War World War I World War II Vietnam War For further information see North Dakota Military Records.
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch.  - How to Use this Collection
 * 1890 - at FamilySearch.  - How to Use this Collection
 * 1917-1918 - North Dakota Military Men 1917-1918 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1917-1918 - Roster of the men and women who served in the army or naval service (including the Marine Corps) of the United States or its allies from the state of North Dakota in the World War, 1917-1918, Vols. 1-4 at Ancestry ($)
 * World War I Casualties, Adams County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)
 * World War II Army Enlistments, Adams County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)
 * World War II Army Casualties, Adams County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)
 * World War II Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Casualties, Adams County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)
 * Vietnam War Casualties, Adams County, North Dakota (Genealogy Trails)

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1868-1924 - at FamilySearch — index and images  - How to Use this Collection
 * North Dakota Naturalization Records Index at NDSU Archives – index only, covers various dates and counties

Newspapers
North Dakota Newspaper Catalogs
 * State Historical Society of North Dakota - contains inventory and catalog of all known ND newspapers
 * U.S. Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present on Chronicling America - contains a list of all known newspapers and the dates they cover; once you locate a newspaper name, contact the local library to see if they have copies of the newspaper

North Dakota Newspapers Online
 * Chronicling America - contains images of some North Dakota newspapers; searching tips
 * Elephind - Free; search engine that retrieves newspaper images from other free newspaper websites
 * GenealogyBank ($)
 * Newspaper Archive (1873-1994) ($)
 * Papers from the Past at Community History Archives

Obituaries

 * Adams County Obituaries and Death Notices (Genealogy Trails)

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

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Marriage

 * 1872-1958 - at FamilySearch — index and images  - How to Use this Collection
 * 1872-2017 North Dakota, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1872-2017 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1907-1925 - North Dakota, Adams County, marriage records, 1907-1925 at FamilySearch
 * Adams County Marriage Announcements (Genealogy Trails)

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

Archives
North Dakota State University Archives West Building 3551 7th Avenue N Fargo, ND 58102 Mailing Address: NDSU Archives Libraries NDSU Dept #2080 PO Box 6050 Fargo, ND 58108-6050 Phone: 701-231-8914 Fax: 701-231-5632 Email [mailto:ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu] website

Libraries
Adams County Library 103 6th St N Hettinger, ND 58639 701-567-2741 Website Facebook

Museums
Dakota Buttes Historical Society/Museum 400 11th St So PO Box 1273 Hettinger, ND 58639-1273 701-567-4429 Email: [mailto:museum_gem@ndsupernet.com museum_gem@ndsupernet.com] Website

Societies

 * See the Dakota Buttes Historical Society/Museum above for their archives.

Websites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
 * Adams County, North Dakota Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Rootsweb - Adams County
 * Adams, North Dakota History & Genealogy, part of The American Local History Network
 * North Dakota Genealogy Trails
 * Adams County Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)