North Dakota County Resources
This entry was originally written by Beth H. Bauman and Marsha Hoffman Rising, CG, FUGA, FASG for Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.
The FHL holds the Historical Records Survey of North Dakota (Bismarck, N.Dak.: WPA, 1939). Although outdated, it remains a helpful guide. County records including land, court, tax, probate, and township records for North Dakota may be extant from time of formation. There may, however, be individual discrepancies, and the researcher will need to check with the local office for exact reference. The county judge holds marriage and probate records, the register of deeds holds land records, and the clerk of the district court holds civil court records. Details about county offices can be found on the Internet at www.ndaco.org/nd_counties/county.asp.
Some records have been transferred to the State Archives and Historical Research Library (see State Historical Society website www.discovernd.com/hist). Since this is a continuing process, correspondence should be addressed to the county first, and if the records have been transferred, the letter will be forwarded. County offices can normally be addressed in care of the county courthouse; however, in the list below, addresses or post office boxes for registers of deeds are given.
For some counties on the chart there are two years listed for 'Date Formed.' The first is the year that the county was created; the second is the year it was fully organized if it differs from creation year. Under the heading 'Parent County/ies,' unorganized land denotes that it was formed from non-county lands, and counties listed with an asterisk (*) are those to which the county was at one time 'attached' before organization.
Map | County | County Address | Date Formed | Parent County(ies) | Birth | Marriage | Death | Land | Probate | Court |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Map | County | Address | Date Formed | Parent County/ies | Birth | Marriage | Death | Land | Probate | Court |
C6 | Adams | P.O. Box 469 Hettinger 58639 | 1907 | Hettinger | 1907 | 1907 | 1907 | 1907 | ||
Allred | unorganized | |||||||||
In 1896 Allred became a part of Billings; in 1901 Allred was re-created from Billings; in 1903 it was attached to Williams; and in 1905 it was abolished when it became part of McKenzie. | ||||||||||
H5 | Barnes | Register of Deeds P.O. Box 684 Valley City 58072 | 1873 (as Burbank; renamed as Barnes, 1875) | Pembina | 1893'1910 | 1882 | 1893'1910 | 1875 | 1875 | 1875 |
G2 | Benson | 311 B Ave. Minnewaukan 58351 | 1883 | Ramsey/De Smet | 1903 | 1885 | 1903 | 1883 | 1883 | 1883 |
B4 | Billings | P.O. Box 138 Medora 58645 | 1879 (1886) | unorganized/Howard | 1887 | 1879 | 1879 | 1879 | ||
E1 | Bottineau | 314 W. Fifth Bottineau 58318 | 1873 (1884) | Buffalo | 1884 | 1884 | 1884 | 1884 | ||
A6 | Bowman | P.O. Box 379 Bowman 58623 | 1883 (1907) | Billings | ? | 1907 | ? | 1883 | 1883 | 1883 |
In 1896 Bowman became part of Billings; in 1901 Bowman was re-created from Billings; in 1903 it was attached to Stark; and in 1907 it became fully organized. | ||||||||||
Buffalo | 1864 (1871) | Unorganized/Bruguier/Charles Mix *Bon Homme | ||||||||
In 1873 Buffalo lost land to twenty-five counties in Dakota territory; in 1889 Buffalo became a county in the newly created state of South Dakota. | ||||||||||
Buford | 1883 | Wallette | ||||||||
In 1891 Buford was attached to Ward; in 1892 it was abolished and became part of Williams. | ||||||||||
Burbank | 1873 (renamed Barnes, 1875) | Pembina | 1910 | 1910 | ||||||
C1 | Burke | P.O. Box 219 Bowbells 58721 | 1910 | Ward | 1910 | 1910 | ||||
E5 | Burleigh | Clerk of District Court and Clerk of County Court 514 E. Thayer Ave. Bismarck 58501 and Register of Deeds 221 N. 5th St. Bismarck 58501 | 1873 | Buffalo | 1898 | 1880; 1901* | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 | |
J5 | Cass | P.O. Box 2806 Fargo 58108 | 1873 | Pembina | 1872 | 1884'87* | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 | |
*1889'1920 at Fargo | ||||||||||
H1 | Cavalier | 901 3rd St. Langdon 58249 | 1873 (1884) | Pembina | 1884'1908 | 1887 | 1884'1908 | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 |
De Smet | 1873 (as French; renamed De Smet, 1875) | Buffalo | ||||||||
In 1887 De Smet was abolished and became part of Pierce. | ||||||||||
H6 | Dickey | Register of Deeds P.O. Box 148 Ellendale 58436 | 1881 | La Moure/Ransom/unorganized | 1894'1900 | 1883 | 1894'1900* | 1881 | 1881 | 1881 |
*Incomplete | ||||||||||
B1 | Divide | P.O. Box 68 Crosby 58730 | 1910 | Williams | 1910 | 1910 | 1910 | 1910 | ||
Dunn (old) | 1883 (became part of Stark, 1896) | Howard | ||||||||
C4 | Dunn (present) | P.O. Box 106 Manning 58642 | 1901 (1908) | Stark | 1908 | 1908 | 1908 | 1908 | ||
G3 | Eddy | 524 Central Ave. New Rockford 58356 | 1885 | Foster | 1889'1926 | 1887 | 1893'1907 | 1885 | 1885 | 1885 |
F6 | Emmons | P.O. Box 905 Linton 58552 | 1879 (1883) | unorganized/Burleigh | 1903 | 1888 | 1903 | 1879 | 1879 | 1879 |
Flannery | 1883 | Wallette | ||||||||
In 1891 Flannery was attached to Ward; in 1892 it was abolished and became part of Williams. | ||||||||||
G4 | Foster | P.O. Box 257 Carrington 58421 | 1873 (1883) | Pembina | 1883 | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 | ||
A5 | Golden Valley | P.O. Box 596 Beach 58621 | 1912 | Billings | 1912 | 1912 | 1912 | 1912 | ||
J3 | Grand Forks | Register of Deeds P.O. Box 6 Grand Forks 58206 | 1873 (1875) | Pembina | 1887* | 1891* | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 | |
*Coroner's records and inquests for deaths; county judge has index to marriage certificates from 1875. | ||||||||||
D6 | Grant | P.O. Box 258 Carson 58529 | 1916 | Morton | 1916 | 1916 | 1916 | 1916 | ||
H4 | Griggs | P.O. Box 326 Cooperstown 58425 | 1881 | Foster/Burbank/Traill | 1901'07 | 1883 | 1900'07 | 1881 | 1881 | 1881 |
Gringras | 1873 (renamed Wells, 1881) | Buffalo | ||||||||
C6 | Hettinger | P.O. Box 668 Mott 58646 | 1883 (1907) | Stark | 1907 | 1883 | 1883 | 1883 | ||
Howard | 1873 (abolished 1883; became part of Allred, Dunn, McKenzie, Wallace) | unorganized | ||||||||
F4 | Kidder | P.O. Box 66 Steele 58482 | 1873 (1881) | Buffalo | 1899'1907 | 1886 | 1885'1907 | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 |
H6 | La Moure | 202 4th Ave. N.E. La Moure 58458 | 1873 (1881) | Pembina | 1903'23* | 1887 | 1903'23* | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 |
*City auditor. | ||||||||||
G6 | Logan | P.O. Box 6 Napoleon 58561 | 1873 (1884) | Buffalo | 1883'1923 | 1890 | 1883'1923 | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 |
E2 | McHenry | Register of Deeds P.O. Box 57 Towner 58788 | 1873 (1885) | Buffalo | 1889'1907 | 1905 | 1889'1907 | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 |
G6 | McIntosh | P.O. Box 179 Ashley 58413 | 1883 (1884) | Logan/unorganized | 1899'1908 | 1885 | 1899'1908 | 1883 | 1883 | 1883 |
McKenzie (old) | 1883 (abolished 1896; became part of Billings 1897) | Howard | ||||||||
B3 | McKenzie (present) | Register of Deeds P.O. Box 523 Watford City 58854 | (1901) 1905 | Billings | 1905'08 | 1906 | 1905'08 | 1905 | 1905 | 1905 |
In 1901 McKenzie was re-created but remained attached to Stark until it was fully organized in 1905. | ||||||||||
D3 | McLean | Register of Deeds P.O. Box 119 Washburn 58577 | 1883 | Burleigh/Stevens/Sheridan | 1884'1907 | 1887 | 1884'1907 | 1883 | 1883 | 1883 |
D4 | Mercer | P.O. Box 39 Stanton 58571 | 1875 | unorganized | 1885 | 1909* | 1875 | 1875 | 1875 | |
*Coroner's reports. | ||||||||||
D5 | Morton | 210 2nd Ave. N.W. Mandan 58554 | 1873 (1881) | unorganized | 1893'95 | 1882 | 1893'1908 | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 |
C2 | Mountrail | P.O. Box 69 Stanley 58784 | 1873 | Buffalo | 1909 | 1909 | 1909 | 1909 | ||
In 1891 Mountrail was attached to Ward; in 1892 it was abolished and became part of Ward; in 1909 it was re-created from Ward. | ||||||||||
H3 | Nelson | P.O. Box 565 Lakota 58344 | 1883 | Foster/Grand Forks/Ramsey | ? | 1885 | ? | 1883 | 1883 | 1883 |
D4 | Oliver | P.O. Box 125 Center 58530 | 1885 | Mercer | 1885 | 1885 | 1885 | 1885 | ||
J1 | Pembina | Register of Deeds P.O. Box 147 Cavalier 58220 | 1867 | unorganized | 1893'95* | 1872 | 1893'95* | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 |
*Also births and deaths, 1899'1907. | ||||||||||
F2 | Pierce | 240 S.E. 2nd St. Rugby 58368 | 1887 (1889) | Bottineau/De Smet/McHenry/Rollette | 1893'1903 | 1888 | 1893'1903 | 1887 | 1887 | 1887 |
G2 | Ramsey | P.O. Box 863 Devils Lake 58301 | 1873 (1885) | Pembina | 1903'09 | 1887 | 1903'09 | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 |
J5 | Ransom | Register of Deeds P.O. Box 666 Lisbon 58054 | 1873 (1881) | Pembina | 1882 | 1892'1902* | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 | |
*Also coroner's records, 1883. | ||||||||||
Renville (old) | 1873 | Buffalo (attached to Ward, 1891; abolished 1892; became part of Bottineau and Ward) | ||||||||
D1 | Renville (present) | P.O. Box 68 Mohall 58761 | 1910 | Ward | 1910 | 1919 | 1919 | 1919 | ||
K6 | Richland | Register of Deeds P.O. Box 995 Wahpeton 58075 and Clerk of the County Court 413 3rd Ave. N. Wahpeton 58075 | 1873 (1875) | unorganized/Pembina | 1877 | 1883* | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 | |
*Coroner's inquests. | ||||||||||
F1 | Rolette | Register of Deeds P.O. Box 939 Rolla 58367 | 1873 (1884) | Buffalo | 1894'1929 | 1884 | 1894'1915 | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 |
J6 | Sargent | P.O. Box 176 Forman 58032 | 1883 | Ransom/unorganized | 1886 | 1888* | 1883 | 1883 | 1883 | |
*Also coroner's inquests from 1899. | ||||||||||
Sheridan (old) | 1873 | Buffalo (abolished 1892; became part of McLean) | ||||||||
F3 | Sheridan (present) | P.O. Box 668 McClusky 58463 | 1908 | McLean | 1909 | 1909 | 1909 | 1909 | ||
E6 | Sioux | P.O. Box 345 Fort Yates 58538 | 1914 | Standing Rock Res. | 1902* | 1916 | 1902* | 1915 | 1915 | 1915 |
*Superintendent of Indian reservation. | ||||||||||
B6 | Slope | P.O. Box JJ Amidon 58620 | 1914 (1915) | Billings | 1915 | 1915 | 1915 | 1915 | ||
B5 | Stark | P.O. Box 130 Dickinson 58601 | 1879 (1883) | Howard/ Williams/ unorganized | 1887 | 1893'94 | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 | |
J4 | Steele | P.O. Box 275 Finley 58230 | 1883 | Griggs/Traill | 1884 | 1884 | 1884 | 1884 | ||
Stevens | 1873 | Buffalo | ||||||||
The original Stevens County was created in 1862 from unorganized land but was abolished in 1863. This Stevens County was attached to Ward in 1891 and was abolished in 1892 when it became part of McLean and Ward. | ||||||||||
G5 | Stutsman | 511 2nd Ave. S.E. Jamestown 58401 | 1873 | Pembina/Buffalo | 1884 | 1881* | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 | |
*Clerk of district court. | ||||||||||
G1 | Towner | 315 Second St. Cando 58324 | 1883 (1884) | Rolette/Cavalier | 1903'07 | 1888 | 1903'27 | 1883 | 1883 | 1883 |
J4 | Traill | Register of Deeds P.O. Box 399 Hillsboro 58045 | 1875 | Grand Forks/Burbank/ Cass | 1880 | 1891* | 1875 | 1875 | 1875 | |
*Mayville only. | ||||||||||
Wallace | 1883 | Howard | ||||||||
In 1896 Wallace was abolished and became part of Billings and Stark; in 1901 it was re-created from Billings and Stark but remained attached to Stark; in 1905 it was abolished again and became part of McKenzie. | ||||||||||
Wallette | 1873 (abolished 1883; became part of Buford and Flannery) | Buffalo | ||||||||
J2 | Walsh | 600 Cooper Ave. Grafton 58237 | 1881 | Grand Forks/Pembina | 1882 | 1881 | 1881 | 1881 | ||
*Filed in state records. | ||||||||||
D2 | Ward | Ward County Courthouse Minot 58701 | 1885 | Renville/Stevens | 1888 | 1888* | 1885 | 1885 | 1885 | |
*Coroner reports, clerk of district court. | ||||||||||
F3 | Wells | Register of Deeds P.O. Box 125 Fessenden 58438 | 1873 (as Gingras; renamed 1881) | Buffalo | 1893'1913 | 1887 | 1893'1913 | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 |
Williams (old) | 1873 (abolished 1892; became part of Mercer) | unorganized | ||||||||
B2 | Williams (present) | P.O. Box 2047 Williston 58801 | 1892 (1903) | Buford/Flanery | 1892 | 1890 | 1890 | 1890 |