Douglas County, Minnesota Genealogy

∣ Societies and Family History Resources ∣ Government Records ∣ Genealogy Links ∣ Publications ∣ Census Records ∣
∣ Court, Probate, Land and Tax Records ∣ Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records ∣
∣ Cemeteries & Graveyards ∣ Church & Bible Records ∣ County History ∣ Military Records ∣ Schools & Directories ∣

Douglas County, Minnesota ancestry and genealogy research page. Identify links to record collections, history, and genealogy sources that can help you trace your own Douglas Co., ancestors. Get started by building a Free Family Tree.

Douglas County

Douglas County was founded on March 8, 1858 from Cass County and Pembina County. The county was named in honor of Stephen Arnold Douglas (1813-1861), member of Congress from Illinois 1843-47, U.S. Senator from Illinois, 1847-61; candidate for president in 1860; advocated Minnesota statehood as chairman of Senate Committee on Territories..

The Douglas County Seat is situated in Alexandria and the county government website is http://www.co.douglas.mn.us/

Locales adjacent to Douglas County are Otter Tail County (north), Todd County (east), Stearns County (southeast), Pope County (south), Stevens County (southwest), Grant County (west).

Cities and towns to be found in Douglas County are made up of Alexandria, Brandon, Carlos, Evansville, Forada, Garfield, Kensington, Millerville, Miltona, Nelson, Osakis.

Townships Include Alexandria, Belle River, Brandon, Carlos, Evansville, Holmes City, Hudson, Ida, La Grand, Lake Mary, Leaf Valley, Lund, Millerville, Miltona, Moe, Orange, Osakis, Solem, Spruce Hill, Urness Townships.

Douglas County does have Federal Census Schedules to help in finding out about your family tree. Federal government Population Schedules are present for 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940. Douglas Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1860, 1870 and 1880. Douglas Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be found for 1860, 1870 and 1880. Douglas Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be acquired for 1890. Douglas Co. territorial and state censuses exist for the following years: 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895 and 1905. There is free down-loadable and also printable census forms to aid with your research.

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Douglas County Society and Family History Resources

A list of Douglas County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Minnesota Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.

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Douglas County Courthouse and Government Records

Genealogist frequently overlook the benefits of Douglas County court, probate, and land documents as a source of genealogy and family history information. Buried away in Minnesota courthouses and archives just about everywhere tend to be the aspirations and worries of many Minnesota men and women.

The chances are great that your particular ancestors and forefathers have left a in-depth record of at least some aspects of their lives in the Douglas County court records. Even if your ancestors and forefathers is not brought up in a Court case, consider all of the other procedures which may have lead to him or her showing up in court records.

You need to get in touch with the clerk's office to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other facts in advance of visiting or seeking information because of occasionally changing contact info. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The data files are available to interested parties, barring confidential issues. Many staff will help persons in locating the resources, however it's up to the man or women to perform the researching.

The below details shows whatever marriage, birth, death, property, probate, and court records will be in Douglas County. The dates indicated listed below are the first widely known records data in this county.

  • Douglas County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
    • Address: 305 Eighth Avenue West, Alexandria , MN 56308
    • Phone: (320) 762-3033
  • Douglas County Recorder is responsible for all the real estate records for properties located in the County. Permanent records of deeds, mortgages and other various real estate records are recorded/filed in this office. As Local Registrar, the office protects and issues certified copies of Birth and Death records, Marriage Certificates & Military Discharge Records.
    • Birth / Death Records: 1870 (It is no longer necessary to go to the registrar's office of the county where the birth or death took place. You may go to a registrar's office in any county in Minnesota for births that took place during of after 1900 and for deaths that took place during or after 1997)
    • Marriage Records: 1870
    • Land Records: 1862
  • Douglas County Court Administrator maintains court files for Civil, Criminal, Traffic, Probate, Conciliation, Juvenile, Tax and Family Court matters.
    • Probate Records: 1868 
    • Court Records: 1867 
  • Douglas County Treasurers Office is responsible for keeping a complete accounting of all monies collected and expended by all the county departments. This includes the investing of available funds and accurately distributing the interest received. The department is also responsible for the collection of taxes and distribution to the various taxing entities within the County.
  • Minnesota Office of Vital Records has copies of birth and death records. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Minnesota for current fees and application process. Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.
Minnesota Historical Records - Databases include Minnesota Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Minnesota Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Minnesota Voter Lists & Census Records; Minnesota Immigration & Emigration Records; Minnesota Obituary Records; Minnesota Military Records; Minnesota Family Tree Records; Minnesota Pictures; Minnesota Stories, Memories & Histories; Minnesota Directories & Member Lists and much more....
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Douglas County Genealogy Links

The following are links to Genealogy and family history, Records and Resources pertaining to Douglas County. Each of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Professional Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a fee. This is simply a list which has been gathered or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to furnish your own preferred Douglas County genealogy or family history affiliated sites.

Douglas Co. MN Books, Newspapers & Publications

Douglas Co. MN Birth, Marriage & Death Records

Douglas Co. MN Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

Douglas Co. MN Census Records

Douglas Co. MN Cemeteries & Graveyards

Douglas Co. MN Church & Bible Records

Douglas Co. MN Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

Douglas Co. MN General and History Websites

Douglas Co. MN Immigration & Naturalization

Douglas Co. MN Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

Douglas Co. MN Military Records

Douglas Co. MN Schools & Directories

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