Kittson County, Minnesota
Pembina County Created on October 27, 1849 from Unorganized Territory. County was organized in 1852 then deorganized in 1853. At some point Pembina County was attached to Morrison, Crow Wing, Douglas, Becker and Clay Counties for county and or judicial purposes. Some early records may be found there.
On February 25, 1879 the county name was changed to Kittson County (Organized in 1897). Part of the Pembina District until organization. The county also included the western portion of what is now Roseau County until 1894.
The County Seat is Hallock. The first county commissioners, who were appointed by Governor Pillsbury, designated Hallock as the temporary county seat. However, in 1891, a group of citizens from St. Vincent, circulated a petition to move the county seat to St. Vincent, with a promise to build an $8,000 courthouse. The petition was dismissed by the county commissioners because of the "unauthorization of the circulation of the petition" and that they had no jurisdiction for this matter. A courthouse was built in Hallock in 1896. The present courthouse was built in 1964.
The County was named for the county is named after Norman W. Kittson, an early fur trader & partner of the American Fur Company. He increased the fur trading traffic significantly by increasing the use of oxcarts. He was also responsible for the pioneering of the steamboat in the Red River and was active with James J. Hill in the development of the railroad. His contributions played an important role in the settlement of the county.
Counties adjacent to Kittson County are Manitoba Province, Canada (north), Roseau County (east), Marshall County (south), Walsh County, North Dakota (southwest), Pembina County, North Dakota (west). Cities and Towns Include Donaldson, Hallock, Halma, Humboldt, Karlstad, Kennedy, Lake Bronson, Lancaster, St. Vincent. Townships Include Arveson, Cannon, Caribou, Clow, Davis, Deerwood, Granville, Hallock, Hampden, Hazelton, Hill, Jupiter, North Red River, Norway, Pelan, Percy, Poppleton, Richardville, St. Joseph, St. Vincent, Skane, South Red River, Spring Brook, Svea, Tegner, Teien, Thompson Townships. See also County History and County Courthouse for more details.
Records at the Kittson County Courthouse
All Departments below can be contacted by clicking the link, by contacting the Phone number below for each department or contacting the County Courthouse at 410 South 5th Street S., #214, Hallock, MN 56728-4141; Phone: (218) 843-2655. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. At some time Kittson County was attached to Polk County for county and or judicial purposes. Some early records may be found there.
Kittson County Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1877, Marriage Records from 1881, Death Records from 1881 and Land Records from 1879.
The Recorders Office 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.
Kittson County Court Administrator's Office has Probate Records from 1899 and has Court Records from 1897.
The Court Administrator's Office maintains court files for Civil, Criminal, Traffic, Probate, Conciliation, Juvenile, Tax and Family Court matters.
Kittson County Treasurers Office - The treasurer 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.
Below is a list of online resources for Kittson County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Kittson County Court Records by clicking the link below:
Kittson County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records
Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.
Minnesota Department of Health, Attention: Office of the State Registrar, P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164. 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. They have the following records:
- Birth Certificates: Avalible since 1900 to 3 months ago.
- Cost: $16.00 for Certified and $13.00 for Non-Certified Certificates. For births that took place before 1900, go to the local registrar office in the county where the birth took place.
- Processing Time: Filled requests take 4-6 weeks when ordered by mail (Application for Certified and Non-certified) or 2-5 Days when you order online.
- Death Certificates: Avalible since Jan 1908.
- Cost: $13.00 for Certified and Non-Certified Certificates. For deaths that took place before 1900, go to the local registrar office in the county where the death took place.
- Processing Time: Filled requests take 4-6 weeks when ordered by mail (Application for Certified and Non-certified) or 2-5 Days when you order online.
- Marriage Certificates: Certified copies may be available from the Local Registrar in the county where the license was issued or you can order them online.
- Divorces: Certified copies may be available from the Local Registrar in the county where the divorce was granted.
- Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from Vital Records from Archives.com: Order Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records Online!

- Order In Person: The Dept of Health no longer accepts walk-in or phone orders because of a change in Minnesota law. However, you may complete your requests by mail or online.
Below is a list of online resources for Kittson County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Kittson County Vital Records by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Kittson Co. Vital Records
- Vital Records from Archives.com: Order Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records Online!

- Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research.
- Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com!
- Find thousands of historical Minnesota newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
- Minnesota Birth Index, 1935-2002: This database is an index created by the Minnesota Department of Health to approximately 5.2 million births occurring in the State of Minnesota, USA, between 1935 and 2002. Information contained in this index includes child's full name, father's full name, mother's maiden name, birth date, birth county, and state file number.
- Minnesota Marriage Collection, 1958-2001: This database is an index to individuals who were married in the state of Minnesota (U.S.A.) from 1958-2001. Information that may be found in this database for each entry includes bride and groom's full names, their ages, birth dates, and marriage date and place.
- Minnesota Divorce Index, 1970-1995: This database contains a statewide index of divorces filed in Minnesota between 1970 and 1995. Information that may be found in this database includes: husband's name and age, wife's name and age, divorce date, and divorce county.
- Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002: This database is an index of deaths recorded by the State of Minnesota, USA, from 1908 to 2002. The index includes: name of the deceased, city and county of death, date of death, birth date, birthplace, mother's maiden name, and state file number.
- Kittson County, Minnesota Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
Kittson County Census Records
Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable
Countywide Records:
Federal Population Schedules that exist for Pembina County, Minnesota are 1850, 1860 and 1870. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Pembina County, Minnesota are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860 and 1870. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860 and 1870.
Federal Population Schedules that exist for Kittson County, Minnesota are1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Kittson County, Minnesota are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1880.
There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.
Below is a list of online resources for Kittson County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Kittson County Census Records by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Kittson Co. Census Records
- Census Records at Archives.com
- Minnesota Census, 1835-90: This database contains indexes to the Minnesota (U.S.A.) portions of the 1850-1880 U.S. Federal Censuses as well as indexes to the 1835-1839 Tax Lists, 1849 Territorial Census, and the 1890 Veteran's Schedule. Information contained in these indexes can include name, state, county, township, year of record, and name of record set.
- Minnesota Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905: This database contains the Minnesota territorial and state censuses from 1849-1905. Information available for an individual will vary according to the census year and the information requested on the census form. Some of the information contained in this database though includes: name, enumeration place, age, gender, race, and birthplace.
- Census Online - Minnesota Census Records
- The USGenWeb Archives Minnesota CENSUS IMAGES PROJECT
- Kittson County, Minnesota Census Books at Amazon.com
- Census & Voter Lists
Kittson County Maps & Atlases
Below is a list of online resources for Kittson County Maps. Email us with websites containing Kittson County Maps by clicking the link below:
Kittson County Military Records
Below is a list of online resources for Kittson County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Kittson County Military Records by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Kittson Co. Military Records
- Minnesota Civil War Soldiers: List of over 26,000 soldiers mustered from Minnesota during the American Civil War
- Minnesota Volunteers in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection: This database indexes names of persons from Minnesota who enlisted in the Spanish American War.
- Minnesota Society of Daughters of the American Revolution
- National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, 1776 D Street NW,
Washington, D.C. 20006; Phone: (202) 628-1776
- Minnesota Society of Sons of the American Revolution
- National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
- Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Minnesota (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
- Kittson County, Minnesota Military Books at Amazon.com
- Military - The men and women called to serve their country in military duty are a source of pride to their families and to their nation. Now, with databases containing more than 16 million names and thousands of government records available to search, researching your veteran ancestors has become easier than ever before.
Kittson County Genealogical Addresses
Below is a list of online resources for Kittson County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Kittson County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Kittson Co. Genealogical Addresses
- Kittson County Historical Society, PO Box 100, Lake Bronson MN 56734-0100
Location: 332 East Main St, Lake Bronson MN, Phone: 218 754-4100
- Red River Valley Genealogical Society, PO Box 9284; Fargo ND 58106
Library Location: 112 N University Drive Suite L116, Fargo, ND
- Northwest Minnesota Historical Center, Livingston Lord Library, Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN 56560
Serves Becker, Clay, Kittson, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, and Wilkin counties.
- Minnesota State Archives, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102-1906 • 651-259-3260
- Minnesota Historical Society, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102-1906 • 651-259-3000
- Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1185 Concord St. N. Suite 218, South St. Paul, MN 55075-1187; (651) 455-9057
- National Archives - Great Lakes Region (Chicago),
7358 South Pulaski Road,
Chicago, Illinois 60629-5898; 773-948-9001; E-mail: chicago.archives@nara.gov (Maintains retired records from Federal agencies and courts in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Minnesota.)
- Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
- Minnesota Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
Kittson County Cemeteries & Graveyards
There are many churches and cemeteries in Kittson County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Kittson County Tombstone Transcription Project.
Below is a list of online resources for Kittson County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Kittson County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Kittson Co. Cemetery & Church Records
- Cemetery Records at Archives.com
- Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com!
- Find thousands of Minnesota obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Minnesota newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Indiana.
- Obituary Records at Archives.com
- America's Obituaries (1977 to current) at Genealogybank.com
- Obituaries contain helpful information such as names, dates, places of birth, death, marriage and family information. Over 28 million obituaries make this the most complete collection from the 20th and 21st centuries - includes over 1,100 U.S. newspapers. New content added daily!
- Minnesota Cemetery Inscription Index, Select Counties: This database is an index to cemetery inscriptions of cemeteries in several Minnesota (U.S.A.) counties and cities. It contains the names of nearly 600,000 persons. Researchers will find birth date, death date, name of cemetery and, in some cases, the closest living relative.
- Kittson County, Minnesota Cemetery Books at Amazon.com

- Gravestone, Tombstone, and Memorial Photo Collection from findagrave.com

- Kittson County, Minnesota Church Books at Amazon.com
County Church & Bible Records
Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits
Below is a list of online resources for Kittson County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Kittson County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below: