Find Genealogy Records in Anoka County

Anoka County genealogy records go back to the 1860s and are held at multiple locations, including the Anoka County Historical Society, the County Clerk District Court, and state archives through the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Historical Society. This page covers what records exist, where to find them, and how to request copies.

Anoka County Historical Society

The Anoka County Historical Society (ACHS) is one of the best genealogy resources in the county. Located at 2135 3rd Ave N in Anoka, the historical society holds an extensive collection of materials that cover the full history of the county. Researchers can use the reading room for in-person visits. Materials cannot be checked out but can be used on-site. The society also conducts paid research for those who cannot visit in person.

The ACHS holds a remarkable range of primary sources. Their collections include vital statistics indexed from newspaper birth, death, and marriage announcements; Thurston Mortuary Records; burial information for many Anoka County cemeteries; and microfilm copies of the Anoka County Union (1865-2002) and the Anoka Herald (1885-1960). They also hold naturalization papers for Anoka County residents and census material from 1857 to 1920. Their photograph collection has over 17,000 cataloged images, and their subject files cover local events, people, organizations, and places.

The Anoka County Historical Society website provides access to research request forms, collection highlights, and contact details for in-person and remote genealogy research assistance.

To submit a remote research request, fill out the form on their website or email achs@anokacountyhistory.org. Research fees apply for work done by staff. Plat maps from 1888, 1914, and 1932 are part of their collection and can help place families on specific land parcels.

Anoka County Genealogy Research Resources Online

The ACHS research resources page provides an overview of their holdings and how to access them. It is worth reviewing before contacting the society to make sure you understand what they have and what you need to ask for.

The research resources section of the ACHS site outlines available collections, remote research procedures, and the types of records that can be accessed by appointment or mail request.

The Anoka County Library system is also a partner for local history and genealogy. The library and the historical society share resources and can point researchers to materials held at both locations. If you are doing early research, checking the library's local history section alongside the ACHS collection is a smart approach.

Vital Records: Birth, Death, Marriage, and Divorce

The Anoka County Clerk District Court holds vital records going back to the 1860s and 1870s. Birth records go back to 1870, death records to 1871, and marriage records to 1865. Divorce records from 1866 onward are also at the District Court. These are official records, and certified copies require a formal request and fee payment.

For certified copies of births from 1900 onward and deaths from 1908 onward, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is the state custodian. MDH handles requests by mail or fax only. Send to: Central Cashiering - Vital Records, PO Box 64499, St. Paul, MN 55164-0499, or call 651-201-5970. The MDH site at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords has current fees and forms. Access to certified vital records is governed by Minnesota Statute 144.225, which restricts who can obtain official copies.

Marriage records are also searchable through the free Minnesota Official Marriage System at moms.mn.gov. MOMS covers marriages statewide from 1850 to the present. You can confirm a marriage county and year before ordering a certified copy. This saves time and avoids ordering the wrong record.

The Anoka County government site at anokacountymn.gov provides access to department contacts, court services, and links to the county clerk and recorder offices where genealogy records are maintained.

Land Records and Probate in Anoka County

Land records for Anoka County go back to 1857, making them among the earliest civil records available. Federal land patents are searchable for free at the BLM General Land Office site at glorecords.blm.gov. These show who received original grants from the federal government and when. For later land transfers, the County Recorder holds deed books that trace property ownership from one party to the next.

Probate records from 1858 onward are held at the Anoka County Probate Court. These files cover estates of people who died in the county and list heirs, assets, and sometimes detailed family information. When a death record is missing or incomplete, a probate file can provide the names you need to continue a search. The ACHS also holds plat maps from 1888, 1914, and 1932 that can help place an ancestor on a specific land parcel.

Note: For naturalization records, the Anoka County Historical Society holds county-specific files that are not available through state archives. If an ancestor was naturalized in Anoka County, the ACHS collection is worth checking.

Minnesota Historical Society and Census Records

The Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) People Records Search at mnhs.org/search/people is the main free state index for births 1900-1934, deaths 1904-2001, state census records from 1849 to 1905, and veterans graves. For Anoka County researchers in the Twin Cities metro area, the MHS Gale Family Library in St. Paul is the closest major research center. It is located at 345 Kellogg Blvd W, St. Paul, and can be reached at 651-259-3300. The library holds naturalization records, historical newspapers, and Ancestry Library Edition access at no charge for in-person visitors.

Federal census records from 1850 through 1940 are available free through FamilySearch. Anoka County census records let you trace households, find birthplaces, and identify family members across decades. The 1880 and 1900 censuses are particularly detailed. The ACHS also holds census microfilm from 1857 to 1920, which covers both the state and federal enumerations for Anoka County specifically.

Cities in Anoka County

Anoka County includes several cities that meet the population threshold for dedicated pages. Blaine and Coon Rapids both have genealogy record pages with more specific local information.

Other communities in the county include Anoka, Andover, Ramsey, and Columbia Heights. Records for all cities and townships in Anoka County are maintained at the county level in Anoka.

Nearby Counties

Anoka County borders several counties in the north metro area. If your ancestor lived near a county boundary, records for events on the other side may be in a neighboring county.