Genealogy Records in Carlton County

Carlton County genealogy records go back to 1857 and include birth, death, marriage, land, military, census, and Native American records held at the county recorder's office, the Carlton County Historical Society in Cloquet, and through the MNGenWeb project and state archives. This page covers where to find each record type and how to access them.

Carlton County Historical Society and Local Resources

The Carlton County Historical Society is located in the Cloquet area and holds historical records covering the county from 1857 forward. The society maintains materials on local families, community events, and the county's documented history, including records related to the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation, which is located within Carlton County. For genealogy research, the historical society is a key resource for materials that predate or supplement the official county records.

The Cloquet Public Library is another local resource for genealogy and local history. The library holds local newspaper archives and other reference materials that can help fill in gaps in official records. If you are researching a family in the Cloquet area specifically, the library's local history section is worth visiting alongside the historical society. Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet also holds some records relevant to Ojibwe and tribal history in the county.

Carlton was established as the county seat in 1871. The county courthouse there holds vital records, land records, and probate files for Carlton County. Contact the Carlton County Recorder for specific dates and fees.

Carlton County MNGenWeb

The Carlton County MNGenWeb site is the primary free online resource for genealogy in the county. The site is currently available for adoption by a new coordinator. It carries biographies, maps, vital records data, obituaries, military records, and cemetery records for Carlton County, along with links to FamilySearch and HeritageHub resources. Even without an active coordinator, the existing content is useful for early research.

The MNGenWeb site for Carlton County includes obituary links, cemetery transcriptions, and biographies that supplement the official records held at the county level and through state archives.

HeritageHub, NewsBank, and Access World News are all referenced through MNGenWeb volunteers for Carlton County and can provide access to digitized local newspapers. Obituaries and family announcements in local papers often contain more personal detail than official death records. These digital newspaper resources are worth searching when you have approximate dates for events in Carlton County.

Carlton County Government and Record Access

The Carlton County government website provides contact information for the recorder, court administrator, and other county offices.

The county government site at co.carlton.mn.us links to the recorder's office and court administrator, where vital records, land records, and probate files for Carlton County are maintained.

Vital Records for Carlton County Genealogy

Vital records for Carlton County are held at the county recorder's office and go back to the county's founding in 1857, though systematic civil registration improved significantly after 1900. Birth records from 1900 onward and death records from 1908 onward are also held by the Minnesota Department of Health at the state level. MDH handles requests by mail or fax only. Send to: Central Cashiering - Vital Records, PO Box 64499, St. Paul, MN 55164-0499. Call 651-201-5970 or visit health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords for current fees. Certified vital record access is governed by Minnesota Statute 144.225.

Marriage records are searchable through the free Minnesota Official Marriage System at moms.mn.gov. MOMS covers marriages from 1850 to the present. Search by name to find a marriage year and county, then order a certified copy from the county recorder. The MHS People Records Search at mnhs.org/search/people covers birth indexes 1900-1934 and death indexes 1904-2001.

Native American Records in Carlton County

Carlton County is home to the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation, and genealogy research here often involves both civil county records and tribal records. For researchers with Fond du Lac Ojibwe ancestry, the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet holds some tribal history materials. The Minnesota Historical Society also holds records related to Ojibwe bands in Minnesota, including treaty records, annuity rolls, and federal Indian census records that predate state civil registration.

FamilySearch has digitized some Minnesota Native American records, including census rolls and church records from reservation communities. The MNGenWeb site for Carlton County includes a section on Native American resources specific to the county. These records require a different research approach than standard civil registration, but they can be remarkably detailed for documenting families in the pre-statehood and early statehood periods.

Note: Federal Indian census records are held by the National Archives and are available through Ancestry and FamilySearch for many years between 1885 and 1940.

Land Records, Census, and Other Sources

Federal land patents for Carlton County are searchable at glorecords.blm.gov. Subsequent land transfers are at the County Recorder in Carlton. Census records from 1850 through 1940 are available free through FamilySearch. Carlton County is served by the Iron Range Research Center (IRRC) at the Minnesota Discovery Center, which focuses on northeast Minnesota counties. The IRRC holds specialized collections for this region, including naturalization records and county-level genealogy materials. The MHS Gale Family Library in St. Paul at 345 Kellogg Blvd W (651-259-3300) also holds statewide collections accessible by appointment.

Cities in Carlton County

Carlton County includes Cloquet, Carlton (the county seat), Moose Lake, and Barnum. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All genealogy records for cities and townships in Carlton County are filed at the county level in Carlton.

Nearby Counties

Carlton County borders Aitkin, Pine, and St. Louis counties. Records for families who lived near these county lines may be found in neighboring counties.