Find Genealogy Records in Chippewa County

Chippewa County genealogy records are available through the County Recorder in Montevideo, the Chippewa County Historical Society, and the MNGenWeb project. Records go back to the 1860s and cover births, deaths, marriages, land transactions, probate filings, and more. This page explains where to find them and how to request copies.

Chippewa County Recorder

The Chippewa County Recorder in Montevideo is the primary office for land and vital records. Birth records go back to the 1890s, with some early records from Milan dating to 1892. Death records start in the 1890s as well. Marriage records date to the 1860s. The Recorder also holds deeds, mortgages, and plat maps from the earliest settlement period onward.

Self-service genealogy research is available in the Recorder's office. Staff can point you to the right record sets and explain what years are held locally versus at the state level. Birth records less than 100 years old and death records less than 50 years old are restricted under Minnesota Statutes section 144.225. Older records are generally open for public inspection.

The Recorder holds land records dating from 1871 to 1898 that have been digitized through FamilySearch. Earlier homestead entries are available through the Bureau of Land Management General Land Office records. Contact the office before you visit to confirm which years are held on-site and which have been transferred to state custody.

Chippewa County Historical Society

The Chippewa County Historical Society holds photographs, newspapers, local histories, and genealogical materials that are not available through official county offices. This is a good place to find obituaries, church records, and family files donated by local researchers over the years. The society is located in Montevideo.

The Montevideo-Chippewa County Public Library at 224 South First Street, Montevideo (phone: 320-269-6501) also has genealogy resources. Branch libraries in Clara City, Maynard, and Milan serve those communities. Local libraries often hold newspapers on microfilm that are not available digitally, including obituaries that can confirm birth and death dates.

Chippewa County MNGenWeb

The Chippewa County MNGenWeb site is a free volunteer resource maintained by coordinator Ann McRoden Mensch. It has transcribed cemetery records, census indexes, and family trees submitted by researchers. You can also find links to online indexes for Chippewa County births (1900-1934), deaths (1905-1996), and marriages (1958-2001).

The MNGenWeb archive for Chippewa County indexes several cemeteries including Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery and Bethany Reformed Cemetery in Clara City, Leenthrop Memorial Cemetery and Maynard Lutheran Cemetery in Maynard, and Swenson Farm Cemetery. If you know where your ancestor was buried, cemetery records can confirm dates and family connections.

The Chippewa County volunteer genealogy site offers census records, cemetery transcriptions, and surname lookups at no charge. Visit the Chippewa County MNGenWeb site to search the surname index, browse cemetery records, or post a research query for help from local volunteers.

The MNGenWeb site for Chippewa County includes surname indexes, cemetery transcriptions, and links to FamilySearch and MHS collections covering the county.

Available Chippewa County Records

Chippewa County has a wide range of genealogy records available through multiple sources. Birth records date from the 1890s onward. Death records start in the same era. Marriage records go back to the 1860s. Land records from 1871 to 1898 are on FamilySearch. Wills and probate records from 1908 to 1981 are also available through FamilySearch.

Naturalization records for Chippewa County immigrants are held by the Minnesota Historical Society. These can tell you a person's country of origin, the date they arrived in the United States, and sometimes the names of witnesses who were often family members. Church records for several denominations are available through individual congregations or the MNGenWeb site.

• Birth records: 1892 (Milan), 1900+ statewide via MDH
• Death records: 1896 (Milan), 1908+ statewide via MDH
• Marriage records: 1860s+ via County Recorder
• Land records: 1871-1898 via FamilySearch
• Wills and probate: 1908-1981 via FamilySearch
• Census records: 1850-1940 via FamilySearch and Ancestry
• Naturalization records via MHS

Note: For births and deaths before statewide registration, check the County Recorder first, then the MHS for any transferred records.

Vital Records and State Sources

The Minnesota Department of Health holds statewide birth and death records. Noncertified genealogy copies cost $13 each. You can order by mail or fax. There is no walk-in service.

Reach MDH Vital Records at 651-201-5970. Mail requests to PO Box 9441, Minneapolis, MN 55440. The MDH Vital Records page has forms and instructions. For marriage records from 1958 to 2001, use the free Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS). Earlier marriages are at the County Recorder or the MHS marriage index.

The Chippewa County government site at co.chippewa.mn.us has current contact info for all county offices. The county government portal shows local court information and how to contact the Recorder and Probate Court.

The Chippewa County government site lists contact information for the Recorder, Probate Court, and other offices that hold genealogy records.

Minnesota Historical Society

The MHS Gale Family Library in St. Paul has newspapers, census records, county histories, and church records for Chippewa County. Most collections are free to use on-site. The MHS People Records Search lets you look across multiple databases at once. Birth certificate indexes from 1900 to 1934 and death certificate indexes from 1905 to 1996 are both searchable through MHS.

Nearby Counties

Families in western Minnesota often moved between counties. These counties border Chippewa and may have records for the same family groups.