Cottonwood County Genealogy Records

Cottonwood County genealogy records are maintained by the County Recorder in Windom and through the Cottonwood Historical Society, the MNGenWeb project, and the Minnesota Historical Society. Records cover births, deaths, marriages, land transactions, probate filings, military service, and more, with land records on FamilySearch going back to 1871 and wills available from 1883 through 1981.

Cottonwood County Recorder

The Cottonwood County Recorder in Windom holds land and vital records. Land records are some of the richest genealogy sources in the county because every deed, mortgage, and plat names the parties involved and gives dates. The Recorder also holds original homestead patents for early settlers in the county. FamilySearch has digitized land records for Cottonwood County from 1871 to 1898.

Vital records at the county level start in the late 1800s, with statewide registration beginning in 1908. 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 open to the public. Contact the Recorder in Windom to ask what years they hold before making a trip.

Cottonwood County MNGenWeb

The Cottonwood County MNGenWeb site is maintained by state coordinator Tim Stowell. It is a free volunteer resource with county history, biographies, maps, vital records links, military records, obituaries, cemetery transcriptions, and Native American resources. The site has full-text search on FamilySearch and links to the Heritage Hub obituary database and the Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub.

The Ancestor Hunt free databases listed on the MNGenWeb site are another way to find Cottonwood County records at no charge. The site also references FamilySearch historical images for the county. Martha, a volunteer coordinator, can do lookups in Heritage Hub, Access World News, the LA Times, and the NY Times for researchers who need help finding specific records.

The Cottonwood County MNGenWeb site is a free starting point for genealogy research in southwest Minnesota. Visit the Cottonwood County MNGenWeb site to search county history, browse biographies and cemetery records, and find links to FamilySearch collections specific to this county.

The MNGenWeb site covers Cottonwood County history, biographies, military records, obituaries, and cemetery transcriptions, with links to free FamilySearch collections and the Heritage Hub database.

Records Available in Cottonwood County

Cottonwood County has extensive genealogy records across multiple sources. Land records from 1871 to 1898 are on FamilySearch. Wills and probate records from 1883 to 1981 are also on FamilySearch. Census records from 1850 to 1940 are available through FamilySearch and Ancestry, with federal census records through 1950 now open to the public.

Special collections for Cottonwood County include the 1926 Atlas with plat maps and property owner names, plat books from other years, the "History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties" published in 1916, and the "Centennial History of Cottonwood County (1849-1949)." These county history books often include biographical sketches that give birth dates, birthplaces, and family information. The MNGenWeb site also references the "Minnesota Medical Magazine" from 1897 onward, which covers medical history in the region.

Cities and townships covered include Bingham Lake, Comfrey, Jeffers, Mountain Lake, Storden, Westbrook, Windom, and 18 townships including Amboy, Amo, Ann, Carson, Dale, Delton, Germantown, Great Bend, Highwater, Lakeside, Midway, and others. If your family lived in one of these communities, the township and city records may have local materials not available at the county level.

• Land records: 1871-1898 on FamilySearch
• Wills and probate: 1883-1981 on FamilySearch
• Census records: 1850-1940 on FamilySearch and Ancestry
• Obituaries: Heritage Hub database via volunteer lookup
• Military records: MNGenWeb and NARA
• County histories: 1916 and 1949 published volumes

Vital Records and State Sources

Birth and death records after 1908 are at the Minnesota Department of Health. Genealogy copies cost $13 each. You order by mail or fax to PO Box 9441, Minneapolis, MN 55440, phone 651-201-5970. The MDH Vital Records page has instructions and forms.

For marriages from 1958 to 2001, the free Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS) is a good starting point. For earlier or later marriages, contact the Cottonwood County Recorder or check the MHS. The MHS People Records Search covers statewide birth and death certificate indexes and is free to use online.

The Cottonwood County government site lists current contact information for the Recorder and other county offices that hold genealogy records in Windom.

Land Records and Probate

Land records are a key genealogy source in Cottonwood County. Original homestead patents for early settlers are searchable for free at BLM General Land Office Records. Many settlers in southwest Minnesota got their land through the homestead act in the 1860s through 1880s. The original patents often include age and birthplace information.

Probate records for Cottonwood County are at the District Court in Windom. Wills and estate inventories name heirs and can help you identify children, siblings, and other relatives. FamilySearch has Cottonwood County wills from 1883 to 1981 digitized and searchable for free. This is one of the best free sources for this county's genealogy records.

Note: FamilySearch is a free resource that has digitized many Cottonwood County records. Start there before contacting the county directly, as you may find what you need online without making a trip to Windom.

Nearby Counties

Cottonwood County borders these counties in southwest Minnesota. Families often moved between them, and checking neighboring counties can turn up more records.