Otter Tail County Genealogy Records
Otter Tail County genealogy records go back to 1869 and include births, deaths, marriages, land transfers, probate files, and one of the most extensive cemetery record collections in Minnesota. The county courthouse in Fergus Falls, the Otter Tail County Historical Society, FamilySearch, and the Heart O'Lakes Genealogical Society all hold resources for family history research in this west-central Minnesota county.
Otter Tail County Overview
Otter Tail County Courthouse
The Otter Tail County Courthouse is at 121 W Junis Ave, Fergus Falls, MN 56537. Phone: 218-560-7045. Website: ottertailcounty.gov. The Clerk Deeds Court holds vital records including birth records from 1870, death records from 1870, marriage records from 1869, and divorce records from 1897. Probate records go back to 1872 and court records to 1872.
Land records for Otter Tail County are available from 1867 through the county recorder. These early land records can trace property ownership across the county's numerous townships and show when an ancestor first settled and acquired land. For certified copies of vital records, contact the county directly or use the MDH mail request process.
The county government website at ottertailcounty.gov lists department contacts and online services. For an appointment or to confirm current hours, check the website or call the courthouse directly. Note: The courthouse holds a large volume of records spanning over 150 years, so being specific about the time period and record type you need will help staff locate your records more quickly.
| Office | Details |
|---|---|
| Courthouse | 121 W Junis Ave, Fergus Falls, MN 56537 |
| Phone | 218-560-7045 |
| Website | ottertailcounty.gov |
| Birth / Death Records | From 1870 |
| Marriage Records | From 1869 |
| Divorce Records | From 1897 |
| Probate / Court Records | From 1872 |
| Land Records | From 1867 |
The Otter Tail County government portal provides access to online county services and department contacts for genealogy researchers working from outside Fergus Falls.
Visit the Otter Tail County Government website for current department phone numbers, hours, and record request information.
The county website is your best first step for confirming which office holds the specific record type you need and how to submit a request.
Otter Tail County Historical Society
The Otter Tail County Historical Society (OTCHS) is at 1110 W. Lincoln, Fergus Falls, MN 56537. Phone: 218-736-6038. Fax: 218-739-3075. Email: otchs@prtel.com. The society holds genealogy research collections, photographs, local histories, and a well-known set of cemetery transcription volumes that cover cemeteries across the entire county.
OTCHS has published multiple volumes of cemetery transcriptions for Otter Tail County. These volumes are available for purchase and document graves across dozens of county cemeteries. Cemetery transcriptions are especially valuable when death records are incomplete or missing, because they can confirm a date of death and burial location. The society can tell you which volumes are in print and the current price when you contact them.
The society's research collections include local newspapers, family histories, plat maps, and donated materials. For an ancestor who was active in the Fergus Falls area or surrounding communities, the OTCHS archive may hold materials not found in any government office. Contact the society before planning a visit to confirm hours and research appointment availability.
The Otter Tail County Historical Society archive is a key resource for genealogy research in Fergus Falls and surrounding townships.
Visit the Otter Tail County Historical Society for cemetery volumes, local history collections, and genealogy research assistance.
OTCHS staff can guide you to the most relevant collections for your specific Otter Tail County family history questions, including their cemetery transcription volumes.
Heart O'Lakes Genealogical Society
The Heart O'Lakes Genealogical Society, based in Frazee, MN, publishes cemetery transcription volumes for Otter Tail County. These publications cover burial sites across the county and are a valuable supplement to the OTCHS volumes. Together, the two organizations have transcribed a large portion of the county's burial records.
Cemetery transcriptions can help you locate an ancestor's grave when a death record is missing or when the death occurred before civil registration was established. For Otter Tail County's early settler families, burial sites in rural townships may not be well documented anywhere else. The Heart O'Lakes volumes are available through the society and may also be held at libraries and archives in the Fergus Falls area.
Note: For Otter Tail County cemetery research, check records from both OTCHS and the Heart O'Lakes Genealogical Society, as coverage varies by cemetery. Find a Grave and BillionGraves also carry Otter Tail County cemetery data, though volunteer coverage is uneven across different burial sites.
Available Records in Otter Tail County
Otter Tail County has a broad set of genealogy records going back to the late 1860s. Here is a summary of what you can find and where:
- Birth records from 1870 (county; MDH certified copies from 1900)
- Death records from 1870 (county; MDH from 1908)
- Marriage records from 1869 (county; MOMS index at moms.mn.gov)
- Divorce records from 1897 (Clerk of Court)
- Land records from 1867 (County Recorder)
- Probate and court records from 1872 (Clerk of Court)
- Will records 1875-1983 (FamilySearch Catalog)
- Cemetery transcriptions (OTCHS volumes and Heart O'Lakes volumes)
- Federal census records 1880-1940 (FamilySearch, Ancestry)
- State census records 1885, 1905 (Minnesota Historical Society)
Will records from 1875 to 1983 are on FamilySearch Catalog and searchable at no cost. The FamilySearch wiki for Otter Tail County at familysearch.org lists all available digital collections for the county.
How to Search Otter Tail County Records
Use the free Minnesota Official Marriage System at moms.mn.gov for marriage records from 1850 onward. Search by name or by county to find Otter Tail County marriages. The system is the fastest free tool for confirming a marriage date before ordering a certified copy.
The MHS People Records Search at mnhs.org/search/people is free and covers birth records from 1900 to 1934, death records from 1904 to 2001, state census records, and veterans graves registrations. Use this tool for older death records and for searching between federal census years in Otter Tail County.
For certified vital record copies, contact the Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office by mail or fax. Address: PO Box 9441, Minneapolis, MN 55440. Phone: 651-201-5970. Certified birth records cost $26 and death records cost $13. Access rules are set by Minnesota Statute 144.225.
For an in-person visit, the courthouse in Fergus Falls is open during regular business hours. Call ahead to confirm and to ask about the fastest way to locate the specific records you need. Rural counties can have records stored in multiple locations, and a quick call can save you time.
MHS and State Archives
The Minnesota Historical Society Gale Family Library (345 Kellogg Blvd W, St. Paul, 651-259-3300) holds naturalization records, state census collections, and newspaper archives for Otter Tail County. The library is open Tuesday through Saturday and many collections must be used in person. Otter Tail County has a large number of Norwegian and Swedish settlers, and the MHS holds naturalization records that can link these families back to Scandinavia.
Federal land patents before 1908 are free to search at glorecords.blm.gov. Otter Tail County has hundreds of early land patents recorded in the BLM system. These records can confirm when an ancestor first acquired land and in which township. The Minnesota Genealogical Society at mngs.org (651-330-9312) also offers databases and research tools for Minnesota family history.
Local county histories on file at MHS and OTCHS include "History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota" by John W. Mason (1916) and the "Historical Album and Centennial Book, Perham, Minnesota; 1871-1971." These books contain biographical sketches of early county residents that supplement official records with personal and family details.
Nearby Counties
Otter Tail County borders Becker, Douglas, Grant, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, and Wilkin Counties. If an ancestor lived near a county line, records may be held by a neighboring county office.