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North Dakota Genealogy

North Dakota Genealogy Facts

North Dakota was explored in 1738–1740 by French Canadians led by Sieur de la Verendrye. In 1803, the U.S. acquired most of North Dakota from France in the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis and Clark explored the region in 1804–1806, and the first settlements were made at Pembina in 1812 by Scottish and Irish families while this area was still in dispute between the U.S. and Great Britain. In 1818, the U.S. obtained the northeast part of North Dakota by treaty with Great Britain and took possession of Pembina in 1823. However, the region remained largely unsettled until the construction of the railroad in the 1870s and 1880s.

  • North Dakota was organized as territory on March 2, 1861
  • North Dakota entered the union as the 39th state on November 2, 1889 .
  • North Dakota has 53 Counties
  • North Dakota’s capital is Bismarck and the official state website is www.nd.gov/.
  • North Dakota is bordered by Minnesota (east), Montana (west), South Dakota (south) and Canada (north).
  • North Dakota has a land area of 70,704 square miles making it the 19th largest state.
  • North Dakota’s 2010 population was 672,591 .
  • North Dakota  largest cities (2010) are Fargo, 105,549; Bismarck (Capital), 61,272; Grand Forks, 52,838; Minot, 40,888; West Fargo, 25,830; Mandan, 18,331; Dickinson, 17,787; Jamestown, 15,427; Williston, 14,716; Wahpeton, 7,766.
  • North Dakota was named for the Dakota people who lived there.
  • North Dakota’s nickname is ” Peace Garden State ” in reference to the International Peace Garden on the border between North Dakota and Manitoba ; ” Flickertail State ” referring to the flickertail ground squirrel common to central North Dakota ; “Sioux State” in reference to the Dakota people , better known as the Sioux.
  • North Dakota State Motto is ” Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable “.

North Dakota County Genealogy

County records including land, court, tax, probate, and township records for North Dakota may be extant from time of formation. There may, however, be individual discrepancies, and the researcher will need to check with the local office for exact reference. The county judge holds marriage and probate records, the register of deeds holds land records, and the clerk of the district court holds civil court records. Some records have been transferred to the State Archives and Historical Research Library

Select a County Below

COUNTY PAGES UNDER CONSTRUCTION

North Dakota has counties that no longer exist. They were established by the state, provincial, or territorial government. Most of these counties were created and disbanded in the 19th century; county boundaries have changed little since 1900 in the vast majority of states. These counties need to be looked at when doing genealogy research. Pay close attention where the courthouse records went to if the county was abolished or combined with another county.

  • Pembina County, Minnesota Territory (1849-1858, reconstituted as Pembina County, Dakota Territory in 1861, eventually reduced to present-day Pembina County, North Dakota.)

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North Dakota Genealogy Links

See North Dakota County Genealogy for County Links. These genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some are have free access some require a payment. This is just a list that has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to submit your own favorite genealogy or family history related sites.

North Dakota State History

North Dakota, state in the West North Central United States. It is bounded by Minnesota on the east, South Dakota on the south, and Montana on the west. North of it lies Canada. North Dakota belongs to the vast plains section of the United States, and like other plains states it is predominantly agricultural. Bismarck is the capital of North Dakota. Fargo is the largest city.

Early European residents were originally involved in fur trading, but after wars with Native Americans subsided and railroads were constructed, settlers poured into the state to take up its rich farmland. However, the prairie farmers have not always been successful economically. Political affairs in the state have vividly reflected the farmers’ resentments against outside control of wheat prices and against the rates charged for storage and transportation of their grain. When the region including present-day North Dakota was made a territory of the United States in 1861, it was named for the Dakota people who lived there. Residents chose to retain the name when the territory was divided into north and south states upon admission into the Union on November 2, 1889.

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