| Sorted by North Dakota census & voter lists | Sort by Count |
|---|---|
| North Dakota, U.S., Territorial and State Censuses, 1885, 1915, 1925 | 1,423,483 |
| North Dakota, U.S., Compiled Census Index, 1885-1890 | 5,833 |
| U.S., Schedules of Special Census of Indians, 1880Free | 4,623 |
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| U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989 | 1,868,002 |
| North Dakota, U.S., State Death Certificates, 1908-2007 | 1,857,111 |
| U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995 | 465,389 |
| Web: North Dakota, U.S., Select County Marriages, 1890-2020Free | 321,239 |
| North Dakota, U.S., Cemetery Records, 1877-1999 | 261,067 |
| View all North Dakota birth, marriage & death (7) |
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| There are no newspapers & periodicals collections unique to North Dakota | |
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| Sorted by North Dakota directories & member lists | Sort by Count |
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| U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995 | 465,389 |
| U.S., Northern Pacific Railway Company Personnel Files, 1890-1963 | 315,594 |
| A history of the Baptists in the western states east of the Mississippi | 421 |
| View other directories & member lists collections related to North Dakota (83) |
| Sorted by North Dakota court, land, wills & financial | Sort by Count |
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| Sorted by North Dakota stories, memories & histories | Sort by Count |
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| Web: North Dakota, Biography Index, 1812-2012Free | 64,437 |
| North Dakota, Red River Valley Genealogical Society, Pioneer Files, 1880-1953 | 10,322 |
| History of Dakota Territory | 5,248 |
| History of the great Northwest and its men of progress | 592 |
| Northwest History and Men of Progress | 592 |
| View all North Dakota stories, memories & histories (19) |
A genealogical history
Statehood: November 2, 1889
Capital: Bismarck
Largest City: Fargo
Counties: 53
State motto: Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable
State nickname: The Peace Garden State, The Sioux State
Neighboring states: Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota
Bismarck, North Dakota. State capitol, 1942
Interesting facts
- Native American tribes in North Dakota over the years have included Mandans, Arikaras, Hidatsas, Crows, Cheyennes, Creeks, various Sioux groups, and Chippewas. Small-pox, introduced by fur traders moving into the area proved devastating to many of the native populations.
- By the 19th century, there were established groups of mixed Native American and European ancestry, known as Métis. By 1850, more than half the residents of Forth Garry were Métis.
- Railroads improved transportation into North Dakota and the Homestead Act of 1862 began drawing homesteaders to then Dakota Territory. The 1860 Census recorded the population of Dakota Territory as 2,576. By 1880, that number had risen to 135,177.
Featured North Dakota collections
Famous people
Help and advice
Resources
North Dakota Census Research
The first federal census for North Dakota (as the Dakota Territory) was 1870. Enumerations as early as 1836 are included with the 1836 Iowa Territory census.
The State Archives and Historical Research Library also holds an 1857 census for Pembina County, which was then part of Minnesota Territory. A pre-statehood census was also taken in 1885, and state censuses were taken in 1915 and 1925.
North Dakota Vital Records
A state law passed in 1893 made it mandatory to file vital records with township clerks. The law was repealed in 1895, but re-enacted in 1899. The State Department of Vital Records was eventually formed in 1923, and all copies of prior birth and death information were required to be sent there.
- North Dakota Division of Vital Records: Holds records of births and deaths from 1 July 1893. Marriage and divorce records are held by the county where the event took place. The North Dakota Public Death index is also available from the Division’s website.
North Dakota Research Resources
The organizations listed below provide information about North Dakota history and genealogy. In addition to these state-level resources, many counties and towns maintain important genealogical collections in local libraries, genealogical societies, or historical societies, so check for a local resource when researching.
Statewide Research Resources
- North Dakota State Archives
- North Dakota State Library
- State Historical Society of North Dakota
- North Dakota State Genealogical Society
- North Dakota GenWeb
- North Dakota Digital Horizons: Thousands of images, documents, video, and oral histories depicting life on the Northern Plains from the late 1800s to the present.
- North Dakota State University Libraries – Institute for Regional Studies and Archives: Searchable tools include indexes to newspapers, obituaries, naturalization records, and a biographical index. Also see the Genealogy & Biography page.
- The National Archives at Denver: This facility maintains records from Federal agencies and courts in North Dakota, including census, military, court, naturalization, and immigration records.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) General Land Office Records: The BLM administers Federal Land for public land states including North Dakota, and maintains records of land patents which granted land from the Federal Government to individuals. Use the Land Patent Search to locate land grants by name. Many record images are available on the web site. See the FAQ for more information on how to locate and use land patents.
Specialty and Regional Research
- University of North Dakota Chester Fritz Library: The collections include genealogical manuscripts and several online collections.