Start your family tree. We'll start searching. It's FREE. - Enter a few simple facts about recent generations of your family. We'll use what you enter to try and find more about your family in the world's largest online collection of historical records and family trees.
Bookmark and Share
SEARCH THIS SITE
SEARCH FOR YOUR ANCESTORS IN THESE Minnesota GENEALOGICAL DATABASES:
MN Court, Land & Wills
MN Public Records
MN Birth, Marriage & Death
MN Census Records
MN Military Records
MN Obituary Records
MN Family Trees
 
Mille Lacs County History and Information
County History | Court Records | Vital Records | CENSUS Records | TAX Records | Military Records |
Maps & Atlases | Genealogy Addresses | Church & Cemeteries | Genealogy Related Sites |
Mille Lacs County Facts


Click HERE to see full size D.O.T. County Map

Mille Lacs County was created on May 23, 1857 (Organized in 1860) from Ramsey County. The County Seat is Milaca. The County was named for Mille Lacs Lake. Mille Lacs is French for "a thousand lakes", in reference to the region known by voyageurs and traders to contain a large number of lakes.

Counties adjacent to Mille Lacs County are Aitkin County (north), Kanabec County (northeast), Isanti County (southeast), Sherburne County (south), Benton County (southwest), Morrison County (west), Crow Wing County (northwest). Cities and Towns Include Bock, Foreston, Isle, Milaca, Onamia, Pease, Princeton. Townships Include Bogus Brook, Borgholm, Bradbury, Dailey, East Side, Greenbush, Hayland, Isle Harbor, Kathio, Lewis, Milaca, Milo, Mudgett, Onamia, Page, Princeton, South Harbor Townships. See also County History and County Courthouse for more details.

 

There are free downloadable and printable forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms, U.K. Census Extraction Forms, Research Calendar, Ancestral Chart, Research Extract, Correspondence Record , Family Group Sheet , Source Summary Form.

Back to top

Records at the Mille Lacs County Courthouse
PLEASE READ FIRST!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

All Departments below can be contacted by clicking the link, by contacting the Phone number below for each department or contacting the County Courthouse at 635 2nd Street, SE, Milaca, MN 56353-1305; Phone: (320) 983-8218. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. At some time Mille Lacs County was attached to Morrison County for county and or judicial purposes. Some early records may be found there.

   Mille Lacs County Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1871, Marriage Records from 1868, Death Records from 1872 and Land Records from 1849.
   The Recorders Office is responsible for all the real estate records for properties located in the County. Permanent records of deeds, mortgages and other various real estate records are recorded/filed in this office. As Local Registrar, the office protects and issues certified copies of Birth and Death records, Marriage Certificates & Military Discharge Records.

   Mille Lacs County Court Administrator's Office has Probate Records from 1875 and has Court Records from 1861.
   The Court Administrator's Office maintains court files for Civil, Criminal, Traffic, Probate, Conciliation, Juvenile, Tax and Family Court matters.

Search Online Click Here to Search Minnesota Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records! - Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

Below is a list of online resources for Mille Lacs County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Mille Lacs County Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Minnesota Naturalization Records Index, 1854-1957: An index to the microfilmed Minnesota Naturalization Records
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • Minnesota Land Records: This database contains information on Minnesota (U.S.A.) land records. The database comes from the Bureau of Land Management's Minnesota Pre-1908 Homestaed and Cash Entry Patent and Cadastral Survey Plat Index. Information recorded in the collection includes patentee name, land office, legal description, etc.
  • Mille Lacs County, Minnesota Court Books at Amazon.com

Back to top

Mille Lacs County Tax Records

The Minnesota Historical Society holds large numbers of county property tax records, filed under the respective county. Some of the tax records are for specific municipalities. No determination has been made concerning tax record holdings in the county courthouse.

Below is a list of online resources for Mille Lacs County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Mille Lacs County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Mille Lacs County Treasurers Office - The treasurer is responsible for keeping a complete accounting of all monies collected and expended by all the county departments. This includes the investing of available funds and accurately distributing the interest received. The department is also responsible for the collection of taxes and distribution to the various taxing entities within the County.
  • Mille Lacs County, Minnesota Tax Books at Amazon.com

Back to top

Mille Lacs County Vital Records
Search Online Click Here to Search Minnesota Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Certificates Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Often in as few as three business days!

   Minnesota Department of Health, Attention: Office of the State Registrar, P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164. It is no longer necessary to go to the registrar's office of the county where the birth or death took place. You may go to a registrar's office in any county in Minnesota for births that took place during of after 1900 and for deaths that took place during or after 1997. They have the following records:

  • Birth Certificates: Avalible since 1900 to 3 months ago.
    • Cost: $16.00 for Certified and $13.00 for Non-Certified Certificates. For births that took place before 1900, go to the local registrar office in the county where the birth took place.
    • Processing Time: Filled requests take 4-6 weeks when ordered by mail (Application for Certified and Non-certified) or 2-5 Days when you order online.
  • Death Certificates: Avalible since Jan 1908.
    • Cost: $13.00 for Certified and Non-Certified Certificates. For deaths that took place before 1900, go to the local registrar office in the county where the death took place.
    • Processing Time: Filled requests take 4-6 weeks when ordered by mail (Application for Certified and Non-certified) or 2-5 Days when you order online.
  • Marriage Certificates: Certified copies may be available from the Local Registrar in the county where the license was issued or you can order them online.
  • Divorces: Certified copies may be available from the Local Registrar in the county where the divorce was granted.

Order On-Line:  To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by on-line purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek.

Order In Person: The Dept of Health no longer accepts walk-in or phone orders because of a change in Minnesota law. However, you may complete your requests by mail or online.

Below is a list of online resources for Mille Lacs County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Mille Lacs County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

  • Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE
  • Minnesota Birth Index, 1935-2002: This database is an index created by the Minnesota Department of Health to approximately 5.2 million births occurring in the State of Minnesota, USA, between 1935 and 2002. Information contained in this index includes child's full name, father's full name, mother's maiden name, birth date, birth county, and state file number.
  • Minnesota Marriage Collection, 1958-2001: This database is an index to individuals who were married in the state of Minnesota (U.S.A.) from 1958-2001. Information that may be found in this database for each entry includes bride and groom's full names, their ages, birth dates, and marriage date and place.
  • Minnesota Divorce Index, 1970-1995: This database contains a statewide index of divorces filed in Minnesota between 1970 and 1995. Information that may be found in this database includes: husband's name and age, wife's name and age, divorce date, and divorce county.
  • Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002: This database is an index of deaths recorded by the State of Minnesota, USA, from 1908 to 2002. The index includes: name of the deceased, city and county of death, date of death, birth date, birthplace, mother's maiden name, and state file number.
  • Mille Lacs County, Minnesota Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com

Back to top

Mille Lacs County Census Records
Search Online Click Here to Search Minnesota Voter Lists & Census Records! - Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable.

  Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Mille Lacs County, Minnesota are 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

See Also Statewide Records that exist for Minnesota

Below is a list of online resources for Mille Lacs County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Mille Lacs County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Minnesota Census, 1835-90: This database contains indexes to the Minnesota (U.S.A.) portions of the 1850-1880 U.S. Federal Censuses as well as indexes to the 1835-1839 Tax Lists, 1849 Territorial Census, and the 1890 Veteran's Schedule. Information contained in these indexes can include name, state, county, township, year of record, and name of record set.
  • Minnesota Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905: This database contains the Minnesota territorial and state censuses from 1849-1905. Information available for an individual will vary according to the census year and the information requested on the census form. Some of the information contained in this database though includes: name, enumeration place, age, gender, race, and birthplace.
  • Census Online - Minnesota Census Records
  • The USGenWeb Archives Minnesota CENSUS IMAGES PROJECT
  • Mille Lacs County, Minnesota Census Books at Amazon.com

Back to top

Mille Lacs County Maps & Atlases

   Genealogy Atlases has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for other states.
   You can view rotating animated maps for Minnesota showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps
   You can view rotating animated maps for Minnesota showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect... free for viewing or download here

Below is a list of online resources for Mille Lacs County Maps. Email us with websites containing Mille Lacs County Maps by clicking the link below:

Back to top

Mille Lacs County Military Records
Search Online Click Here to Search Minnesota Military Records! - Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

   The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Mille Lacs County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Mille Lacs County Military Records by clicking the link below:

Back to top

Mille Lacs County Genealogical Addresses

   The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Mille Lacs County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Mille Lacs County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Mille Lacs County Historical Society & Depot Museum, Depot Museum, 101 10th Ave S, Princeton MN 55371-1527, Phone: 763 389-1296
  • Milaca Area Historical Society, PO Box 144, Milaca MN 56353
    Location: Milaca Community Library, 145 Central Ave S, Milaca MN, Phone: 320 982-1212
    Collection: Includes county newspapers, state and federal census for the county; some local government records; county naturalization records on microfilm; Many county cemetery records, some obits, marriage and birth records indexed, some family histories, some school records and other misc. local records.
  • Local Minnesota Researchers, Find a local researcher or become a local researcher.
  • Central Minnesota Historical Center, Centennial Hall, Room 148, St. Cloud University, St. Cloud, MN 56301
    Serves Aitkin, Benton, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena, and Wright counties.
  • Minnesota State Archives, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102-1906 • 651-259-3260
  • Minnesota Historical Society, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102-1906 • 651-259-3000
  • Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1185 Concord St. N. Suite 218, South St. Paul, MN 55075-1187; (651) 455-9057
  • National Archives - Great Lakes Region (Chicago), 7358 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, Illinois 60629-5898; 773-948-9001; E-mail: chicago.archives@nara.gov (Maintains retired records from Federal agencies and courts in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Minnesota.)
  • Minnesota Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
  • Minnesota Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com

Back to top

Mille Lacs County Church & Cemeteries
Search Online Click Here to Search Minnesota Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

   There are many churches and cemeteries in Mille Lacs County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Mille Lacs County Tombstone Transcription Project.

The Minnesota Historical Records Survey Project of Madison published the Directory of Churches and Religious Organizations in Minnesota in 1941 and Guide to Church Vital Statistics Records in Minnesota in 1942. There are also numerous publications by the project for specific denominations. Extensive microfilm collections of church records in Minnesota are available through the FHL. The State Historical Society of Minnesota and Area Research Centers have a variety of church records including microfilm and original records.

Numerous cemeteries have been read and transcribed by local genealogical societies in Minnesota. The transcriptions are frequently deposited with an Area Research Center, a local library, or the State Historical Society of Minnesota. A considerable number have been printed in the Minnesota State Genealogical Society Newsletter. Some have been privately published.

The Minnesota State Old Cemetery Society, 6100 West Mequon Road, Mequon, WI 53092, publishes a newsletter and maintains an archive of tombstone inscriptions from around the state. Contact the society for membership information

Below is a list of online resources for Mille Lacs County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Mille Lacs County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

Back to top

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Search Online Click Here to Search Minnesota Family Tree Records! - The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

   When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Mille Lacs County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Mille Lacs County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

Back to top

County History

Minnesota County History Name Index: This database is a name index of eleven county histories and plat books for the area immediately south of the city of St. Paul in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Researchers will find the name of the county resident, the book in which the person's name appears, and the page number. Where information is available, town of residence is also given.
Minnesota Crew Lists, 1929-1952: For several decades in the early half of the twentieth century, Two Harbors, Minnesota was one of the busiest iron ore loading ports in the world. This database is an index to the crew lists (NOT passenger lists) of vessels that arrived at Two Harbors,

?

County Courthouse

For many years in the beginning of the county's existence, court was held at Sauk Rapids, the original county seat of Benton County.  In 1888, Mille Lacs County built its own courthouse at a cost of $10,000.  It was built in Princeton, the county seat at the time.

In 1922, Milaca, much smaller than Princeton but centrally located in the county, asked for a vote to relocate the county seat.  Eventually Milaca became the county seat and built a new courthouse in 1923.

The Renaissance Revival building cost $150,000.  It was designed by Croft & Boerner and built by the J.A. McDonald Construction Co., both of Minneapolis.  Smooth Bedford limestone laid in regular ashlar over reinforced concrete makes up the exterior.  The only projection from the rectangle abuilding is a two-story entrance pavilion with turns on its top corners and a carved swag and wreath on the parapet above.  A tall, central, multi-paneled window with classic engaged piers and entablature is set off by a small balustraded balcony.

Inside there are black-banded terrazzo floors and prairie-school geometrics in the leaded glass of the skylight above an octagonal atrium.  Iron grillwork, in which the initials "ML" have been cast, covers the glass entry door.  The monogram is repeated in the decorative iron railing of the marble steps that rise from the front door to the first level and continue, reversing their angle to the second floor.  Red wood paneling and other woodwork is used throughout the building.

The present appearance of the building is largely due to a 1978 renovation completed by Johnson and Forberg Associates of Minneapolis.  Roger Johnson's father worked as a carpenter on the original building.

The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Place in 1977.

Back to top

 
Minnesota Site Map l l Site Hosted by HostMonster.COM. l Copyright © 2008 Genealogy Inc,