Ramsey County was created on October 27, 1849 from St. Croix County. The County Seat is Saint Paul. The County was named for Alexander Ramsey, first governor of Minnesota Territory, 1849-53; second mayor of St. Paul, 1855; second governor of Minnesota, 1860-63; U.S. Senator, 1863-75; U.S. Secretary of War, 1879-81.
Counties adjacent to Ramsey County are Anoka County (north), Washington County (east), Dakota County (south), Hennepin County (west). Cities and Towns Include Arden Hills, Blaine, Falcon Heights, Gem Lake, Lauderdale, Little Canada, Maplewood, Mounds View, New Brighton, North Oaks, North St. Paul, Roseville, Shoreview, St. Anthony, St. Paul, Spring Lake Park, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake. Townships Include White Bear Township.
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 15 W Kellogg Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55102-1614; Phone: (651) 266-8350. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.
Ramsey County Recorder's Officehas Birth Records from 1870, Marriage Records from 1849, Death Records from 1870 and Land Records from 1844.
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.
Below is a list of online resources for Ramsey County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Ramsey County Court Records by clicking the link below:
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.
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 Ramsey County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Ramsey County Tax Records by clicking the link below:
Ramsey 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.
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.
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 Online: You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering below
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 Ramsey County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Ramsey County Vital Records by clicking the link below:
Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Minnesota newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
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.
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 Ramsey County, Minnesota are 1850,1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Ramsey County, Minnesota are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 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.
Below is a list of online resources for Ramsey County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Ramsey 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.
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 Ramsey County Maps. Email us with websites containing Ramsey County Maps by clicking the link below:
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 Ramsey County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Ramsey County Military Records by clicking the link below:
Minnesota Civil War Soldiers: List of over 26,000 soldiers mustered from Minnesota during the American Civil War
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 Ramsey County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Ramsey County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
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.
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.
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 Ramsey County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Ramsey County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of Minnesota obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Minnesota newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Indiana.
Minnesota Cemetery Inscription Index, Select Counties: This database is an index to cemetery inscriptions of cemeteries in several Minnesota (U.S.A.) counties and cities. It contains the names of nearly 600,000 persons. Researchers will find birth date, death date, name of cemetery and, in some cases, the closest living relative.
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 Ramsey County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Ramsey County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:
Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
Minnesota Family & Local History Records - The Family & Local Histories Collection lets you read journals, memoirs, and other first-hand historical narratives right on your computer. Gathered from some of the world's finest libraries, these materials may provide hard-to-find town, county, and state information; tax records and wills; military, church, and court records; as well as photographs, stories, and maps.
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,
Ramsey County is a county located in the U.S. State of Minnesota. As of 2000, the population was 511,035. Its county seat is St. Paul, which is also Minnesota's state capital. The County is named for Alexander Ramsey, the first governor of the Minnesota Territory.
The Naming of Ramsey County
Ramsey County, Minnesota, is named after the first Governor of the Minnesota Territory, Alexander Ramsey. Congress established the Minnesota Territory in March of 1849, and President Zachary Taylor (who at one time commanded Ft. Snelling) appointed Ramsey governor on April 2.
Taylor's first two appointments declined the job, and Ramsey himself wanted to be tariff collector of the Port of Philadelphia. At any rate, he came to Minnesota with his family, and declared the organization of the Minnesota Territory on June 1, 1849. Elections for the Territorial Legislature were held on August 1, and the first assembly met at the Central House, a hotel at the intersection of Minnesota and Bench (now part of Shepard Road) in St. Paul.
After territories were formed, counties were next. The act creating the first nine counties of Minnesota, including Ramsey, was passed and signed October 27, 1849. The original Ramsey County boundary included all of the present-day counties of Ramsey, Anoka, Isanti, Kanabec, and parts of Washington, Pine, Carlton, Aitkin, Mille Lacs and Hennepin. In 1849, Ramsey County had 2,197 residents, 834 dwellings and 458 "improved acres."
There were only three county judges at the time, and each judge was responsible for three of the nine counties. All early trials were held in what is now the Twin Cities area. So it was quite a big deal for people at that time to come to town for trial.
There is a historical curiosity involved in the naming of Ramsey County. The first draft of the bill used the name St. Paul County, rather than Ramsey. It was changed before the second reading. The records do not show who suggested the change, or why, and Ramsey, surprisingly, makes no mention of it in his letters or diaries.
Why the name change? The new governor was well-liked, but had not been in office long enough to truly distinguish himself. It is possible that the name change was a bit of political savvy on the part of someone in order to flatter the new governor. At any rate, the name stayed, as did Governor Ramsey.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 511,035 people, 201,236 households, and 119,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,267/km (3,281/mi). There were 206,448 housing units at an average density of 512/km (1,325/mi). The racial makeup of the county was 77.37% White, 7.61% Black or African American, 0.83% Native American, 8.77% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.45% from other races, and 2.90% from two or more races. 5.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 201,236 households out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.00% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.40% were non-families. 32.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 11.30% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,722, and the median income for a family was $57,747. Males had a median income of $39,806 versus $30,814 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,536. About 7.40% of families and 10.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.
The Origins and Benefits of County Government
The origins of county government can be traced to the English shire of a thousand years ago, which functioned both as an administrative arm of the national government and as a local unit of government.
These dual roles of county government continue today in both the United Kingdom and the United States. As constitutionally established and protected subdivisions of state governments, counties serve as an administrative arm of the state to provide state-defined services.
But, as a primary unit of local government responsible directly to the electorate, counties are obligated to represent the needs of this electorate and to set local public policy. Counties can levy and appropriate funds, enact ordinances to guard the public's safety and health, regulate zoning or undertake a number of other activities.
Not only is Minnesota a diverse state, but unlike most other states, it relies heavily on county government to plan, administer and fund a broad range of services: tax assessment and administration, elections, record keeping, transportation, planning and zoning, environmental and solid waste regulation, parks and water management, law enforcement, correctional and probation services, health, social services and welfare administration. Most of these services are dictated by state and federal law; however, some are established by the County Board of Commissioners.
County Services in Minnesota
Costs of social service programming were divided as follows for 1991: 23.5 percent federal, 35.5 percent state, and 38.1 percent county. In the criminal justice area, Minnesota had the lowest state share of expenditures of any state in the nation in 1990. During this year, 33 percent of total criminal justice expenditures came from the state, while 67 percent were local property tax expenditures.
There is a strong belief in Minnesota that services are better determined and delivered as close to the people as possible. Local governments have always played a strong role in planning, delivering and funding local services. This allows greater accountability to the electorate for expenditures of property taxes and development of programs and services. It also ensures that decentralization and the lack of uniformity that may result are acceptable.
Counties are in an ideal position to continue to promote a continuous and comprehensive system of services. In providing this leadership, counties demonstrate efficiencies and economies of scale within county boundaries. If and when some programs or services require a larger population base or geographic area, counties are very familiar with utilizing multi-county joint powers agreements to achieve broader goals. Some counties have joined together to handle waste management or to provide a nursing home facility.
Simply put, counties are partners with the state and federal governments, working to meet the needs of the citizens, and trying to make better use of limited resources without raising taxes.
St. Paul's first courthouse was a small, two-story, brick, Greek Revival style building with a classic portico and Tuscan columns. Dr. David Gray, a physician serving as county clerk, designed the building in 1851. The total cost of construction was $9,000.
The second courthouse was built in 1885 and, like the old one, was combined with the city hall. Local architect Edward P. Bassford designed the Romanesque Revival style building built of Kasota stone at a cost of $600,000. It resembled the Hennepin County Courthouse and the old federal courthouse, now the Landmark Center, in downtown St. Paul.
The exterior of the current Ramsey County Courthouse, which opened in 1932. The projected $4 million cost of the building had been secured through a bond issue approved in 1928. However, by the time construction began, prices of materials had dropped significantly. The contract required that the Foley Brothers of St. Paul pay 12.5 percent above the prevailing wage to secure the most skilled workmen, which meant 45 cents an hour. As a result, "the commission was able to afford construction materials and decorative details of unparalleled opulence."
The 18-story Perpendicular Moderne style building was designed by Thomas Ellerbe & Co. of St. Paul and Holabird & Root of Chicago. It is built of smooth Indiana limestone and was dedicated in December 1932 by William D. Mitchell, U.S. Attorney General and son of Minnesota Supreme Court Justice William Mitchell.
Inside, the building is finished in the Art Deco style. Twenty-three different kinds of wood are used in the woodwork, furniture, and paneling. Five kinds of imported marble walls and floors were cut and dressed by local artisans. The entrance relief sculpture was carved by Lee Lawrie, whose larger figures can be found at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Four vertical murals in the council chamber were done by John Norton of Chicago, an associate of Frank Lloyd Wright. The six bronze elevator doors were made by Albert Stewart of New York.
Dominating the dark marble, three-story, memorial concourse along the Fourth Street entrance is Carl Milles' creamy white onyx Indian God of Peace. The statute stands 38 feet tall and is placed on a base that turns the figure 132 degrees every 2.5 hours. The 60-ton Native American and his peace pipe are a memorial to the war dead.
