Custer County, Montana Genealogy
Guide to Custer County, Montana ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Custer County was created 16 Jan 1864[2] and was named for Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer. Its county seat is Miles City. It is located in the south eastern area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse
Custer County Courthouse
1308 Main Street
Miles City, MT 59301-3419
Phone: 406.232.7800
Custer County Website
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1907 and land records from 1909;
Clerk District Court has marriage, divorce, and probate;
Justice Peace has court records[4]
Custer County, Montana Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1907 | 1877 | 1907 | 1877 | 1909 | 1877 | 1860 |
Compliance for recording births was 1922 and 1915 for deaths.[6] | ||||||
Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[8]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
Resources
Bible Records
Listed below are resources for Bible records specific to Custer County. To find more resources, go to the Montana Bible Records page. Custer County
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1870 | 38 | — |
| 1880 | 2,510 | 6505.3% |
| 1890 | 5,308 | 111.5% |
| 1900 | 7,891 | 48.7% |
| 1910 | 14,123 | 79.0% |
| 1920 | 12,194 | −13.7% |
| 1930 | 11,242 | −7.8% |
| 1940 | 10,422 | −7.3% |
| 1950 | 12,661 | 21.5% |
| 1960 | 13,227 | 4.5% |
| 1970 | 12,174 | −8.0% |
| 1980 | 13,109 | 7.7% |
| 1990 | 11,697 | −10.8% |
| 2000 | 11,696 | −0.0% |
| 2010 | 11,699 | 0.0% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Before Montana was a state in 1889, the western portion of Montana was included in the 1860 Washington Territory and the eastern was in the unorganized parts of 1860 Nebraska Territory. The 1870 and 1880 Federal Censuses included Montana Territory. No state censuses have been taken.[9] See links listed below.
Territory and State Censuses
- 1860 United States Census, 1860 at FamilySearch Historical Records- How to Use this Collection; index & images; Montana was included in the 1860 Washington and Nebraska Territory Censuses
- 1870 United States Census, 1870 at FamilySearch Historical Records - How to Use this Collection; index & images; Montana Territory Census
- 1880 United States Census, 1880 at FamilySearch Historical Records - How to Use this Collection; index & images; Montana Territory Census
Federal Census Records
Federal Censuses were taken for the state of Montana starting in 1890, although no records survived. The 1900 Census is the next Federal Census available. For links to Federal Census indexes, see Montana Census.
Church Records
Church records vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Montana denominations, view the Montana Church Records wiki page.
Online Church Records
Lutheran Church
- 1875-1940 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Dates vary for each county
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
Directories
- 1927 Miles City (Custer County, Montana) Directory : Contains Buyers' Guide and a Complete Classified Business Directory(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
- Stevenson and Sons Funeral Homes in Miles City
Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Montana Land and Property for additional information about early Montana land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse, where records are currently housed.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
- 1796 - 1907 U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry - index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
- 1863 - 1908 U.S. Homestead Records 1863-1908 at Ancestry - - index & images ($)
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Custer County, Montana Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Montana Local Histories.
- An Illustrated History of the Yellowstone Valley: Embracing the Counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, State of Montana. 1990. Spokane, WA: Western Historical Publishing Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- Interactive Formation Boundary Map of Montana - shows boundary changes for Montana Counties
- Historical Maps and Atlases of Montana - maps and atlases of Montana
Migration
Military Records
Online Collections
These collections are unique to Montana. You will find nationwide databases for military records on U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records and Montana Military Records.
Civil War
- 1890 United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1890 - 1918 Montana Military Enlistments at Montana Memory Project
World War I
- 1904 - 1918 Montana, Military Records, 1904-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1917 - 1918 U.S. WW I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- Soldiers of the Great War from the State of Montana at USGenWeb.
- Military Enlistments Montana World War I at Montana Memory Project
World War II
- WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualties for Montana - Index only
For further information see Montana Military Records.
Naturalization and Citizenship
Please see the Montana Naturalization and Citizenship page for state-wide information.
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1791-1992 U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 at Ancestry($), index only
- 1868-1999 Montana Naturalization Records, 1868-1999 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1870-1999 Montana, Federal Naturalization Records, 1870-1999 at Ancestry($), index only
Newspapers
For more information, see Montana Newspapers.
Montana Newspapers Online
- Chronicling America - contains images of some Montana newspapers; searching tips
- GenealogyBank - ($), contains images of Montana newspapers
- Montana Newspapers by the Montana Historical Society
- Newspaper Archive - ($), contains images of Montana newspapers
- 1800s-Current Montana, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Montana Newspaper Catalogs
- U.S. Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present on Chronicling America - contains a list of all known newspapers and the dates they cover; once you locate a newspaper name, contact the local library to see if they have copies of the newspaper
Obituaries
- Obituary Daily Times - large obituary index from newspapers across the United States.(Ancestry)
See also United States Obituaries for more about finding United States obituaries.
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
In most counties in Montana, probate records have been kept by the county judge. They include wills, inventories, claim registers, inheritance records, probate packets, and dockets. The records are available at the county courthouse.
The FamilySearch Catalog lists films of probate records. To find the records for this county, use the Place Search for Montana, Custer - Probate records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1831–1952 Montana Wills and Probate Records 1831-1952 at Ancestry — index & images $
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Montana tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the records.
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most birth and death original records can be purchased from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred. For information about marriages, divorces, and requirements for obtaining any vital records, see the CDC Where to Write website.
Birth
- 1840-2004 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840 - 2004 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1840-2004 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840 - 2004 at Ancestry ($) — index
- 1897-1988 Montana, U.S., Birth Records, 1897-1988 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Marriage
- 1800-1994 Montana, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1865-1950 Montana, County Marriages, 1865 - 1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1865-1950 Montana, County Marriages, 1865 - 1950 at Ancestry ($) — index
- 1889-1947 Montana Marriages, 1889 - 1947 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1889-1947 Montana Select Marriages 1889 - 1947 at Ancestry ($) — index
- 1943-1988 Montana, U.S., Marriage Records, 1943-1988 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Western States Marriage Index - Index, incomplete, list of counties included
Death
- 1840-2004 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840 - 2004 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1840-2004 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840 - 2004 at Ancestry ($) — index
- 1860-2007 Montana Death Index, 1860-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1868-2011 Montana, Death Index, 1868 - 2011 at Ancestry ($) — index
- pre 1954-2002 Montana State Death Registry Index Pre 1954 & 1954-2002 at Montana State Genealogical Society — index
- 1954-2011 Montana Death Records at Findmypast ($) — index
- 1954-Onward Montana Deaths at MyHeritage — index($)
Divorce
- 1943-1988 Montana, U.S., Divorce Records, 1943-1988 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Voting Records
- 1884-1992 Montana, County Voting Records, 1884-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Custer County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Montana Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Custer County. For state-wide library facilities, see Montana Archives and Libraries.
Miles City Public Library
1 South 10th St
Miles City, MT 59301
406-234-1496
Email: MCPL@midrivers.com
Website
Museums
Range Riders Musuem
435 L P Anderson Rd
Miles City, MT 59301
406-232-6146
Website
Facebook
Societies
Listed below are societies in Custer County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Montana Societies.
Websites
- Custer County at Cyndi's List — a comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online
- Custer County at Genealogy Trails — volunteer transcriptions of genealogical and historical data
- Custer County at Montana USGenWeb - free online resources for genealogical research
- Custer County at Montana USGenWeb Archives - free online data for genealogical research
- Custer County, Montana at Linkpendium - genealogy and family history
- Custer County, Montana Genealogy at LDSGenealogy.com - collection of links by state, county, city, and record type
- FamilySearch Catalog The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides
References
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Montana: Individual Chronologies, Montana Atlas of Historical County Boundaries, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/MT_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Custer County, Montana," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Custer_County,_Montana&oldid=1220793456 (accessed June 18, 2024).
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002), p. 415.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Custer County, Montana. Page 415. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 406.
- ↑ Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Rev. ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 1992), 439.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Custer County, Montana," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custer_County,_Montana, accessed 5 December 2016.
- ↑ ’'Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 409. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.