Pine County, Minnesota Genealogy

United States

Minnesota

Pine County

Guide to Pine County, Minnesota ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Minnesota Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Pine City Organized: March 6, 1871 Parent County(s): Chisago, Ramsey Neighboring Counties Aitkin • Burnett (WI) • Carlton • Chisago • Douglas (WI) • Isanti • Kanabec See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

The county was named for the abundant pine trees in the area. The county is located in the east-central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Pine County Courthouse
315 6th Street
Pine City, MN 55063
Phone: 320-591-1400
Pine County Website

Clerk District Court has birth records from 1874, death records from 1879, marriage, divorce, court records from 1871.
Probate Judge has probate records.
Register of Deeds has land records.

Pine County, Minnesota 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.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1874	1871	1879	1871	Unknown	1875	1836
*Statewide registration started for births in 1900 and deaths in 1908. General compliance by 1915.

Record Loss

1870 Courthouse was destroyed by fire, along with most of the county records. 1952 Courthouse burned by fire, but records were saved. For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see: Burned Counties. By Michael John Neill at 24-7 Family History Circle. When the Records are Gone. By Arlene Eakle at Arlene Eakle's Tennessee Blog. Burned Counties Research in the FamilySearch Research Wiki. List of counties in the United States with Record Loss

Boundary Changes

Parent Counties: Created from Chisago and Ramsey Counties March 1, 1856 County seat: Pine City Minnesota Individual County Chronologies - Newberry Library list of all boundary changes by county Minnesota Historical Borders - Map at Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; Also at: mapofus.org - animated maps illustrating Minnesota county boundary changes

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:

Cities
Askov Brook Park Bruno Denham Finlayson	Henriette Hinckley Kerrick Pine City Rock Creek	Rutledge Sandstone Sturgeon Lake Willow River
Unincorporated communities
Beroun Cloverdale Cloverton Duquette Duxbury Ellson	Friesland Greeley Groningen Kingsdale Lake Lena Markville	Mission Creek Nickerson Pokegama West Rock
Townships
Arlone Arna Barry Birch Creek Bremen Brook Park Bruno Chengwatana Clover Crosby Danforth	Dell Grove Finlayson Fleming Hinckley Kerrick Kettle River Mission Creek Munch New Dosey Nickerson Norman	Ogema Park Partridge Pine City Pine Lake Pokegama Royalton Sandstone Sturgeon Lake Wilma Windemere
Ghost towns
Belden Banning Big Spring Blomskog Chengwatana Cornell Clint	Danewood Eaglehead Harlis Midway Milburn Mission Creek Outflow	Tozer Camp Turpville Tuxedo Villstad Wareham

Resources

Biographies

• Easton, Augustus B.; History of the Saint Croix Valley; (Chicago: H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., 1909); Volume two (biographical) online at FamilySearch Digital Library, Google Books, HathiTrust.

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Pine County, Minnesota online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	BillionGraves Find a Grave MN Tombstone Transcription Project MNGenWeb USGenWeb Archives
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	FamilySearch Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	FamilySearch Places Find a Grave
See Minnesota Cemeteries for more information.

 

Census Records

For links to Federal, State, and Territorial censuses, see Minnesota Census.

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1860	92	—
1870	648	604.3%
1880	1,365	110.6%
1890	4,052	196.8%
1900	11,546	184.9%
1910	15,878	37.5%
1920	21,117	33.0%
1930	20,264	−4.0%
1940	21,478	6.0%
1950	18,223	−15.2%
1960	17,004	−6.7%
1970	16,821	−1.1%
1980	19,871	18.1%
1990	21,264	7.0%
2000	26,530	24.8%
2010	29,750	12.1%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

State Census

• 1835-1890 Minnesota, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1835-1890 at Ancestry ($)
• 1849-1905 Minnesota, U.S., Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 at Ancestry ($)
• 1865 Minnesota State Census, 1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
• 1875 Minnesota State Census, 1875 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
• 1885 Minnesota State Census, 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
• 1905 Minnesota State Census, 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.

Church Records

Most church records are held by individual churches. Some denominations are gathering their records into a central repository. For more information, see Minnesota Church Records.

• FamilySearch Places
  

Directories

• 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary

Emigration and Immigration

• 1912-1956 Minnesota Passenger and Crew Lists, 1912-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.

Funeral Homes

• Funeral and Cremation Service in Pine City.
• Methven Funeral Homes and Cremation Services in Hinckley and Sandstone.

Land and Property Records

The county register of deeds keeps land records once the land was transferred to private ownership. Abstracts and indexes for these records are generally available at the county courthouse.

Online Land Indexes and Records

• Pre-1908 Minnesota, U.S., Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 at Ancestry ($)
• Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Local Histories

Local histories are available for Pine County. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Minnesota Local Histories.

• Easton, Augustus B.; History of the Saint Croix Valley; (Chicago: H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., 1909); Volume one (historical) online at FamilySearch Digital Library, Google Books, HathiTrust.

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Minnesota Maps at David Rumsey Map Collection
• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
• Minnesota Department of Transportation, Pine County municipality and township maps

Military Records

Multiple Wars

• 1861-1917 United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Free index, images ($)
• 1898-1899 Minnesota Volunteers in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection at Ancestry ($)

Civil War

• 1861-1865 U.S., Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 at Ancestry; Free index
• 1861-1865 Minnesota, U.S., Civil War Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry; Free index
• 1861-1865 Minnesota Civil War Soldiers at Ancestry; Free index
• 1861-1934 U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 at Ancestry; Free index

Spanish-American War

• 1898 U.S., Spanish American War Volunteers Index to Compiled Military Service Records, 1898  at Ancestry; Free index

• 1898-1899 Minnesota, U.S., Spanish American War Muster Rolls and Casualty Lists, 1898-1899 at Ancestry; Free index

World War I

• 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Civilian Draft Registrations, 1917-1918 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry; Free index
• 1918-1941 Minnesota, World War I Records, 1918-1941 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection

World War II

• 1940-1947 Minnesota, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1940-1947 U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 at Ancestry; Free index
• 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at Ancestry; Free index

Naturalization and Citizenship

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

• 1849-1985 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Naturalization Index, 1849-1985 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1872-1962 Minnesota Naturalization Records and Indexes, 1872-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1880-1920 Minnesota, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1880-1920 at Ancestry ($)
• 1918 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Alien Registration Index, 1918 at Ancestry (Free collection)

Newspapers

• Askov American at Google News; full-text digital issues in Google News Archive; covers various years from 1915-2009.
• Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub at Minnesota Historical Society; narrow to county or city, search for surname, limit by date.
• 1800s-Current Minnesota, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Obituaries

• 1813-Onward Minnesota Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
• 1865-2006 Minnesota, Obituaries 1865-2006 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1891-2003 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Obituary Index, 1891-2003 at Ancestry (Free collection)

Probate Records

Probate records may include wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. They may include the decedent’s date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, etc. See Minnesota Probate Records for additional information.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1801-1925 Minnesota, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1801-1925 at Ancestry ($)
• 1849-1985 Minnesota Will Records, 1849-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
• 1872-1942 Minnesota, Pine County, Will Records, 1872-1942(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1884-1920 Probate Case Files, 1884-1920, Pine County, Minnesota(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

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

Since Minnesota tax records include only persons who owned taxable property, many residents were not included. Still they complement land records and can be used in place of missing censuses or the years between censuses. There may also be gaps. For more information, see the wiki page Minnesota Taxation.

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 original records can be purchased from the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred. See also Minnesota Vital Records.

Birth

• 1840-1980 Minnesota, U.S., Births and Christenings Index, 1840-1980 at Ancestry ($)
• 1900-1934 Minnesota People Records Search - Births at Minnesota Historical Society - free index, images ($)
• 1900-1934 Minnesota, Birth Index, 1900-1934 at MyHeritage; index ($)
• 1935-2000 Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index, 1935-2000 at Ancestry ($)
• Minnesota, Births at MyHeritage — index ($)

Marriage

• 1850-2019 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System, 1850-2019 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1850-Onward Minnesota, Marriages at MyHeritage — index ($)
• 1860-1949 Minnesota, County Marriages, 1860-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1885-present Minnesota Official Marriage System at MOMS.mn.gov; search by county, name or date, and request copy.
• 1970-2003 Minnesota Marriage Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives ($)
• 1976-2003 Minnesota, Marriages, 1976-2003 at MyHeritage; index ($)

Death

• 1850-2001 Minnesota, County Deaths, 1850-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1887-2001 Minnesota Deaths, 1887-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1904-2001 Minnesota People Records Search - Deaths at Minnesota Historical Society - free index, images ($)
• 1904-2001 Minnesota, Death Index, 1904-2001 at MyHeritage; index ($)
• 1908-2017 Minnesota, U.S., Death Index, 1908-2017 at Ancestry ($)

Divorce

• 1970-1995 Minnesota, U.S., Divorce Index, 1970-1995 at Ancestry ($)
• 1970-2003 Minnesota Divorce Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives ($)

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Pine County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Minnesota 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

• Askov Minnesota FamilySearch Center
• North Branch Minnesota FamilySearch Center
• Pine City Minnesota FamilySearch Center
• Princeton Minnesota FamilySearch Center
• Great River Regional Library - multiple branches - an affiliate library.
• Jessie F. Hallett Memorial Library - an affiliate library.
• Ramsey County Public Library - White Bear Lake - an affiliate library.

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Pine County. For state-wide library facilities, see Minnesota Archives and Libraries.

Hinckley Public Library
106 First St SE
PO Box 336
Hinckley, MN 55037
Phone: 320-384-6351
Website

Pine City Public Library
300 Fifth St SE
Pine City, MN 55063
Phone: 320-629-6403
Website

Sandstone Public Library
119 N Fourth St
PO Box 599
Sandstone, MN 55072
Phone: 320-245-2270
Website

Museums

Hinckley Fire Museum
106 Old Hwy 61
PO Box 40
Hinckley, MN 55037
Phone: 320-384-7338
Email: info@hinckleyfiremuseum.com
Website
Facebook

Pine City Area History Association Museums
315 Main St S, Ste 170
Pine City, MN 55063
Phone: 320-322-9208
Email: pcahistory@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

Pine County Historical Museum and Event Center
6333 HC Andersen Alley
Askov, MN 55704
Phone: 320-838-1607
Email: pchminfo@yahoo.com
Website
Facebook

Pine County Rural School Museum
860 7th St SW
Pine City, MN 55063
Website

Sandstone History and Art Center
402 Main St
Box 398
Sandstone, MN 55072
Phone: 320-245-2138
Email: sandstonehistorycenter@outlook.com
Website
Facebook

Societies

Listed below are societies in Pine County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Minnesota Societies.

Pine County Historical Society
6333 HC Andersen Alley
PO Box 123
Askov, MN 55704
Phone: 320-838-1607
Email: pchminfo@yahoo.com
Website
Facebook

Websites

• Research at Minnesota Historical Society — links to Records and Indexes; See also MHS Wiki Page
• Iron Range Research Center
• Pine County at USGenWeb Archives
• Pine County MNGenWeb, a member of The MNGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
• Cyndi's List: Pine County
• Minnesota Genealogy Trails
• 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.

This table contains the dates the local or state government began recording in the county or county equivalent. Use substitute records for earlier dates. If you believe there is an error, email us at wikisupport@familysearch.org.

County boundary maps are currently unavailable. Download information instead.

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Users should verify which locations and dates are included in this collection.

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“Current” indicates records are available as recently as privacy laws allow. This date can change from year to year. To determine the exact dates available, contact the respective organization/repository.

Due to contractual agreements, some images and/or databases on FamilySearch.org may only be viewed at a FamilySearch Center or FamilySearch Affiliate Library.

FamilySearch affiliate libraries may have access to center-only databases, but do not always have all services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.