Cook County, Minnesota Genealogy

United States

Minnesota

Cook County

Guide to Cook 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: Grand Marais Organized: November 3, 1874 Parent County(s): Lake Neighboring Counties Lake • Rainy River District, Ontario, Canada See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

The county was named for Michael Cook, Territorial and State Senator. The county is located in the northeast area of the state.

County Courthouse

Cook County Courthouse
411 West 2nd Street
Grand Marais, MN 55604
Phone: 218-387-3610
Cook County Website

County Recorder has birth and death records from 1900, marriage records from 1901, land records from 1886, and military records from 1919.
Court Administrator has divorce, court and probate records.

Cook 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
1900	1901	1900	1892	1886	1884	1836
*Statewide registration started for births in 1900 and deaths in 1908. General compliance by 1915.

Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes

Parent Counties: Created from Lake County November 3, 1874 County seat: Grand Marais Interactive Map of Minnesota County Formation History (1790-1897) - animated maps illustrating Minnesota county boundary changes Minnesota Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library

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
Grand Marais
Unincorporated communities
Croftville Grand Portage Hovland Maple Hill	Martin Landing Mineral Center Pigeon River Sawbill Landing	Schroeder Taconite Harbor Tofte
Census-designated places
Lutsen
Townships
Lutsen	Schroeder	Tofte
Unorganized territories
East Cook	Grand Portage	West Cook
Ghost towns
Chippewa City	Colvill

Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Cook County, Minnesota online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Billion Graves Find a Grave MN Tombstone Transcription Project MNGenWeb USGenWeb Archives
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	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.	%±
1880	65	—
1890	98	50.8%
1900	810	726.5%
1910	1,336	64.9%
1920	1,841	37.8%
1930	2,435	32.3%
1940	3,030	24.4%
1950	2,900	−4.3%
1960	3,377	16.4%
1970	3,423	1.4%
1980	4,092	19.5%
1990	3,868	−5.5%
2000	5,168	33.6%
2010	5,176	0.2%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

State Census

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

Emigration and Immigration

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

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 , 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 Cook 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.

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
• Minnesota Department of Transportation, Cook County municipality and township maps

Military Records

Multiple Wars

• 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 collection)
• 1861-1865 , U.S., Civil War Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free collection)
• 1861-1865 Minnesota Civil War Soldiers at Ancestry (free collection)
• 1861-1917 United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1861-1934 U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 at Ancestry (free collection)

Spanish-American War

• 1898 U.S., Spanish American War Volunteers Index to Compiled Military Service Records, 1898 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1898-1899 , 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 ($)
• 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry ($)
• 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 and images.
• 1940-1947 U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 at Ancestry ($)
• 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at Ancestry ($)

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 and images.
• 1880-1920 , U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1880-1920 at Ancestry ($)
• 1918 Web: , U.S., Alien Registration Index, 1918 at Ancestry (Free collection)

Newspapers

• Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub at Minnesota Historical Society — narrow to county (55 listed) or city (106 listed), 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

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

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
• 1884-1982 Minnesota, Cook County, Will Records, 1884-1982(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1901-1977 Minnesota, Cook County, Miscellaneous Records, 1901-1977(*); County Auditor at FamilySearch Catalog — index & 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 ($)
• 1935-2000 Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index, 1935-2000 at Ancestry ($)

Marriage

• 1850-2019 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System, 1850-2019 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1860-1949 Minnesota, County Marriages, 1860-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and 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 and images
• 1887-2001 Minnesota Deaths, 1887-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and 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 Cook 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

• Duluth Minnesota FamilySearch Center
• Virginia Minnesota FamilySearch Center
• Ironwood Carnegie Public Library - Michigan - an affiliate library.
• Park Rapids Minnesota Library - an affiliate library.

Libraries

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

Grand Marais Public Library
104 2nd Avenue W
P.O. Box 280
Grand Marais, MN 55604
Phone: 218-387-1140
Email: gmlib@alslib.info
Website

Museums

Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center
28 Moose Pond Dr
Grand Marais, MN 55604
Phone: 218-388-9915
Email: info@gunflinttrailhistoricalsociety.org
Website
Facebook

Cook County Historical Society Museum
PO Box 1293
Grand Marais, MN 55604
Phone: 218-387-2883
Email: history@boreal.org
Website
Facebook

Cross River Heritage Center
7932 W Highway 61
PO Box 337
Schroeder, MN 55613
Phone: 218-663-7706
Email: office@crossriverheritage.org
Website
Facebook

Grand Portage Ojibwe National Monument
170 Mile Creek Rd
PO Box 426
Grand Portage, MN 55605
Phone: 218-475-0123
Website
Facebook

North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum
Tofte Historical Society
7136 Highway 61
PO Box 2312
Tofte, MN 55615-2312
Phone: 218-663-7050
Email: nscfm@boreal.org
Website
Facebook

Societies

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

Cook County Historical Society
PO Box 1293
Grand Marais, MN 55604
Phone: 218-387-2883
Email: history@boreal.org
Website
Facebook

Cross River Heritage Center
7932 W Highway 61
PO Box 337
Schroeder, MN 55613
Phone: 218-663-7706
Email: office@crossriverheritage.org
Website
Facebook

Tofte Historical Society
North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum
7136 Highway 61
PO Box 2312
Tofte, MN 55615-2312
Phone: 218-663-7050
Email: nscfm@boreal.org
Website
Facebook

Websites

• The Cook County MNGenWeb Project, a member of The MNGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
• MN USGenWeb Archives at USGenWeb Archives
• PeopleFINDER (Family History) at Minnesota Historical Society
• Minnesota Genealogy Trails
• Iron Range Research Center The Iron Range Research Center contains one of the largest collections of genealogical and local history research materials in the Upper Midwest and includes census, naturalization records, passenger arrival records, mining company newsletters, and a survey of Women in Industry taken in 1919, among many others.
• Cook County at Cyndi's List
• 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.