Nelson County, North Dakota Genealogy Records

Selected record inventories for Nelson County, their listed years, and where to ask for access.

Selected inventory review: 2026-11-02. Selected repository catalog metadata reviewed. This is not a complete holdings audit or certification of current access. See the repository note for limitations. Official repository catalog or holdings guide

Formed
1883
County seat
Lakota
Barnes CountyBenson CountyBottineau CountyBurleigh CountyCass CountyCavalier CountyEddy CountyEmmons CountyGriggs CountyKidder CountyLaMoure CountyLogan CountyMcHenry CountyPembina CountyPierce CountyRansom CountyRichland CountyRolette CountySheridan CountySteele CountyStutsman CountyTowner CountyTraill CountyWalsh CountyWells CountyFoster CountyGrand Forks CountyRamsey CountyNelson CountyBarnesBensonBottineauBurleighCassCavalierEddyKidderMcHenryPembinaPierceRoletteStutsmanTraillWalshWellsFosterGrand ForksRamseyNelson
Nelson CountyParent counties (search here for earlier records)Today's boundaries · U.S. Census Bureau

Listed record inventories

Selected holdings and indexes for Nelson County, checked against the repository descriptions linked below. Date spans may contain gaps; an index is not a complete set of original records.

Land records

See the repository's descriptions and search options

Repository access note: Selected county atlas and plat-book editions listed by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Dates are publication years, not continuous record coverage. Editions marked microfilm listed are starred in the source. Shared-county notes are retained; malformed date tokens are omitted. Consult the repository for current access.

Sources: the catalogs and repository descriptions linked on the entries above. Selected inventories do not establish complete coverage of every record type or online access to original documents. Read the repository access note for source dates and limitations.

Where to find the records

  • Find Nelson County's official website

    We haven't checked this county's website yet, so this opens a web search. Look for an address ending in .gov, then find the county recorder, the clerk of the district court and the State Historical Society of North Dakota.

  • The county recorder

    Deeds and other land records, and marriage licenses.

  • The clerk of the district court

    Probate (wills and estates), divorces and naturalizations; county courts were merged into the district courts in 1995.

  • The State Historical Society of North Dakota

    In Bismarck: the State Archives, with county records, naturalizations and newspapers.

  • State Historical Society of North Dakota (State Archives)free

    The State Archives in Bismarck, with county records, naturalizations, newspapers and photographs.

  • FamilySearch Catalogfree

    Search by place for "North Dakota, Nelson" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.

Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.

Boundaries and parent counties

Formed from: Foster County, Grand Forks County, Ramsey County, Foster County

Check the parent counties for earlier records: Foster County, Grand Forks County, Ramsey County

WalshGrand ForksNelsonNelsonGrand Forks
Nelson as created in 1883Today's boundaryBoundaries: Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries

Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1883, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.

Research tip

Until 1889 North and South Dakota were one territory, so early records may be filed under Dakota Territory. Many settlers claimed land under the Homestead Act; their federal case files are at the National Archives.