Jones County, South Dakota Genealogy Records

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

Selected inventory review: 2026-11-02. Selected newspaper catalog metadata checked for state and county attribution. Publication dates do not establish complete issue holdings or online access. Library of Congress newspaper directory

Formed
1916
County seat
Murdo
Aurora CountyBeadle CountyBennett CountyBrule CountyBuffalo CountyCharles Mix CountyDewey CountyDouglas CountyFaulk CountyGregory CountyHaakon CountyHand CountyHughes CountyHyde CountyJackson CountyJerauld CountyMellette CountyPotter CountySpink CountyStanley CountySully CountyTodd CountyTripp CountyZiebach CountyLyman CountyJones CountyAuroraBennettBruleBuffaloCharles MixDouglasGregoryHaakonHughesHydeJacksonJerauldMelletteStanleySullyToddTrippLymanJones
Jones CountyParent county (search here for earlier records)Today's boundaries ยท U.S. Census Bureau

Listed record inventories

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

Newspapers

See the repository's descriptions and search options

Repository access note: Selected newspaper titles cataloged by the Library of Congress with explicit county geography. Priority is given to titles beginning by 1950; up to five later titles are included where no earlier dated title is listed for that county. Dates describe publication history, not the issues available at a library. Multiple format records with the same title, place and dates are grouped. The catalog may describe paper, microfilm or online resources. Open ends and the word Current reflect the catalog description; confirm present availability and exact holdings with the libraries listed on the linked record.

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 Jones 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 register of deeds and the clerk of courts.

  • The register of deeds

    Deeds and other land records, marriage licenses, and births and deaths registered in the county.

  • The clerk of courts

    Probate (wills and estates), divorces and naturalizations.

  • The South Dakota State Archives

    In Pierre: county records, state censuses and newspapers.

  • South Dakota State Archivesfree

    The state archives in Pierre, with county records, state censuses, newspapers and photographs.

  • FamilySearch Catalogfree

    Search by place for "South Dakota, Jones" 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: Lyman County

Check the parent county for earlier records: Lyman County

GregoryTrippZiebachMelletteToddBennettWashabaugh (extinct)Armstrong (extinct)HaakonStanleyJacksonDouglasSullyHughesBeadleBuffaloJerauldAuroraPotterFaulkBruleHydeCharles MixHandSpinkLymanJonesJonesLymanGregoryTrippMelletteToddBennettHaakonStanleyJacksonDouglasSullyHughesBeadleBuffaloJerauldAuroraBruleHydeCharles MixHand
Jones as created in 1916Where its land was the day beforeToday's boundaryBoundaries: Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries

Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1916, 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. South Dakota took state censuses in 1895 (some counties survive), 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935 and 1945.