Morton County, North Dakota Genealogy

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Guide to Morton County, North Dakota ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.


County Facts
County seat: Mandan
Organized: January 8, 1873
Parent County(s): unorganized territory[1]
Neighboring Counties
Burleigh  • Emmons  • Grant  • Mercer  • Oliver  • Sioux  • Stark
See County Maps
Courthouse
NorthDakotaMortonCountyMemorialCourthouse.jpg
Location Map
North Dakota Morton Map.png
Adoption


County Information[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

The county was named for Oliver Hazard Perry Throck Morton (1823-1877), governor of Indiana during the American Civil War and later a United States Senator. It was later organized again on November 23, 1916.[2] The County is located in the center area of the state.[3]

County Courthouse[edit | edit source]

Morton County Courthouse
210 2nd Ave NW
Mandan, ND 58554
Phone: 701.667.3355
Morton County Website

Clerk District Court has birth records from 1883, marriage records from 1888, death records from 1873, burial records from 1943, divorce and probate records from 1900’s and court records from late 1800’s;
Register of Deeds has land records from late 1800’s[4]

Morton County, North Dakota Record Dates[edit | edit source]

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 Major Records[5]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1883 1888 1873 late 1800s late 1800s 1900s 1836
*State Dept. of Vital Records started births and deaths in 1923.
Full compliance by 1924.[6]

Record Loss[edit | edit source]

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

Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

Populated Places[edit | edit source]

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
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places
Townships
Ghost towns


Resources[edit | edit source]

Bible Records[edit | edit source]

Biographies[edit | edit source]

Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries of Morton County, North Dakota online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See North Dakota Cemeteries for more information

Census Records[edit | edit source]

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1880 200 —
1890 4,728 2264.0%
1900 8,069 70.7%
1910 25,289 213.4%
1920 18,714 −26.0%
1930 19,647 5.0%
1940 20,184 2.7%
1950 19,295 −4.4%
1960 20,992 8.8%
1970 20,310 −3.2%
1980 25,177 24.0%
1990 23,700 −5.9%
2000 25,303 6.8%
2010 27,471 8.6%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Before North Dakota was a state in 1889, parts of North Dakota were included in the 1836 Iowa Territory census (also known as Wisconsin Territory), 1840 Iowa Territory census, 1850 Minnesota Territory census, and the 1860-1880 Dakota Territory censuses.[9] See links listed below.

Territory and State Census Records[edit | edit source]

Federal Census Records[edit | edit source]

Federal Censuses were taken for the state of North Dakota starting in 1890, although no records survived. The 1900 Census is the next Federal Census available. For links to Federal census indexes, see North Dakota Census.

Church Records[edit | edit source]

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Church records can be found online, kept onsite at the church, or housed in a church archive or library. See North Dakota Church Records for more information on how to locate the records.

Online Church Records
Lutheran Church

Court Records[edit | edit source]

Directories[edit | edit source]

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]

Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]

Genealogies[edit | edit source]

Guardianship[edit | edit source]

Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]

When the United States acquired North Dakota, most of the land became available for homesteading or purchase from the federal government. After land was transferred from the government to private owners, the registrar of deeds in each county recorded the land transactions in the form of deeds and mortgages. For more information, see North Dakota Land and Property.


Online Land Records

For more information see North Dakota Land and Property

Local Histories[edit | edit source]

Local histories, including those of the county, are available for Morton County. These histories can include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information.

  • 100 years of faith, 1897-1997; St. Anthony's Catholic Church; St. Anthony, North Dakota. 1997?. By Elfreda Ziniel. St. Anthony, North Dakota : St. Anthony's Catholic Church; St. Anthony, North Dakota. Online at:; At various libraries (WorldCat).
  • Flasher, ND centennial, 1902-2002. 2002?. S.l. : s.n. Online at:; At various libraries (WorldCat).
  • Mantani A history of Mandan - Morton County including Fort McKeen and Fort Abraham Lincoln : 1738-1964. 1964. By Sarah Tostevin. Mandan, North Dakota : The Mandan Chamber of Commerce.
  • Morton prairie roots. 1975. By Marion Plath Peterson. Mandan, North Dakota : Morton County Historical Society. Online at:; At various libraries (WorldCat).

Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]

Oliver CountyBurleigh CountyEmmons CountySioux CountyGrant CountyHettinger CountyStark CountyMercer CountyND MORTON.JPG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration[edit | edit source]

Military Records[edit | edit source]

Online Collections[edit | edit source]

These collections are unique to North Dakota. You will find nationwide databases for military records on U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records and North Dakota Military Records.

Civil War

World War I

World War II

Korean War

Vietnam War

For further information see North Dakota Military Records.

Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

Newspapers[edit | edit source]

For more information, see North Dakota Newspapers.

North Dakota Newspapers Online

  • GenealogyBank - ($), contains images of North Dakota newspapers GenealogyBank] - ($), contains images of North Dakota newspapers
  • Newspaper Archive - ($), contains images of North Dakota newspapers
  • Chronicling America - contains images of some North Dakota newspapers; searching tips
  • Elephind - Free; search engine that retrieves newspaper images from other free newspaper websites

North Dakota Newspaper Catalogs

Obituaries[edit | edit source]

Other Records[edit | edit source]

Periodicals[edit | edit source]

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Probate records, including wills and estates, are at the county clerk's office. See also North Dakota Probate Records.

Online Probate Records

School Records[edit | edit source]

Flasher School History:

Flasher is a city within Morton County, North Dakota

The first school house was a one room building completed in 1902. The first regular school term was 1903-1904, there were 30 pupils. The original building of what is now the Flasher Public School was built in 1911. High school was started in the fall of 1916 with a small enrollment. From this small beginning the enrollment increased and more room was needed. The first formal graduation ceremony took place in 1922 with three graduating students.

In the spring of 1957, due to increased enrollment, it became necessary to enlarge the educational facilities. Included in the new addition were a gymnasium and a shop. In 1958 the Flasher School District 39 went through the task of reorganization. As a result, the following are now part of the Flasher School District No. 39: Weekes, Fairview, Big Bend, Fair Valley, part of Oak Coulee, Lark, Lonesome, part of Raleigh, part of Three Buttes, Freda, Timmer and Shields. In 1965 a new section of the elementary classrooms was built and in 1975 four more classrooms were added.

Taken from: ""School Reunion 1922-1977, Schools of Flasher, Freda, Raleigh"" Saturday, June 18 1977"

Tax Records[edit | edit source]

County tax records are at the county treasurer's, auditor's or clerk's office in the county courthouse. Some tax records may have been moved to the North Dakota State Archives.


Vital Records[edit | edit source]

Birth, marriage, death, and divorce records may be recorded on registers, certificates, or other documents at the county clerk's office. Many records are also being digitized and put online. See North Dakota Vital Records for more information about availability and how to access them.

Birth[edit | edit source]

Marriage[edit | edit source]

Death[edit | edit source]

Online Death Indexes and Records

Divorce[edit | edit source]

Research Facilities[edit | edit source]

Archives[edit | edit source]

North Dakota State University Archives
West Building 3551 7th Avenue
N Fargo, ND 58102
Mailing Address:
NDSU Archives
Libraries NDSU Dept #2080
PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
Phone: 701-231-8914
Fax: 701-231-5632
Email: {mailto:ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu]
Website

Family History Centers[edit | edit source]

Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes.

Libraries[edit | edit source]

Museums[edit | edit source]

Glen Ullin Museum and Auxiliary
6285 46th St.
Glen Ullin, ND 58631
Phone: 701-348-3740

Societies[edit | edit source]

Morton County Historical Society
4248 43rd Ave
New Salem, ND 58563-9805

Almont Historical Society
4149 Co Rd 86
Almont, ND 58520
Telephone: 701-843-7515

Flasher Historical Society / Pioneer Square Community Center
c/o Ted Riehl
PO Box 181
Flasher, ND 58535-0181
Telephone: 701-597-3783

Glen Ullin Historical Society Archives
PO Box 209
Glen Ullin, ND 58631-0209
Telephone: 701-348-3175

New Salem Historical Society
4248 43rd Ave
New Salem, ND 58563-9805
Telephone: 701-843-738

Sims Historical Society
4145 County Road 86
Sims, ND 58520
Telephone: 701-843-7634

Mandan Historical Sociey
31O2 37th St.
PO Box 1001
Mandan, ND 58554
Telephone:701-663-5200
E-mail:info@mandanhistory.org
Website

Germans From Russia Heritage Society
1125 W Turnpike Ave
Bismarck ND
Telephone:701-223-6167

Bismarck-Mandan Hisrotical and Genealogical Society, Inc.
PO Box 485
Bismarck ND 58502-0485

Websites[edit | edit source]

Research Guides[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
  2. ↑ Morton County, North Dakota Genealogy and History (Genealogy Trails)
  3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Morton, North Dakota," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morton_County,_North_Dakota accessed 8/28/2018
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Morton County, North Dakota. Page 525 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  5. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Morton County, North Dakota. Page 525 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 518.
  6. ↑ Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Rev. ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 1992), 562; Alice M. Hetzel, U.S. Vital Statistics System: Major Activities and Developments, 1950-95 (Hyattsville, Md.: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, [1997]), 58.
  7. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
  8. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Morton County, North Dakota," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia.
  9. ↑ Alice Eichholz, ‘’Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources,’’ 3rd ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 2004), 511. Free online version; FHL Book 973 D27rb 2004; WorldCat entry.
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