Researching ancestors from Washington County, Minnesota? Here's where the records are — the free path first, then how to get the whole family history traced and written.
Washington County's seat is Stillwater. Look up your surname among the deceased residents of Minnesota in our public-record database.
Search Minnesota records →Where Washington County records are kept
Original Washington County vital, probate, and land records are held at the county courthouse in Stillwater — the county recorder or clerk's office. Statewide death registration in Minnesota began around 1900 (some counties earlier), so for earlier Washington County deaths you'll rely on the county courthouse, church registers, and cemetery transcriptions. The Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul holds the broader historical and microfilmed county records.
The free records for Washington County
- Census — every federal census through 1950 is free and places your family in Washington County by household every ten years.
- Death records — search our Minnesota database and the state death index for the death year and place.
- Obituaries — the Library of Congress's Chronicling America has free Minnesota newspapers, including Stillwater-area papers.
- Cemeteries — Washington County cemetery and tombstone transcriptions, many public domain, fill gaps where a certificate doesn't exist.
We trace both sides back to the documented wall and deliver a written book + interactive family site — flat rate, no DNA test.
See how it works →Frequently asked questions
How do I find genealogy records in Washington County, Minnesota?
Start with the free federal census (public through 1950) and our free Minnesota database, then check the county courthouse in Stillwater for vital, probate, and land records, plus obituaries and cemetery transcriptions.
Where is the Washington County, Minnesota courthouse?
The Washington County seat is Stillwater, where the county recorder or clerk holds original vital, probate, and land records.