Minnesota County Histories
Minnesota gained legal existence as the Minnesota Territory in 1849, and became the 32nd U.S. state on May 11, 1858. At that point 57 counties had been established, beginning with the first nine in 1849.
The names of many of the counties pay tribute to the long history of exploration. Over ten counties names pay tribute to the state’s various Native American groups that are resident in parts of what is now Minnesota. Another fifteen counties are named after physical geographic features, with the remainder being named after politicians.
Collection Details
- ALVIN H. WILCOX, A PIONEER HISTORY OF BECKER COUNTY, INCLUDING A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF ITS NATURAL HISTORY., 1907
- ARTHUR P. ROSE, AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTY, MINNESOTA., 1914
- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY & BIOGRAPHY OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA. CONTAINING A HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA., GEO. A. OGLE & CO., 1902
- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY & BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY., W. H. BINGHAM & CO., 1916
- CONDENSED HISTORY OF MEEKER COUNTY, FRANK B LAMSON,
- ALBERT M. GOODRICH, HISTORY OF ANOKA COUNTY & THE TOWNS OF CHAMPLIN & DAYTON IN HENNEPIN CO., 1905
- REV. EDWARD D. NEILL, HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY & THE CITY OF HASTINGS, INCLUDING THE EXPLORERS & PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA., 1881
- CONSTANT LARSON, HISTORY OF DOUGLAS & GRANT COUNTIES, THEIR PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES & INSTITUTIONS. VOL 1, 1916
- CONSTANT LARSON, HISTORY OF DOUGLAS & GRANT COUNTIES, THEIR PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES & INSTITUTIONS. VOL 2, 1916
- REV. EDWARD D. NEILL & CHARLES BRYAN, HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY, INCLUDING EXPLORERS & PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA & THE SIOUX MASSACRE OF 1862., 1882
- HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY., 1911
- HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY., 1909
- REV. EDWARD D. NEILL, HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY & THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, INCLUDING THE EXPLORERS & PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA., 1881
- HISTORY OF MCLEOD COUNTY., H. C. COOPER, JR. , & CO., 1917
- HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS, GATEWAY TO THE NORTHWEST. VOL 1, S. J. CLARKE PUB. CO., 1923
- HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS, GATEWAY TO THE NORTHWEST. VOL 2
- HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS, GATEWAY TO THE NORTHWEST. VOL 3
- FRANKLYN CURTISS-WEDGE, HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY., 1911
- JOSEPH A. LEONARD, HISTORY OF OLMSTED COUNTY, WITH SLETCHES OF MANY OF ITS PIONEERS, CITIZENS, FAMILIES & INSTITUTIONS., 1910
- REV. EDW. D. NEILL & J. F. WILLIAMS., HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY & THE CITY OF ST PAUL, INCLUDING THE EXPLORERS & PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA., NORTH STAR PUB. CO., 1881
- FRANKLYN CURTISS-WEDGE, HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY. VOL 1, H. C. COOPER, JR. , & CO., 1916
- FRANKLYN CURTISS-WEDGE, HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY. VOL 2, H. C. COOPER, JR. , & CO., 1916
- HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY. VOL 2, 1916
- HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY. VOL1
- HISTORY OF RICE & STEELE COUNTIES. VOL 1
- FRANKLYN CURTISS-WEDGE, HISTORY OF RICE & STEELE COUNTIES. VOL 2, H. C. COOPER, JR. , & CO., 1910
- NEILL & BRYANT, HISTORY OF THE MINNESOTA VALLEY, INCLUDING THE EXPLORERS & PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA & HISTORY OF THE SIOUX MASSACRE., 1882
- HISTORY OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY, PAST & PRESENT. VOL 1, C.F. COOPER & CO., 1909
- HISTORY OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY, PAST & PRESENT. VOL 2, C.F. COOPER & CO., 1909
- HISTORY OF THE ST CROIX VALLEY. VOL 1, H. C. COOPER, JR. , & CO., 1909
- HISTORY OF THE ST CROIX VALLEY. VOL 2
- REV. EDWARD D. NEILL, HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, INCLUDING EXPLORERS & PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA, OUTLINES OF THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA, EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT ABOVE THE FALLS OF ST ANTHONY., 1881
- HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY., 1920
- JAMES E. CHILD, HISTORY OF WASECA COUNTY, FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1854 TO THE CLOSE OF YEAR 1904: A RECORD OF FIFTY YEARS, THE STORY OF THE PIONEERS., 1905
- REV. EDW. D. NEILL & J. F. WILLIAMS, HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY & THE ST CROIX VALLEY, INCLUDING THE EXPLORERS & PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA., NORTH STAR PUB. CO., 1881
- HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY, TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL MATTER, STATISTICS, ETC., H.H. HILL & CO., 1883
- HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY. VOL 1, 1915
- HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY. VOL 2
- ARTHUR P. ROSE, ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY., NORTHERN HIST. PUB. CO. , 1912
- ARTHUR P. ROSE, ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF ROCK & PIPESTONE., NORTHERN HIST. PUB. CO. , 1911
- MANKATO: ITS FIRST FIFTY YEARS …[WITH] BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES OF EARLY SETTLERS & ACTIVE UPBUILDERS OF THE CITY, 1852-1902., 1902
- MEMORIAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF FARIBAULT, MARTIN, WATONWAN & JACKSON., LEWIS PUB. CO., 1895
- W.B. HENNESEY, PAST & PRESENT OF ST PAUL., 1906
- A.C. SMITH, RANDOM HISTORICAL SKETCH OF MEEKER COUNTY, FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO JULY 4TH, 1876., BELFOY & JOUBERT, 1877