MURRAY COUNTY, MN HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Murray County, Minnesota: A Genealogical Overview

Located in the prairies of southwestern Minnesota, Murray County is a rural region defined by its rich agricultural land and numerous lakes, most notably Lake Shetek. The county’s history is profoundly marked by its early Dakota inhabitants, the tragic events of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 which delayed its settlement, and the subsequent wave of Northern European immigrants who cultivated the land. For genealogists, understanding this timeline of conflict and settlement is key to tracing ancestors in the area.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Murray County’s legislative creation versus its later functional organization is critical for locating the earliest administrative records.

  • 1857: County Established: Murray County was established by an act of the Minnesota Territorial Legislature on May 23, 1857. However, it remained an unorganized territory with no formal government for another 15 years.
  • Parent County: The county was created from territory belonging to Brown County. Due to its long period of being unorganized, any official records for the area prior to 1872 would be located in Brown County records.
  • 1872: County Organized: The Murray County government was formally organized on January 10, 1872, at which point it began creating its own records. Its boundaries have remained stable since its organization.
  • Name Origin: The county was named for William Pitt Murray, a prominent lawyer and politician in St. Paul who served as president of the Minnesota Territorial Council.
  • County Seat History: The first county seat was established in Currie in 1872. After years of rivalry and a contentious vote, the county seat was officially moved to the more centrally located Slayton in 1889, where it remains today.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was the homeland of the Dakota people, particularly bands of the Sisseton and Wahpeton. Lake Shetek, a name derived from the Dakota language for “pelican,” was a significant gathering place.
  • Pioneer Settlement and Economy: A small number of American and European settlers established a community near Lake Shetek in the late 1850s. This initial settlement was destroyed during the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 in an event known as the Lake Shetek Massacre. This conflict halted further settlement for nearly a decade. A major influx of homesteaders, primarily immigrants from Norway, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and Ireland, began arriving in the late 1860s and early 1870s, drawn by farmland and the arrival of the railroad. The county’s economy has been rooted in agriculture—corn, soybeans, and livestock—since its settlement.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Murray County.

  • Courthouse: The Murray County Courthouse is located in the Murray County Government Center at 2848 Broadway Avenue, Slayton, MN 56172. The County Recorder’s Office holds land records (deeds, mortgages), and vital records. The Court Administrator’s Office holds probate, civil, criminal court, and naturalization records.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: County-level registration began in Minnesota in 1870. Records from the county’s organization in 1872 to the present can be found at the Murray County Recorder’s office. Statewide registration began in 1908; records from that date forward are also available from the Minnesota Department of Health.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1872 to the present are held by the Murray County Recorder.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Murray County Historical Society Museum: Located at 2740 22nd St, Slayton, MN 56172. This is the most critical resource for local and family history, holding newspapers, plat maps, photographs, and local family histories.
    • Slayton Public Library: As part of the Plum Creek Library System, it has local history resources, including access to newspapers on microfilm.
    • Gale Family Library (Minnesota Historical Society): (Located in St. Paul) This is the state’s premier genealogical repository, holding copies of county records, newspapers, state census records, and extensive collections vital for any Minnesota researcher.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Lyon County, MN
    • Cottonwood County, MN
    • Nobles County, MN
    • Pipestone County, MN
    • Rock County, MN

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks