SCOTT COUNTY, MN HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
*None Listed
Scott County, Minnesota: A Genealogical Overview
Situated on the Minnesota River Valley at the southwestern edge of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, Scott County is a region of rapid suburban growth that still retains its deep agricultural and historical roots. Its landscape is a mix of expanding communities, rolling farmland, and scenic river bluffs. The county’s history is a rich story defined by its Dakota heritage, the pivotal Treaties of 1851, and the waves of German, Irish, and Czech immigrants who cultivated its fertile soil.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Understanding Scott County’s formation from larger territorial counties is essential for locating the earliest records of its pioneering inhabitants.
- 1853: County Formed: Scott County was established on March 5, 1853, by an act of the Minnesota Territorial Legislature.
- Parent Counties: It was created from portions of Dakota County to the east and Sibley County to the west. Records for settlers in the area prior to March 1853 would be located in the records of these parent counties. The entire region was previously part of the vast, original Wabasha County of the Wisconsin Territory.
- Subsequent County Formations: The boundaries of Scott County have remained largely consistent since its creation in 1853.
- Name Origin: The county was named in honor of General Winfield Scott, a prominent U.S. Army general who commanded forces in the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War, and was the Whig Party’s presidential candidate in 1852.
- County Seat History: The city of Shakopee was designated as the county seat in the original 1853 legislative act and has continuously served in that role.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: For centuries, the region was the homeland of the Mdewakanton band of the Dakota (Sioux) people. The Minnesota River Valley was a vital center for their villages, agriculture, and culture. The village of Chief Sakpe II (or Shakopee), located near the present-day county seat, was a significant community. The Treaties of Traverse des Sioux and Mendota in 1851 ceded vast tracts of Dakota land to the United States, opening the area for widespread, organized settlement.
- Pioneer Settlement and Economy: Following the 1851 treaties, settlers quickly moved into the area. The first wave consisted primarily of “Yankees” from New England and New York, as well as Irish immigrants. They were soon followed by much larger groups of German and Czech (Bohemian) immigrants who established farms and communities throughout the county. The early economy was driven by agriculture, with fertile land producing wheat and other grains. River towns like Shakopee and Jordan became commercial centers with mills, breweries, and trading posts serving the surrounding farmsteads.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Scott County.
- Courthouse: The Scott County Government Center is located at 200 Fourth Avenue West, Shakopee, MN 55379. This is the central repository for county-level records. The Recorder’s office holds land records (deeds, mortgages) from 1853. The District Court Administrator’s office holds probate, civil, and criminal court records. The Customer Service Center holds marriage records.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Minnesota began in 1908. Records from that date forward are held by the Minnesota Department of Health. County-level registration began around 1870. For births and deaths occurring between 1870 and 1907, researchers should check with the Scott County Vital Records office (at the Government Center). Records prior to 1870 are rare and depend on sources like church records or newspapers.
- Marriage Records: Marriage records from the county’s formation in 1853 to the present are held at the Scott County Government Center.
- Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
- Scott County Historical Society: Located at 235 Fuller Street South, Shakopee, MN 55379. This is the most crucial resource for Scott County research, holding local family files, historical photographs, plat maps, church histories, and archived newspapers.
- Scott County Library System: The public library branches throughout the county, particularly in Shakopee, maintain collections of local history books and resources.
- Minnesota Historical Society (Gale Family Library): Located in St. Paul, this is the premier statewide resource for genealogy. It holds Minnesota state census records (taken between the federal censuses), an extensive newspaper microfilm collection, naturalization records, and state vital records indexes.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Hennepin County, MN
- Carver County, MN
- Sibley County, MN
- Le Sueur County, MN
- Rice County, MN
- Dakota County, MN