Stearns County
5th Ave, St. Cloud, 1906- LakesnWoods.com Postcard and Postcard Image Collection
Poles settled in Stearns County in the following locations:
Towns: St. Cloud, Sartell, Holdingford
Unincorporated Communities: St. Anna, Opole, Avon, Arban
County-Wide Resources
Catholic Churches and Cemeteries
The church was a central point in the lives of Polish immigrants. Learn more about the churches and cemeteries in Stearns County where Polish families worshiped.
Vital Records and Land Records
The County Treasurer’s Office oversees the genealogy records (births, marriages and deaths) for Stearns County.
The County Recorder is responsible for land records in the County.
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
The U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management has General Land Office Records where you can pick the state and county, then type a surname. If an ancestor purchased land, you will likely be able to see the document and details about the land and purchase.
Census Records
United States Census Records
You can find a lot of information about the U.S. Census records on the National Archives website. The U.S. Census was done every ten years from 1790 through 1950. (the site has direct links to census records for 1940 and 1950). FamilySearch and Ancestry also have census records (Ancestry requires a paid subscription).
Minnesota State Census Records
- The first Minnesota Territorial Census was taken in 1849, and was taken again in 1850, 1853, 1855, and 1857.
- After Minnesota became a State in 1858, the Minnesota State Census was taken every 10 years, in years that ended with a 5: 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, and 1905.
- 1905 was the last year of the Minnesota State Census.
Historical Society and History Museum
The Stearns County Historical Society was formed in 1936 and in 1973, the organization started transitioning into a physical museum.
General Genealogy Links
The following are websites with general resources and genealogy information about Stearns County:
Maps
Plat maps are helpful in showing who owned the land that year. Click on the area you are interested in until you get to the detail level with names.
Books/Articles
| Title | Author/Publisher | comments |
|---|---|---|
| History of Stearns County, Minnesota – Volume 2 | by William Bell Mitchell H.C. Cooper, Jr. and Co., Chicago: 1915 | Entire book is online |
| The Stodolka Family – Article about several generations of a family from Silesia to Central Minnesota | Mike Stodolka |
St. Cloud
Libraries
The Public Library has valuable resources related to genealogy, history, and culture.
General Genealogy Links
The following are websites with general resources and genealogy information about St. Cloud:
PGS-MN Drobne Echa Newsletter Articles
(You will need to scroll down to the page indicated to find the article within the newsletter link)
| newsletter | page | title/author |
|---|---|---|
| Fall/Winter 2002 | 14 | Series Introduction by Greg Kishel |
| Fall/Winter 2002 | 16 | Installment # 1: St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids, and Gilman From Slofice,1898 by Greg Kishel |
Books
| title | author/publisher |
|---|---|
| The Spirit in Central Minnesota, A centennial narrative of the Church of St. Cloud, 1889-1989, Vol. 1, Vol. II | by Vincent Yzermans Sentinel Printing Company, St. Cloud, Minnesota, Diocese of Saint Cloud, 1989. |
Opole
Book
| Title | Author | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Opoliana, 1887-1987: A History of the Community at Opole, Minnesota | by Robert J. Voigt | Available in the Polish section of the Hoffman Research Library at the Minnesota Genealogy Center. |
Avon
General Genealogy Links
The following are websites with general resources and genealogy information about Avon:
Map
Book
| title | Author |
|---|---|
| Nestled between Lakes and Wooded Hills: The Centennial History of the Avon Area | by Jeanette Blonigen Clancy, 2000 |
Holdingford
Local Historical Society
The goal of the Holdingford Historical Society is to preserve the history of the Holdingford area.
General Genealogy Links
The following are websites with general resources and genealogy information about Holdingford:
Article
| Title | Source | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota 13 | Wikipedia | Holdingford was known as the Moonshine Capital of Minnesota |
Map
Arban
PGS-MN Newsletter Article
(You will need to scroll down to the page indicated to find the article within the newsletter link)
| Newsletter | page | title/Author |
|---|---|---|
| Summer 1997 | 4 | Arban Church History Enclosed by Sandy Nuss (Sacred Heart Church History- document is in the Hoffman Research Library) |
Sartell
(Note: Sartell is located in Stearns County and Benton County)
Local Historical Society
The Sartell Historical Society preserves artifacts and historical information related to the Sartell area.
General Genealogy Links
The following are websites with general resources and genealogy information about Sartell:
Books
| Title | Author | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Lumber, Paper, Valves and Progress- A History of Sartell Minnesota | Historical Publications Group, 2006 | Can be purchased through the Sartell Historical Society |