Big Stone County Birth Records Lookup

Big Stone County birth records go back to 1881 and are kept by the County Recorder and Office of Vital Statistics in Ortonville, Minnesota. The office takes requests in person, by mail, by fax, and by email, giving you several ways to get a certified copy. If you need to find or obtain a birth record from Big Stone County, the office at 20 Second Street SE in Ortonville handles all vital records for this small county in western Minnesota along the South Dakota border.

Big Stone County Recorder and Vital Statistics

The Big Stone County Recorder and Office of Vital Statistics is the department that handles birth records in the county. The office is in Suite 106 at 20 Second Street SE in Ortonville. It covers both the official recording functions and the vital statistics role, which includes birth, death, and marriage records. The office is small but full-service, and staff are available by phone, fax, and email for questions.

Big Stone County is in far western Minnesota, sharing its western edge with South Dakota along Big Stone Lake. It is one of the smaller counties in the state by population. The recorder's office serves all of the county's communities from one location in Ortonville. More information about the department is on the Big Stone County Recorder page. You can also visit the main county site at bigstonecounty.gov for broader county information.

Ways to Request a Birth Certificate in Big Stone County

Big Stone County gives you more ways to request a birth record than most counties. You can come in person, send a request by mail, send it by fax, or email the office directly. That flexibility is useful for people who live far from Ortonville or who cannot make it during office hours.

For an in-person visit, bring a valid photo ID and your payment. The clerk will confirm your eligibility, take your request details, and issue the certificate at the counter. Mail requests work well if you are not nearby. The office has a printable birth certificate application PDF available at their website. For the most current version of the form, check the recorder's page at bigstonecounty.gov/government/recorder or download it directly at the birth certificate application form.

Fax requests let you send your completed form and ID copy without mailing anything. Email requests work the same way. Send your scanned form and ID to Recorder@co.big-stone.mn.us and ask the office how to submit payment. Staff can guide you through the process. The Minnesota Department of Health is another option for ordering certified copies of Minnesota birth records directly from the state.

Birth Certificate Fees in Big Stone County

The fee is $26 for the first certified copy of a birth record. Additional copies of the same record cost $19 each. These rates follow state law under Minnesota Statute 144.225. Payment options include cash, check, and money order.

For in-person payments, bring the exact amount or a check made payable to Big Stone County. For mail requests, include a check or money order. Do not mail cash. The office does not list credit card as a payment option, so plan accordingly before you visit or mail your request. If cost is a factor, ordering multiple copies at once saves money since each additional copy is $7 less than the first.

Birth Records in Big Stone County from 1881

Big Stone County has kept birth records since 1881. The county sits along one of the oldest settlement corridors in western Minnesota, and the records reflect the farming families who moved into the region in the latter half of the 1800s. A certified birth certificate from Big Stone County lists the child's full name, birth date, place of birth, sex, and the names and details of both parents.

Access to birth records follows Minnesota Statute 144.225. Certified copies are issued only to the person named, their parents, legal guardians, or authorized representatives. For records that are at least 100 years old, the access rules are looser under Minnesota Statute 144.2255, making older records available for genealogy purposes. The recorder can tell you what information you need to provide for a successful search.

Death and marriage records are also available from the same office, starting from similar dates in the 1880s. If you need several related vital records at once, the Big Stone County office can handle them all in a single visit or request.

Big Stone County Recorder Resources

The Big Stone County website has department information, contact details, and links to forms including the birth certificate application.

The county's main site gives you a quick overview of services and links to the recorder's department page for more specific details about vital records requests.

The Big Stone County Recorder page lists what the office does, what records it holds, and how to contact staff directly for questions before you send a request.

Checking the recorder's page first is a good way to confirm current hours and any updated application requirements before submitting your request.

Historical Records and Genealogy in Big Stone County

Big Stone County's records from 1881 give genealogists a solid foundation for researching families in this corner of western Minnesota. The county's early settlers were largely Scandinavian and German farmers, and their births, marriages, and deaths are captured in the county's vital records going back to that era. For records before 1881, church registers and federal census records are the primary sources. The MNHS vital records guide explains how to navigate those older resources.

The Minnesota Historical Society holds microfilm collections for many Minnesota counties that go back into the late 1800s, and Big Stone County is part of that collection. For current genealogy needs, the recorder's office in Ortonville can search the county's records and pull copies. The MDH county directory is useful if your research spans multiple counties in the region. Third-party ordering via VitalChek is also an option for those who prefer an online process.

Cities in Big Stone County

Big Stone County includes the city of Ortonville along with several small townships. No cities in this county meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All birth records go through the recorder's office in Ortonville.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Big Stone County. Each has its own recorder's office for birth record requests.