Redwood County Birth Records

Redwood County birth records are maintained by the County Recorder office in Redwood Falls. The county holds the oldest known birth records in Minnesota, with registrations dating back to 1864, making it a key resource for genealogical research in the state. If you need to find or obtain a birth certificate from Redwood County, the recorder's office handles certified and noncertified copies, in-person requests, and mail-in submissions during regular business hours.

Redwood County Recorder

The Redwood County Recorder maintains birth records and other vital documents for the county. The office is in Redwood Falls at 403 South Mill Street. Staff issue certified and noncertified copies of birth certificates and make a public viewing station available for on-site record review. Walk-in visits are welcome during business hours, and mail requests are also processed.

Redwood County holds a distinction few other counties can claim. Its birth records go back to 1864, the earliest known birth registrations in the entire state of Minnesota. Death records in the county go back to 1869. This long record base makes the Redwood County Recorder an important resource for anyone researching family history in southwestern Minnesota or in the state more broadly. If you are searching for a birth from the mid-1800s, this office is one of the first places to check.

The Redwood County website at redwoodcounty-mn.us provides information on the recorder's office, including contact details and how to submit birth record requests.

The site covers the services offered by the County Recorder, including instructions for in-person and mail-in requests for birth certificates.

How to Get Redwood County Birth Certificates

The fastest way to get a birth certificate from Redwood County is to visit the recorder's office in person. Bring a valid photo ID and the fee. The office takes cash, check, money order, and credit card. A public viewing station is on-site if you want to browse records before ordering a copy. Staff can issue a certified copy while you wait in most cases.

Mail requests are also accepted. Include the full name on the birth certificate, the date of birth, the place of birth, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order for the correct amount. Send everything to the Redwood Falls address. Allow extra time for mail processing, especially for older records that may need to be pulled from archived files.

For births registered after 1935, the Minnesota Department of Health can also issue certified copies. Visit health.state.mn.us birth order page for state ordering options, or use VitalChek at vitalchek.com for online convenience.

State law under Minnesota Statutes section 144.225 limits certified copy access to the named person, parents, legal guardians, and those with a court order. Noncertified copies are available with fewer restrictions for research purposes.

Birth Record Fees in Redwood County

The fee for a certified birth certificate is $26 for the first copy. Each additional certified copy ordered at the same time costs $19. Noncertified copies cost $13. These rates are set by Minnesota Statutes section 144.2255 and apply uniformly across county vital records offices in Minnesota.

Payment options include cash, personal check, money order, and credit card. For mail requests, send a check or money order made out to Redwood County. Avoid sending cash by mail.

Note: If you need multiple copies for different agencies such as a passport office or court, ordering all copies at once saves money since additional copies are $7 less each.

Historical Redwood County Birth Records

Redwood County birth records from 1864 represent the oldest known birth registrations in Minnesota. That is a remarkable depth of local history for a county in the southwestern part of the state. Death records start just a few years later in 1869. These older records are valuable for anyone researching settlers, immigrant families, or the early history of the area.

The public viewing station at the recorder's office is useful for this kind of research. You can look through records without ordering copies first, which helps narrow down what you actually need. For records that predate the state vital records system, the Minnesota Historical Society has additional resources at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/birth. Church registers, township documents, and early county records can supplement what the formal registration system holds.

The state's county registrar directory is at health.state.mn.us county registrars and lists Redwood County along with contact info for all other counties in Minnesota.

Cities in Redwood County

Redwood Falls is the county seat and the largest community in Redwood County. No cities in Redwood County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

All birth record requests for communities in Redwood County are handled by the County Recorder office in Redwood Falls.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Redwood County. Each has its own recorder office that handles local birth certificates and vital records.