Yellow Medicine County Birth Records
Yellow Medicine County birth records go back to 1872 and are held by the county's Property and Public Services department at 180 8th Avenue in Granite Falls. To get a certified birth certificate from Yellow Medicine County, contact the office in person or by mail. The county also offers a historical resource through the Yellow Medicine County Museum and Historical Society, which has transcribed birth records from 1870 to 1910 available as downloadable spreadsheets for family history research.
Yellow Medicine County Overview
Yellow Medicine County Property and Public Services
Yellow Medicine County handles vital records through its Property and Public Services department at 180 8th Avenue in Granite Falls. The office phone is 320-564-3132 and the fax is 320-564-3133. You can email staff at pps@co.ym.mn.gov. Hours are standard county business hours. Visit the county's official website at co.ym.mn.gov for current information on hours and services.
Yellow Medicine is a small, rural county in southwestern Minnesota along the Minnesota River valley. Using Property and Public Services for vital records is common in smaller Minnesota counties that do not have a dedicated recorder or vital records office. Staff can handle birth certificate requests, process payments, and issue certified copies. If you have questions before visiting or mailing a request, call or email the office to confirm what documents you will need and whether the record you are seeking is available in the county system.
| Department | Yellow Medicine County Property and Public Services |
|---|---|
| Address | 180 8th Avenue Granite Falls, MN 56241 |
| Phone | 320-564-3132 |
| Fax | 320-564-3133 |
| pps@co.ym.mn.gov | |
| Website | co.ym.mn.gov |
Requesting Yellow Medicine County Birth Certificates
Birth certificate requests in Yellow Medicine County are handled in person or by mail. For in-person requests, visit the Property and Public Services office at 180 8th Avenue in Granite Falls. Bring a valid photo ID, complete the request form, and pay the fee. Staff will process the request and issue the certified copy before you leave if the record is in the local system.
For mail requests, include the full name on the birth record, the date of birth, and your relationship to the person. Attach a photocopy of your government-issued photo ID. Send a check or money order made out to Yellow Medicine County. Mail your request to 180 8th Avenue, Granite Falls, MN 56241. Do not mail cash. The office will process and mail the certified copy back after reviewing your documents. Call 320-564-3132 or email pps@co.ym.mn.gov if you have questions before sending.
Note: For births before 1935, the county must verify older records outside the statewide electronic system, which can add processing time to your request.
Yellow Medicine County Birth Records Since 1872
Birth records in Yellow Medicine County date to 1872. The county's collection spans from the early settlement period through the present day. Certified birth certificates show the child's full name, date and place of birth, sex, and parent information. For records from the 1800s and early 1900s, some data fields may be limited based on how the original registration was completed at the time of filing.
Minnesota's access rules for certified birth certificates come from Minnesota Statute 144.225. Certified copies are available to the person on the record, their parents or legal guardians, and authorized representatives. For records at least 100 years old, Minnesota Statute 144.2255 opens access more broadly for genealogical research.
The Minnesota Department of Health holds birth records statewide for births from 1935 forward. Both the county and MDH can supply certified copies for those births. The Minnesota Historical Society holds older vital records in its collections and can be a useful resource for very early births in Yellow Medicine County that predate or supplement the county's existing records.
Yellow Medicine County Museum Birth Records
The Yellow Medicine County Museum and Historical Society has done something not every small county offers: it has transcribed birth records from 1870 to 1910 and made them available as downloadable spreadsheets. This is a great resource for family researchers who want to check whether a birth is on record before ordering a certified copy. The spreadsheets are not certified and cannot be used for official purposes, but they give you enough information to confirm details and narrow your search.
The Museum is a separate organization from the county government office. If you find a record in the Historical Society spreadsheets that you need an official certified copy of, you then go to the Property and Public Services office to order the certified version. The two resources work well together: use the Historical Society to search and confirm, then use the county office to order the official document. Contact the Yellow Medicine County Museum directly for more on how to access their birth record transcriptions.
Birth Certificate Fees in Yellow Medicine County
A certified birth certificate from Yellow Medicine County costs $26 for the first copy and $19 for each additional certified copy ordered at the same time. These fees are set by Minnesota state law. The office accepts cash, check, money order, and credit card. For mail requests, include a check or money order only.
Yellow Medicine County Official Website
The Yellow Medicine County official website provides contact information for Property and Public Services, office hours, and details on vital records available in Granite Falls.
Check the county website before your visit for current office hours and any updates to request procedures.
Statewide Minnesota Birth Record Options
The Minnesota Department of Health birth records order page lets you order a certified Yellow Medicine County birth certificate from the state's vital records system. MDH is the state-level alternative to ordering through the county. Online ordering is available through VitalChek, which is authorized by Minnesota for vital records transactions. The MDH registrar directory lists Yellow Medicine County Property and Public Services with current contact information alongside all other county offices in the state.
Cities in Yellow Medicine County
Granite Falls is the county seat and largest city in Yellow Medicine County. All birth records for the county go through the Property and Public Services office at 180 8th Avenue in Granite Falls.
Other communities in Yellow Medicine County include Canby, Clarkfield, and Hazel Run. None currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page on this site. All county residents use Yellow Medicine County Property and Public Services for birth certificate requests.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Yellow Medicine County. Each has its own office for birth records requests.