Welcome to

Codington County,

South Dakota

Genealogy & History

Communties in Codington County include:
Florence, Foley, Grover, Kampeska, Rauville, South Shore, Wallace and Watertown. The county seat is Watertown.

CODINGTON COUNTY GENEALOGY RESOURCES

Attention: Due to an error, some recent queries may have been lost. Please resubmit your query if you find that it is no longer on the queries page.

[ QUERIES ] [ VOLUNTEER LOOKUPS ]
[ Phipps Township residents in the 1930 Census ]
[ PUBLISHED RESOURCES - see an online index by Kevin Wells!]
[ ADDRESSES to use for Codington County Research ]
[ Townships & Towns ] [ 1889 Codington County Map ]
[
:
For South Dakota Birth Records With Birth Dates Over 100 Years ]
[Where to obtain Birth, Marriage and Death Records] [Information about Vital Records]

Bureau of Land Managment Database for South Dakota for
Codington County - [A-C] [D-H] [I-M] [N-R] [S-U] [V-Z]
[The 1885 Census Index of the Dakota Territory]
[ Penny Postcards from Codington County ]
[Codington County Cemeteries]
[Codington County ARCHIVES]
[South Dakota statewide GenWeb ARCHIVES]
[South Dakota State Historical Society/ Office of History]
[Genealogy Links for Codington County Research ]
[ Native American Links ] [ More Maps & Directories ]
[ SDGENWEB Codington County ARCHIVES ]

[ USGenWeb Archives ]

If you find a problem with this site, or have a suggestion please contact Ann Mensch.

SDGENWEB
About SDGENWEB

Visit the neighboring SDGenWeb counties:
To the north: Day County and Grant County
To the east: Deuel County
To the west: Clark County
To the south: Hamlin County

VOLUNTEER LOOKUPS

Can you Volunteer to do Genealogy related Lookups in Codington County, SD Resources?
mail your resource name to Ann - Subject: Codington County:
Holy Rosary Parish, Kranzburg, South Dakota, 1879-1979: Lookups in this book are generously offered by Lori Krei The Holy Rosary Parish is part of the diocese of Sioux Falls. This book contains: a history of Kranzburg and the parish; church tidbits, organizations, town development, school information including faculty from 1908-1979; its founders, and members as of 1979; pictures and notes about all the bishops from Sioux Falls until 1979. It also contains the first members of the congregation, baptisms from 1879 to 1881, deaths from 1880 to 1884, marriages from 1880-1883.
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Addresses for Codington County, SD Research

The County Seat for Codington County is Watertown, SD

Watertown, South Dakota
Codington Register Of Deeds 14 First Avenue S.E.
Watertown SD 57201
(605) 886-4719

For birth, marriage and death records:
Codington County Register of Deeds
Codington County Courthouse
- Register of Deeds
- 14 lst Ave. SE
- Watertown, SD 57201
- Phone: (605) 882-6278
- Codington County Genealogy Resources
- SD Vital Records - Where to obtain them
South Dakota Birth Records (State Archives): Search for South Dakota Birth Records with Birth Dates Over 100 Years.

County Atlas Company 425 N. Maple - Watertown, SD 57201 Phone: (605) 882-4196.
Watertown Genealogical Society 611 NE B Ave
Watertown, SD 57201
Codington County Historical Society and Heritage Museum     27 1st Avenue SE
   Watertown, SD 57201
   Phone: (605) 886-7335
located at Maple and First Avenue SE in Watertown, SD
The museum is open May thru August, Monday thru Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 1-5 p.m., and Closed Sunday;
September thru April, the hours are Monday thru Friday 1-5 p.m., closed Saturday and Sunday. Closed Holidays.
- Codington County Research Resources Online - early directories and more!
- A Brief History of Codington County
Penny Postcards for South Dakota - Codington County Postcards
The Redlin Art Center in Watertown, SD
Watertown Regional Library
160 6^th Street NE – P. O. Box 250
Watertown, SD 57201-0250
Phone: (605) 882-6220
Online Catalog

Codington County Cemeteries

Use the query form, at USGS, to map features including cemeteries, churches, populated places, and more. Please note that the map town listed with a feature may be used as a map reference for the site, and may not be the town where the feature is actually located...Select a map to see the location of the actual feature. This database may not be complete, and, as with any database, there may be errors.

Current Codington County Newspapers include:

South Dakota Newspapers
The Watertown Public Opinion    120 3rd Avenue NW
   Watertown, SD 57201-2311
   Phone: (605) 886-6901.
South Shore Gazette South Shore, SD 57263
Phone: (605) 756-4200.
More South Dakota Newspapers (Current)

Older Newspapers may be available on microfilm at the State Archives in Pierre, SD

See South Dakota State Resources

South Dakota State Resources

The 1885 Census Index of the Dakota Territory
- Search
South Dakota Bureau of Land Management Database - land purchases

Bureau Of Land Management - General Land Office Records: search for land patents by name and/or location

South Dakota State Historical Society and Library Archives 900 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501-2217
Phone (605) 773-3804
Fax (605) 773-6041
e-mail archref@chc.state.sd.us
The South Dakota State Archives: Form for obtaining Naturalization Records.

South Dakota State Library

Mercedes MacKay Building
800 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501-2294

NARA: National Archives and Records Administration
- The Genealogy Page.
- About Census Records
- 1790-1890 Federal Population Censuses Catalog of NARA Microfilm
- 1930 Census Microfilm Locator
- The Soundex Indexing System
- Clues in Census Records, 1790-1840
- Clues in Census Records, 1850-1930
- Indian Census Rolls
- Nonpopulation Census Records
- Prologue, Spring 1996, Vol. 28, No. 1, "First in the Path of the Firemen" The Fate of the 1890 Population Census, by Kellee Blake.
- Native American Records
- Immigration Records and Naturalization Records
- "Any woman who is now or hereafter may be married... Women and Naturalization, ca. 1802-1940", by Marian L. Smith (Prologue, Summer 1998)
- By Way of Canada: U.S. Records of Immigration Across the U.S.-Canadian Border, 1895-1954, By Marian L. Smith (St. Albans Lists) (Fall 2000) — A guide to using immigration records of the U.S.-Canada border.
- Military Records available from the National Archives
- Military Service and Pension Records: Requesting Pre-WWI
- Civil War Records: An Introduction and Invitation, By Michael P. Musick (Prologue, Summer 1995)
- Women Soldiers of the Civil War, by DeAnne Blanton (Prologue, Spring 1993)
- Sailors, Soldiers, and Marines of the Spanish-American War: The Legacy of USS Maine, By Rebecca Livingston (Prologue, Spring 1998).
- They Answered the Call: Military Service in the United States Army during World War I, 1917-1919 (Prologue, Fall 1998). -- A guide to looking for information about World War I army veterans - By Mitchell Yockelson.
- State-level Lists of Casualties from the Korean Conflict (1951-1957) and the Vietnam Conflict , By Theodore J. Hull, (Prologue, Spring 2000).
- Indian Bounty Land Applications, By Mary Frances Morrow (Prologue,
- American Indians A Select Catalog of NARA Microfilm Publications Snakes & Scribes: The Dawes Commission and the Enrollment of the Creeks, By Kent Carter, in "Prologue" (Prologue, Spring 1997)
- Genealogical Fallout from the War of 1812, By Ruth Priest Dixon (Prologue, Spring 1992) - "...The impressment of American seamen by the British was one of the causes of the War of 1812. The practice also resulted in the creation of extensive records about merchant seamen that are of great value to genealogists and historians..."
- Genealogical Records of the War of 1812, By Stuart L. Butler (Prologue, Winter 1991) - "...National Archives records created during and after the War of 1812 offer the genealogist a diverse and fertile ground in which to obtain invaluable family information..."
- Preserving the Legacy of the United States Colored Troops, by Budge Weidman (Prologue, Summer 1997)
- A Guiding Light: Black History: A Guide to Civilian Records in the National Archives, By Debra Newman Ham (Prologue, Special Issue, Summer 1997).
- From Slave Women to Free Women: The National Archives and Black Women's History in the Civil War Era, By Noralee Frankel (Prologue, Summer 1997)
- Riding the Rails Up Paper Mountain: Researching Railroad Records in the National Archives, By David A. Pfeiffer (Spring 1997).
- Prologue Magazine
Obtaining EDs for the 1930 Census in One Step (Large Cities), by Stephen P. Morse, PhD, Joel D. Weintraub, PhD and David R. Kehs, PhD
familysearch.org - 1880 Census Index
Census Enumerator Instructions for Each Census Year, 1850-2000
South Dakota State Archives

Older Newspapers may be available on microfilm at the State Archives in Pierre, SD

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More Genealogy Links for Codington County Resources Official State of South Dakota's Home Page South Dakota Time Line Homesteading in SD South Dakota Treasure Chest for 4^th Grade History (fur trade, railroads, homesteading, and more) South Dakota Ancestors - Submit Your Ancestor NARA - National Archives and Record Administration Genealogy Page South Dakota State Library South Dakota State Historical Society South Dakota State Archives State Archives Genealogy Resources State Archives Newpaper Repository Return to MENU
Map of Codington County about 1889

The map above is from Glimpse of a Marvelous City, Watertown in 1889. L. D. Lyon (Compiler). Watertown: City Council. 1889. More MAPS & DIRECTORIES Watertown City Directory, 1886-1887 1895 Map of Codington County, South Dakota, online by Pam Rietsch at: prietsch@ismi.net Interactive Census Bureau Map of South Dakota Counties Interactive Census Bureau Map of Codington County, South Dakota Return to MENU
Townships & Towns in Codington County, SD TOWNSHIP - Additional information - Some Early Settlers - Towns, City & Villages Dexter Township - Townships 119-120N; Ranges 52-53W organized 1889 (There was a town of Dexter located in Section 9.) Eden Township - Township119N, Range 55W Elmira Township - Township 117N, Range 52W contains the original portion of the City of Watertown Cemeteries include: Mount Hope Cemetery: located on the northeastern edge of the City of Watertown, SD; Latitude: 445459N, Longitude: 0970555W St. Mary's Cemetery: located by the eastern edge of the City of Watertown, SD; Latitude: 445327N, Longitude: 0970501W Fuller Township - Townships 118-119N, Ranges 53-54W contains the town of Florence. The settlement of Esterly was also located within Fuller Township. Germantown Township, - Townships 119-120N, Ranges 51-52W Cemeteries include: St. Luke's Lutheran Cemetery, Township 119N Range 52W. About 7 miles west of South Shore. This cemetery is in section 26. The church no longer exists, but the cemetery remains. Klix Cemetery (private) Graceland Township - Township117N, Range 55W Cemeteries include: Graceland Cemetery: located in the northeastern quarter of section 7, north of Henry, SD. Henry Township - Township116N, Range 55W contains the town of Henry. Cemeteries include: Lorinda Cemetery: located at Henry, SD; Latitude: 445331N, Longitude: 0972706W (see map) Kampeska Township - Township116N, Range 54W contains the towns of Grover and Kampeska. Cemeteries include: Kampeska Cemetery - located by Kampeska, SD in T116N, R54W Latitude: 445213N, Longitude: 0971640W Kranzburg Township - Township117N, Range 51W contains the town of Kranzburg. Cemeteries include: Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery - located by Kranzburg, SD Latitude: 445341N, Longitude: 0965506W Holy Rosary Parish, Kranzburg, South Dakota 1879-1979: Lookups in this book are generously offered by Lori Krei. Lake Township - Township117N, Range 53W contains the town of Watertown (portion). Leola Township - Township119N, Range 51W contains the town of South Shore. Pelican Township - Township116N, Range 53W contains Part of Watertown. Phipps Township - Township118N, Range 55W Rauville Township - Townships 118-119N, Ranges 52-53W contains the town of Rauville. Cemeteries include: St. John's Lutheran Church and Cemetery: located in section 9, T 119N, R 51W. Richland Township - Township117N, Range 54W Sheridan Township - Township116N, Range 52W contains a portion of Watertown. Waverly Township - Townships 117-118N, Range 51W contains the town of Waverly. Cemeteries include: St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery - located by Waverly, SD Latitude: 445947N, Longitude: 0965811W (see map) Return to MENU
Native American Genealogy Resources Some Native American Genealogy Lakota Sioux Codington County Published Resources: The First 100 Years in Codington County, 1879-1979. Codington County History Book Committee. Barbara Miller (Editor), Shirley Haines and Mary Tesch (Associate Editors). Watertown Public Opinion Print. 1979. The Index to The First 100 Years in Codington County, 1879-1979, by Kevin Wells, is no longer available online. Thank you Kevin for allowing its use for so long, and best wishes! Holy Rosary Parish, Kranzburg, South Dakota, 1879-1979. (A history of the Catholic Church Parish). Lookups in this book are generously offered by Lori Krei Glimpse of a Marvelous City, Watertown in 1889. L. D. Lyon (Compiler). Watertown: City Council, ca. 1889. 75th Anniversary Souvenir Program; a Book Containing Pictures and Short Historical Sketches of the Early Days of Watertown, South Dakota. Watertown SD : Historical Booklet Committee, 1954. Centennial Jubilee of the City of Watertown; Centennial Edition. Watertown Public Opinion. (Author). Watertown, S.D. : [s.n.], 1979. The Early and Territorial History of Codington County. Wright Tarbell. (Author). Pierre, S.D. : South Dakota State Historical Society, 1949. Glimpses of Our Town, 1882-1982. Henry History Book Committee. (Author). [S.l. : s.n.], 1982. Grandma's Watertown Story : the First Quarter of Watertown's Century. Florence Bruhn. (Author). [Watertown, S.D.] : Watertown Public Opinion, 1979. Heritage Sampler : a Sampling of Stories and Essays about People and Places in the History of Codington County. Vel Stokke. (Author). Watertown, SD : Watertown Public Opinion, ca. 1975. History of Our County and State : [Codington County]. Donald Dean Parker. (Author). [Brookings, S.D.] : South Dakota State College, [1960]. A History of Watertown, South Dakota, 1878-1900. Gary L. Spawn. (Author). Vermillion : University of South Dakota, 1970 (Thesis, University of S.D.). Historical Articles from Codington County. Codington County Home Extension Clubs. (Author). [Watertown, S.D. : [s.n.] 1972]. Historical Material Related to the Settling of Codington County and Watertown. Wright Tarbell, comp. (Author). [S.l.] : [s.n.] n.d. Pictorial History of Codington County, South Dakota. Joanita Kant, Virginia Allen, and Stanley W. Allen, Jr., eds. (Authors). Codington County Historical Preservation Commission, Dallas, Tex. : Taylor Publishing Company, 1987. South Shore, South Dakota. Diamond Jubilee. 1903 - 1978, June 16, 17, 18. [S.l. : s.n., 1978?]. Souvenir and History... South Shore, South Dakota, Golden Jubilee 1953. [S.l. : s.n., 1953]. Wallace, 75th Jubilee, June 27 & 28, 1981. Wallace, South Dakota. 1906-1981. Wallace SD : Wallace Jubilee Committee, 1981. Return to SDGENWEB Return to MENU

Codington County Queries

Codington County Published Resources

Addresses to use for Codington County Research

Homesteading in SD

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About the South Dakota GenWeb Project

In June, 1996, a group of genealogists organized the SDGENWEB (The South Dakota Genealogical Website Project). The idea was to provide a single entry point for all counties in South Dakota, where collected databases would be stored. In addition, these databases would be indexed and cross-linked, so that even if an individual were found in more than one county, they could be located in the index. At the same time, volunteers were found who were willing to coordinate the collection of databases and generally oversee the contents of the web sites. The person responsible for this county is Ann Mensch (mensch-family@worldnet.att.net). Contact her if you have any data to add to the Codington County archives.

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This page was last modified on Monday, 6 March 2008.