Carver County Historical Society

Genealogy and Local Research Materials at the Carver County Historical Society Library

State and federal census records for Carver County on microfilm:
  • 1850, 1857, 1860, 1865, 1870, 1875, 1880, 1885, 1895, 1900, 1905, 1910, 1920, 1930 There are indexes for the 1860 (book), and 1870 (book & microfilm) censuses.
  • Non-population schedules (agriculture, manufacturing, mortality and social statistics) 1860, 1870, 1880.
  • Compendium of the Eleventh Census: 1890, Part 1 - Population
Carver County naturalization records on microfilm 1862-1943
Carver County plat maps, and plat books from 1874, 1880, 1898, 1911, 1916, 1927, and 1940's-present.
(See complete list under ‘Library Resources’, in “Atlases, Maps, Plat Books & Plat Maps” pdf.)
Sanborn Fire Insurance maps:
  • City of Carver 1894, 1900, 1910, 1911, 1928
  • City of Chaska 1885, 1891, 1899, 1910, 1911, 1924, 1935
Carver County newspapers on microfilm or hardcopy:
Carver County Democrat1859 (partial)
Carver County News1887-2019 (Watertown & Waconia)
Carver Free Press1884-1897
Carver Valley Transcript1862 (partial)
Chanhassen Sailor1988-1990
Chanhassen Villager1988-2024
East Union News1891-1899
News & Times2019-2023
Norwood Times1890-2019
Patriot2023-present
Victoria Gazette1979-2023
Waconia Patriot1903-2023
Weekly Valley (Chaska)Herald1862-1880; 1882-2024
Young America Eagle1904-1943; 1945-1947
Other newspapers covering Carver County on microfilm or hardcopy:
Lester Prairie Journal1897-1991
Lester Prairie News1901-1980
Herald Journal2013-present
Newspaper index.
All past newspapers have been indexed; indexing of current newspapers is up to date within 2-3 months. This index is searchable on and off-site.
County Vital Statistics Indexes*
  • Birth Index 1870-1936
  • Marriage Index 1856-1986
  • Death Index 1870-1936
*The Carver County Recorder's Office has the birth, death, marriage and land records.
Photograph Archive.
  • Over 10,000 photographs indexed, and searchable by surname and by subject.
Various family histories.
  • Compiled and donated to the Historical society by family members. (For complete list of surnames, see ‘Family Names’ pdf under Library Resources.)
Personal papers.
  • Items of interest are letters, clippings, journals, scrapbooks, funeral/memorial service folders.
Cemetery Records.
  • Including most of the cemeteries for the townships and churches of Carver County.
Church Records.
  • Anniversary and centennial books, church histories, member directories; Catholic church records on microfilm.
Reference Books for International Genealogy Research.