Business, History, and Genealogy are All About Making Connections in Benton County, Minnesota

Living and working in Benton County is all about making connections — seeking opportunities to grow your career, your business, your farm, or your family. It’s a place to put down new roots or explore your family’s ties to the region. Time Magazine reported that genealogy is the second most popular hobby in the United States, and the second most visited category of websites. You can begin exploring the history of Benton County, Minnesota, and your genealogy with the search tools listed below.

HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA

The county was named in honor of Thomas Hart Benton, a senator from Missouri, who worked diligently to have Congress enact the Homestead Act. Benton County was one of the original nine counties established by the territorial legislature in 1849 and was one of the three which were declared organized. Long before that, French explorers, missionaries, and fur traders began exploring Minnesota in the mid 17th century.

The county seat of Benton County is Foley. Originally, the seat was at Sauk Rapids, then moved to Watab in 1856, and back to Sauk Rapids in 1859. An election was held in 1901 where the initiative to move the county seat to Foley was on the ballot. The results favored moving the seat to Foley by a vote of 1284 to 788. 

Agriculture and dairying, logging, lumbering, granite quarrying and manufacturing have been the active industries in Benton County in the past. With the depletion of timber and granite resources, these industries have become defunct. For many years, the economy was based mainly on agriculture and dairy farming. In recent years, industrial parks have been established in Sauk Rapids, Foley, and Rice to attract industry to the county. 

Learn more about the history of Benton County, MN here.

BENTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA GENEALOGY

Below is a prepared list of resources for Benton County, MN birth records, marriage records, death records, and other ancestry or genealogy records. Also consider visiting the Great River Regional Library for the free wealth of information they house. 

RESOURCES FOR A GENEALOGY SEARCH IN BENTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA:

Benton County Court Records

Benton County Courthouse

615 Highway 23

Foley, MN 56329

Phone: (320) 968-5205

Fax: (320) 968-5353

• Benton County Cemeteries
• Benton County Census Records, 1850 and 1930 transcribed
• Benton County Historical Society and Museum and Database
• Benton County, Minnesota Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce Records
• Benton County, Minnesota: Census, Birth, Marriage, Death, Vital Records & More
• Benton County, Minnesota Free Public Records Directory
• Benton County, Minnesota Genealogy Trails
• Benton County, Minnesota: LDS Genealogy
• Benton County, Minnesota Newspapers and Obituaries
• Benton County MNGenWeb Archives
• Benton County MNGenWeb Project
• Benton County Museum
• Cyndi's List: Benton County
• Family Search
• Minnesota Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
• Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub: Benton County
• National Registry of Historic Places: Benton County
• Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness: Benton County
• Research Links for Benton County, MN Genealogy
• St Cloud Minnesota Family History Center

BENTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA CENSUS DATA

Current U.S. Census data collected in Benton County, MN, can be found here. In addition, history, government information, services, community updates, and updated demographic data can be found here.

MAKE A CONNECTION WITH BENTON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP (BEP) TODAY

Follow BEP on Facebook, and check out the benefits of membership in BEP here. Site selectors should consider Benton County for their future expansions and growth. Explore the benefits here.