Blue Earth County Obituaries and Death Records
Blue Earth County obituary records and death certificates go back to 1870 and are managed through the county license center in Mankato. The county has a rich newspaper history that includes papers dating to the 1850s, which means printed obituaries are often the most detailed sources for early death research. You can search recent death records online through the MDH Death Search Index, access historical records through the Minnesota Historical Society, or visit the Blue Earth County Historical Society in Mankato for local archives. Certified death certificates are available in person, by mail, or through state-approved ordering services.
Blue Earth County Overview
Blue Earth County License Center
The Blue Earth County License Center in Mankato handles death certificate requests for the county. The office is located at 410 South 5th Street and accepts requests in person and by mail. Staff can help you determine what records are on file and guide you through the request process. If you are ordering a certified copy, you need to provide the deceased person's full name and approximate year of death.
Blue Earth County death records go back to 1870. For deaths from 1997 forward, any Minnesota county license center can process your request. You don't have to visit Mankato if another office is closer to you. For older Blue Earth County records, the Mankato office is where you need to start. The county has a long local history and its death records reflect that depth.
| Office | Blue Earth County License Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 410 South 5th Street, PO Box 3524 Mankato, MN 56002 |
| Phone | 507-304-4343 |
| Website | blueearthcountymn.gov - License Center |
Certified death certificates cost $13 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy when ordered together, per Minnesota Statutes section 144.226. Under Minnesota Statutes section 144.225, non-certified copies of death records are public documents and do not require a family relationship to access.
Minnesota County Vital Records Directory
The Minnesota Department of Health maintains a county registrar directory at health.state.mn.us, which lists all local offices including the Blue Earth County license center in Mankato.
This image shows the MDH county directory page, a reference for finding the correct local office for death certificate requests in Blue Earth County and across Minnesota.
Search Blue Earth County Death Notices
The MDH Death Search Index covers deaths from 1997 to the present. Search at the MDH Death Search portal by entering the person's name and approximate year of death. The search confirms whether a death record is on file in Minnesota. To order a copy, follow the steps on the MDH death records page, which covers mail, in-person, and online options.
For Blue Earth County deaths before 1997, the MNHS People Search at mnhs.org is the best free online starting point. This index covers deaths statewide from 1908 to 2001. MNHS also holds death cards from 1904 to 1907. For deaths before 1904, you will need to rely on county records and newspaper archives. The MNHS death records help page explains what is available and how to request older items.
Blue Earth County has a strong newspaper archive. The MNGenWeb genealogy site for the county lists several historical papers at blueearth.mngenweb.net, including the Mankato Free Press from 1879 to 1924, the Mankato Independent from 1857 to 1863, the Mankato Record from 1859 to 1879, and the Mankato Union from 1863 to 1879. These papers often ran detailed obituary notices. The MNHS Newspaper Hub holds digitized versions of many Minnesota papers, and Mankato papers are part of that collection.
Blue Earth County Historical Society
The Blue Earth County Historical Society at blueearthcountyhistory.com is one of the more active county history organizations in southern Minnesota. Their research resources include a will index from 1858 to 1973, a cemetery index, and obituary files. You can learn more about what they hold and how to use it at the research page on their site.
The society's will index is particularly useful for researchers who are trying to confirm deaths and identify survivors for a given period. Combined with the cemetery index and obituary files, the historical society provides a layered view of Blue Earth County death history that goes well beyond what the state vital records system holds. The society is based in Mankato and welcomes both in-person visits and written research inquiries.
Note: The Blue Earth County Historical Society's research services may require an appointment; check their website for current hours and policies before visiting.
Cities in Blue Earth County
Blue Earth County includes Mankato and several smaller communities including Mapleton, Lake Crystal, and Madison Lake. No city in Blue Earth County meets the population threshold for a dedicated records page on this site. Death records for all communities in the county are handled through the license center in Mankato.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Blue Earth County in south-central Minnesota. Each has its own vital records office for death certificate requests.