Welcome!

Kidder County NDGenWeb is a free genealogical site about the history of the county. It is a member of NDGenWeb, which is a member of USGenWeb®. We hope you find helpful clues for your research of Kidder County ancestors.

What's New at Kidder County NDGenWeb since your last visit
Search Kidder County NDGenWeb for a specific name

Please consider contributing your pieces of Kidder county family history. Corrections, updates, and additions to this site are always welcome. Our combined efforts can keep this a great site for all who visit!

County Coordinator: YOU? Kidder County NDGenWeb is Available for Adoption. Are you familiar with the area? Do you have a family tree connection to the county? Are you experienced at researching in Kidder County? If your answer to any one of these questions is "YES," please consider volunteering to be the County Coordinator. For more information about the position, review Helps and Resources for CCs and contact the State Coordinator.

State Coordinator: Michelle Savre

Assistant State Coordinator: Linda Ziemann

COUNTY FORMATION

Kidder county dates its organization from 1881. In the spring of that year a board of county commissioners, appointed for that purpose by the governor, met at Steele to perform the duties of their office. They were the following named gentlemen: John W. Van Deusen, W. F. Steele and Frank Whipple. The county seat was located at Steele, and the following were chosen to fill the various offices: D. F. Allison, county clerk and register of deeds; J. D. Thompson, county treasure; and Leon McLaughlin, sheriff."
Compendium history and biography of North Dakota, published in 1900, page 114

Kidder County was established January 4, 1873, and was organized March 22, 1881. Steele was temporarily named the county seat, and popular vote in the fall of 1882 made it permanent. The county was named for Jefferson Parish Kidder (1815- 1883) who served as the Dakota Territorial delegate to Congress, and was an Associate Justice to the territorial Supreme Court. The courthouse had been a hotel owned by Colonel Steele, and was sold to the county in 1885. Kidder county is in grain farming and cattle country, and on the main line of the Burlington Northern Railroad, and Interstate I-94. The county is rich in history of battles fought during the Sibley Expedition of 1863 after the Minnesota uprising.