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Minnesota County
Washington County, Minnesota
Stillwater's St. Croix River charm and Woodbury's Twin Cities suburban boom - from Stillwater's historic downtown on the St. Croix River (one of Minnesota's most visited small cities, with restored Victorian-era commercial buildings, lift bridge, and wine bars drawing Twin Cities day-trippers) to Woodbury's master-planned communities that have made it one of Minnesota's fastest-growing cities, and a St. Paul eastern suburban county where National Wild and Scenic River beauty and metro-area growth coexist along the Wisconsin border.
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Office: Washington County Emergency Management – (651) 430-6460 | washingtoncountymn.gov
Services: Alert system via MN Alert, Washington County Alert, and NOAA Weather Radio; FEMA Region 5. Washington County is an eastern Twin Cities suburban county on the Wisconsin border (population ~270,000), one of Minnesota’s most populous counties, facing severe winter storms, tornado risk, and flooding along the St. Croix River, the eastern boundary with Wisconsin.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: Interstate 94 (east-west, connecting St. Paul to the west and Wisconsin to the east, crossing the St. Croix River at the state line), I-494 (the southern Twin Cities ring road through Woodbury), US-36 (east-west through Stillwater), and US-61 (the Great River Road, north-south along the Mississippi); Stillwater, the county seat, is about 20 miles east of St. Paul, and Woodbury about 15 miles east
Transit: Metro Transit provides bus service throughout the county, including the Gold Line bus rapid transit corridor connecting St. Paul to Woodbury.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Washington County Community Development / Building Permits – Stillwater, MN 55082, (651) 430-6000
Services: One of the more economically significant suburban counties in Minnesota, with a growing technology and professional services corridor in Woodbury and Stillwater’s heritage tourism economy; building and zoning permits are handled through the county Government Center.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
County VSO: Washington County Veterans Services – Stillwater, MN 55082
Notes: Minneapolis VA Health Care System serves the county’s substantial veteran population.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Washington County Library – multiple branches throughout the county, including a branch in historic downtown Stillwater
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Stillwater, the county seat, is genuinely known as the “Birthplace of Minnesota” – the 1848 Stillwater Convention there formally organized the push for Minnesota Territory. Its historic downtown is a well-preserved Victorian-era commercial district along the St. Croix River bluffs, known for antique shops, restaurants, and breweries. The 1931 Stillwater Lift Bridge, now converted to pedestrian and bicycle use following the 2017 opening of the new St. Croix Crossing cable-stayed bridge, remains one of the state’s most photographed bridges. The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway forms the Minnesota-Wisconsin border through the county, and William O’Brien State Park near Marine on St. Croix offers river access, camping, and hiking. The county also has 468 lakes of 10 acres or more. The Washington County Historical Society, founded in 1934, operates the Warden’s House Museum, Hay Lake School, and the Johannes Erickson Log House, all on the National Register of Historic Places
Notes: Stillwater’s genuine claim as the “Birthplace of Minnesota” (site of the 1848 Stillwater Convention), paired with its historic Lift Bridge and Victorian downtown, gives Washington County a well-documented and distinctive heritage identity.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Washington County GIS Property Viewer – accessible via washingtoncountymn.gov/92/Maps, covering Assessor, Land Records, Recorder, and Surveyor data
Parcel Search: Washington County Assessor – Stillwater, MN 55082
Addressing/911: Coordinated through Washington County Emergency Management
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Animal Humane Society – Woodbury Adoption Center, 9785 Hudson Rd, Woodbury, MN 55125; also Humane Society of Stillwater, hspets.org, and Washington County Humane Society, wchspets.org
Services: Multiple organizations serve the county, offering adoption, surrender, and lost-and-found services; the Woodbury AHS location requires an appointment for surrenders, while Stillwater and Washington County Humane Societies are adoption-guaranteed, no-shipping shelters serving local communities.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Complaints: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency – pca.state.mn.us
Notes: St. Croix River and National Scenic Riverway watershed management, the county’s numerous lakes’ water quality, and stormwater management along the I-94/I-494 growth corridors are significant local environmental focus areas.
NOTES
Stillwater’s genuine claim as the “Birthplace of Minnesota” (site of the 1848 Stillwater Convention), paired with its historic Lift Bridge and Victorian downtown, gives Washington County a well-documented and distinctive heritage identity. All contact information above was sourced from official county, city, and shelter pages as of this writing; phone numbers and hours should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit.
About Washington County
Washington County is the Twin Cities’ primary eastern suburban county – a St. Croix River border county that has experienced sustained population growth driven by St. Paul metro expansion while preserving significant natural and historic assets.
Stillwater (population ~20,000) is Minnesota’s “Birthplace of the State” – the 1848 Stillwater Convention drafted the petition for Minnesota territorial status. The city’s dramatically sited Victorian downtown on the St. Croix River bluffs, historic lift bridge (now a pedestrian span), independent bookstores, wineries, and river views have made it one of the most popular day-trip destinations in the Twin Cities metro.
Woodbury (population ~75,000) is Washington County’s largest city and one of Minnesota’s fastest-growing communities – master-planned residential development with highly rated South Washington County and Stillwater school districts, extensive parks, and proximity to I-494/I-94 have driven consistent population growth.
The St. Croix River – forming the entire eastern boundary with Wisconsin – is a National Wild and Scenic River. Interstate State Park at Taylors Falls preserves dramatic glacial potholes and basalt gorge scenery.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Washington County Assessor at 14949 62nd Street N, Stillwater, MN 55082, phone 651-430-6175. Appeal to Local Board of Appeal and Equalization (April-June), then County Board. MN estate tax applies to estates over $3 million.
Courts & Legal
Washington County District Court (10th Judicial District) at 14949 62nd Street N, Stillwater, MN 55082, phone 651-430-6200, handles probate.
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Washington County District Court (probate case files – see Probate section above).
The 1867-70 Washington County Historic Courthouse in downtown Stillwater, one of the oldest standing courthouses in Minnesota and NRHP-listed, is preserved and offers historic tours and interpretation of county heritage.
Local societies
No dedicated Washington County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories, though the county’s Historic Courthouse program offers heritage interpretation.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Washington County District Court Washington County Courthouse, 14949 62nd Street North (P.O. Box 3802), Stillwater, MN 55082 (651) 413-8030
Washington County is in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, seated in Stillwater. Its historic 1867-70 Italianate courthouse in downtown Stillwater – one of the oldest standing courthouses in Minnesota, listed on the National Register of Historic Places – served as the county government seat until 1975 and is preserved today for tours and historic interpretation; current court business is conducted at the newer 62nd Street facility.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Minnesota follows the Uniform Probate Code, which keeps most estates on a streamlined informal track. Minnesota’s small-estate shortcuts are unusual among states in that they can include real property, not just personal property.
Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-1201) – for personal property only. The entire probate estate – including the contents of any safe deposit box, less liens and encumbrances – must be under $75,000. Joint tenancy property and assets that pass by beneficiary designation (life insurance, transfer-on-death accounts) don’t count toward the threshold. A 30-day waiting period applies after death, and no court filing is required – the affidavit is presented directly to the institution holding the property.
Summary Assignment – can include real property, and is court-based. Covers estates up to $75,000, including real property. A certified copy of the court’s Decree of Distribution is filed in the county real estate records to transfer title.
Summary Administration (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-1203) – the higher-threshold real-property option, covering estates up to $150,000, exclusive of the exempt homestead. The homestead itself is excluded from the value calculation entirely for both Summary Assignment and Summary Administration – Minnesota’s homestead exemption protects the family home from most creditor claims and it descends to the surviving spouse free of most claims against the estate. If closing and distribution follow the terms of a will, a formal probate hearing for the will is still required before a summary decree can issue.
STEP 2: FORMAL/INFORMAL PROBATE (for estates above the thresholds)
File with the District Court in the county where the decedent was domiciled; informal probate is available for most estates, with the personal representative appointed by the Registrar and minimal ongoing court interaction.
The personal representative publishes a creditor notice and directly notifies known creditors, opening a 4-month creditor claim period.
Once the creditor period closes and debts are paid, assets can typically be distributed and the estate closed without returning to court, unless there’s a dispute or a beneficiary requests a formal accounting.
Formal probate – requiring a hearing before a judge – is used in more complicated situations, such as will contests or disputes over the personal representative.
THE 3-YEAR DEADLINE – MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN MOST STATES Informal probate is no longer available after 3 years from the date of death, though formal probate may still be possible in limited circumstances.
What it costs
Small estate procedures can move relatively quickly once the 30-day wait passes. Standard informal probate is largely governed by the 4-month creditor period, so most straightforward estates take at least that long to close.
Minnesota has its own state estate tax, but the exemption threshold is relatively high – $3 million – so most Minnesota families aren’t affected. Rates on the amount above the exemption range from 13% to 16%, applied on a graduated scale; the exemption is not portable between spouses. Minnesota has no state inheritance tax.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
15015 62nd St. N., Stillwater, MN 55082
(651) 439-9381
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
14900 61st St. N., Stillwater, MN 55082
(651) 430-6175
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Office: Washington County Public Health – Stillwater, MN 55082
Hospital: Regions Hospital (St. Paul, Level I trauma) and Lakeview Hospital (Stillwater) are the primary hospitals accessible to Washington County residents.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Stillwater
Population: 270,000
Area: 423 sq mi
Established: 1849
Tier: 2
Public Records
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Search public records for Washington County residents.
