Casselton, North Dakota Public Records

Casselton, Cass County is served by several law enforcement agencies, including the Cass County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments. The Fargo Police Department is the largest city department, responsible for law enforcement within Fargo's city limits. Other city departments include the West Fargo Police Department and the Horace Police Department. These agencies collaborate on major crimes and emergencies, sharing resources and information to enhance public safety. Each department has jurisdiction over its respective city, while the sheriff's office covers the broader county area, ensuring comprehensive law enforcement coverage.

The Cass County Jail, located in Fargo, is the primary detention facility for individuals arrested within the county. The booking process involves fingerprinting, photographing, and recording personal information of the detainee. Inmate lookup services are available online, allowing the public to search for current inmates. Visitation rules are specific to the facility, typically requiring visitors to schedule visits in advance and adhere to strict guidelines. The bond and bail process in North Dakota allows for the posting of bail to secure the release of an inmate, with specific procedures outlined by the court system. To find someone recently arrested, individuals can contact the jail directly or use the online inmate search tool provided by the sheriff's office.

Casselton residents are served by the East Central Judicial District of North Dakota, with cases heard at the Cass County District Court located in the Cass County Courthouse at 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 (phone: 701-241-5600). Cass County District Court has general jurisdiction over all case types including felonies, misdemeanors, civil lawsuits, family law matters (divorce, custody, adoption), probate and estate cases, juvenile matters, and small claims (disputes under $15,000). The court handles both jury and bench trials for criminal and civil matters. Casselton does not maintain a separate municipal court; traffic citations and city ordinance violations are processed through the Cass County court system. To search court records online, North Dakota provides a statewide search portal through the North Dakota Supreme Court Public Access system at www.ndcourts.gov/PublicAccess. This free database allows searches by name, case number, or party to access case information, docket entries, hearing dates, judgments, and some filed documents for both criminal and civil cases across all North Dakota district courts. However, certain confidential records (juvenile, mental health, sealed cases) are not available through public search. The Clerk of Court's office at the Cass County Courthouse provides certified copies of court documents for a fee of $10 for the first page and $2 for each additional page. In-person searches and document review are available at the courthouse during business hours. Filing fees vary by case type: civil complaint filing is $80, small claims filing is $45, and various motion and petition fees apply depending on the request.

The criminal records system in Cass County encompasses various types of records, including felony, misdemeanor, traffic violations, and the sex offender registry. The Cass County Sheriff's Office and local police departments maintain these records, which are accessible to the public under the North Dakota Open Records Statute. To run a background check, individuals can contact the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which provides statewide criminal history information. The bureau offers an online portal for background checks, allowing residents to obtain comprehensive criminal records for personal or professional purposes.

Arrest records in Cass County are maintained by the Cass County Sheriff's Office and the Fargo Police Department. These records include details of the arrest, charges, and personal information of the arrestee. Residents and attorneys can request arrest records by contacting the respective law enforcement agency. Under the North Dakota Open Records Statute, public access to arrest records is generally permitted, although certain restrictions may apply to protect ongoing investigations or sensitive information. A typical Cass County arrest record will include the date and location of the arrest, charges filed, and the arresting officer's information.

Property and land records for Casselton are maintained by Cass County offices in Fargo. The Cass County Assessor's Office, located at 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 (phone: 701-241-5609, website: www.casscountynd.gov/departments/assessor), is responsible for determining the taxable value of all real property in Casselton and throughout the county. The Assessor's website provides a free online Property Search tool where users can search by owner name, property address, or parcel number to view current assessed values, property characteristics (square footage, year built, lot size), ownership history, tax exemptions, and agricultural classification. The online system displays detailed property information including improvement values, land values, and sales history. The Cass County Recorder's Office, also located at 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 (phone: 701-241-5603, website: www.casscountynd.gov/departments/recorder), maintains all recorded land documents including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, liens (mechanic's liens, judgment liens, tax liens), easements, and plats. The Recorder's Office provides a free online document search at www.casscountynd.gov through the Tapestry system, allowing users to search and view recorded documents by name, document type, date range, or legal description. Images of recorded documents are available for free viewing and printing online, making Cass County highly transparent for property research. The county also offers a GIS mapping system through Cass County GIS at gis.casscountynd.gov, providing interactive parcel maps with ownership, zoning, floodplain, and taxation data overlaid on aerial imagery. Property tax records and payment history can be searched through the county Treasurer's website.

Casselton's economy is anchored in agriculture, food processing, transportation, and service industries supporting the surrounding rural area and benefiting from proximity to the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. One of Casselton's largest employers historically has been Dakota Growers Pasta Company, a major pasta manufacturing facility that has been a significant industrial presence in the city for decades. Agriculture remains fundamental to the local economy, with wheat, corn, soybeans, and sugar beets grown extensively in the surrounding Cass County farmland, and Casselton serving as a grain collection and shipping point. The city's location along Interstate 94 and the BNSF Railway mainline makes transportation and logistics important economic sectors. BNSF Railway operations and related businesses provide employment. Casselton Public Schools is another major employer, serving students from Casselton and surrounding rural areas. Many Casselton residents commute approximately 20 miles east to Fargo, North Dakota's largest city, for employment in healthcare (Sanford Health, Essentia Health), education (North Dakota State University), retail, financial services, and technology sectors. The median household income in Casselton is estimated at approximately $65,000-$75,000, reflecting a mix of agricultural income, industrial wages, and commuter households. Recent development has included residential growth as families seek more affordable housing compared to Fargo while maintaining access to metro amenities. The city has invested in infrastructure improvements and park development. Casselton's economy reflects the character of many small North Dakota communities: agricultural foundation, strategic transportation access, food processing industry presence, and increasing integration into a larger metropolitan economy while maintaining distinct small-town identity and local business community including retail, services, and hospitality along the I-94 corridor.

The Casselton Police Department, located at 601 Front Street, Casselton, ND 58012 (phone: 701-347-5252), provides primary law enforcement services within the city limits. The department handles patrol, traffic enforcement, criminal investigations, and emergency response for Casselton residents. Police reports and incident records can be requested in person at the police department or by contacting the department directly during business hours. The department maintains records of arrests, accident reports, calls for service, and case files. The Cass County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 1471 Westport Parkway, West Fargo, ND 58078 (phone: 701-451-7660, website: www.casscountynd.gov/sheriff), provides law enforcement services to unincorporated areas of Cass County and assists Casselton PD when needed. The Sheriff's Office operates the Cass County Jail and maintains custody records for all arrestees in the county. To search for arrests and jail bookings, the public can access the Cass County Jail Roster online at www.casscountynd.gov/departments/sheriff/jail-information, which displays current inmates with information including name, booking date, charges, bond amount, and sometimes booking photographs. Historical arrest records may require a formal request. Public records requests in North Dakota are governed by the North Dakota Open Records Statute, North Dakota Century Code Chapter 44-04, which requires government agencies to provide access to public records unless specifically exempted. Requests should be made in writing to the specific agency, and fees may apply for copying and research time. Most law enforcement agencies require requestors to complete a records request form and provide valid identification.

Vital records for Casselton residents are managed primarily at the state level by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Vital Records, located at 600 E Boulevard Ave, Dept 301, Bismarck, ND 58505-0200 (phone: 701-328-2360, website: www.health.nd.gov/vital-records). Birth certificates for individuals born in Casselton or anywhere in North Dakota cost $7 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Certified copies can be ordered online through the VitalChek service at www.vitalchek.com (with additional processing fees), by mail with a completed application form and payment, or in person at the state office in Bismarck. Processing time is typically 5-10 business days for mail requests and immediate for in-person requests. Birth records are confidential for 100 years and only available to the individual (if of legal age), parents, legal guardians, or legal representatives with proper identification. Death certificates cost the same as birth certificates ($7 first copy, $4 additional) and are available through the same ordering methods. Death records less than 50 years old are restricted to immediate family members or legal representatives. Marriage licenses in North Dakota are issued at the county level; couples planning to marry in Casselton must obtain a marriage license from the Cass County Recorder's Office at 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 (phone: 701-241-5603). The marriage license fee is $65, both parties must appear in person with valid identification, and there is no waiting period or blood test required. The license is valid for 60 days. Marriage certificates (proof of completed marriage) are filed with and available from the Division of Vital Records using the same fee structure as birth and death certificates. Divorce records are not vital records but court records; divorce decrees must be obtained from the Cass County District Court Clerk where the divorce was granted. North Dakota has maintained statewide vital records since July 1893, though county records may exist for earlier dates.

Business licensing in Casselton operates at multiple government levels. The City of Casselton requires certain types of business licenses and permits depending on the nature of the business. The Casselton City Hall, located at 601 Front Street, Casselton, ND 58012 (phone: 701-347-5252), administers city business registrations, zoning permits, building permits, and special use permits. Businesses selling alcoholic beverages must obtain city approval in addition to state licensing. Specific licensing requirements, fees, and renewal schedules vary by business type and should be confirmed with the city clerk's office. Cass County does not generally require county-level business licenses for businesses operating within incorporated cities like Casselton, but businesses in unincorporated areas or those dealing with specific regulated activities may need county permits. At the state level, all businesses operating under a name other than the owner's legal name must register with the North Dakota Secretary of State. The Secretary of State Business Information Online System at firststop.sos.nd.gov provides free searchable access to corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, trademarks, and trade names registered in North Dakota. Users can search by business name, registered agent, or filing number to view entity status (active, inactive, dissolved), formation date, principal office address, registered agent information, and officers or managers. New business entity filings, amendments, and annual reports are submitted through the Secretary of State's office at 600 E Boulevard Ave Dept 108, Bismarck, ND 58505 (phone: 701-328-4284). North Dakota does not have a separate DBA (doing business as) or fictitious name filing at the county level; trade names are registered with the Secretary of State at a cost of $25. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements, which create security interests in personal property and business assets, are also filed with and searchable through the North Dakota Secretary of State's UCC search system. Commercial property tax assessments for Casselton businesses can be searched through the Cass County Assessor's online database as described in the property records section, showing assessed values for business real estate and improvements.

Casselton voters are served by the Cass County Auditor-Treasurer's Office, which administers elections for the county. The office is located at 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 (phone: 701-241-5600, website: www.casscountynd.gov/departments/auditor-treasurer). North Dakota is unique among U.S. states in that it does not require voter registration; eligible residents can vote by simply showing up at their assigned polling place on Election Day with proper identification proving residency. Acceptable ID includes a North Dakota driver's license, North Dakota non-driver ID card, or other documents establishing residency in the precinct. For those who wish to verify their information or update addresses, the North Dakota Secretary of State's website at vip.sos.nd.gov provides a Voter Information Portal where residents can enter their address to find their assigned polling place, view sample ballots, and confirm precinct information. Municipal elections for Casselton are held in June of odd-numbered years for city offices including mayor and city council members. The City of Casselton operates under a mayor-council form of government with the mayor serving a four-year term and city council members serving staggered four-year terms. The next Casselton municipal election will be held in June 2025, with candidate filing information available through Casselton City Hall. Local ballot measures such as bond issues, tax levies, or city charter amendments may also appear on municipal election ballots. Casselton residents can find their polling place for all elections (municipal, county, state, and federal) by contacting the Cass County Auditor-Treasurer or using the state's online polling place lookup at vip.sos.nd.gov. North Dakota makes several categories of election records publicly available: candidate filing information and campaign finance reports are accessible through the Secretary of State's website, precinct-level election results are published by the county auditor after each election, and voter lists (despite no formal registration) are maintained and available for inspection under certain conditions. In the November 2024 presidential election, Cass County reported turnout of approximately 75,000 voters out of roughly 115,000 eligible residents, representing about 65% turnout, with Casselton precincts participating in this countywide total. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Casselton and Cass County voters will decide several significant races. North Dakota does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026 (Senator John Hoeven's term runs through 2028 and Senator Kevin Cramer's through 2024 cycle). The Governor's office is not up in 2026 as North Dakota gubernatorial elections occur in presidential years. However, North Dakota's at-large U.S. House seat will be on the ballot in 2026, along with state legislative races for North Dakota House and Senate districts that include Casselton (District 24). County-level offices up for election in 2026 include Cass County Commissioner seats, Cass County Sheriff, and various county administrative positions depending on the election cycle. Local school board positions for Casselton Public Schools may also be decided. North Dakota allows absentee voting for residents who will be absent from their precinct on Election Day, individuals unable to vote in person due to illness or disability, or those with religious restrictions. Absentee ballot applications are available through the Cass County Auditor-Treasurer's Office and must be requested in writing, with ballots available beginning 40 days before an election.