About Pembina County

Area 1,119 square miles
County Seat Cavalier
Established 1867
Named After the Pembina River
Population 6,787 residents

Pembina County is located in the northeastern corner of North Dakota, bordered by Canada to the north and the Red River of the North to the east, which forms the boundary with Minnesota. Established in 1867, it is one of the oldest counties in the state and covers approximately 1,119 square miles. Pembina County seat is Cavalier, a community of approximately 6,800 residents located in the central part of Pembina County. According to recent census estimates, Pembina County has a total population of around 6,800 people. Pembina County is named after the Pembina River and the historic Pembina settlement, which was one of the first European settlements in what is now North Dakota. Major communities include Cavalier, Cavalier area, Walhalla, Mountain, and Hamilton. Pembina County is characterized by fertile agricultural land, with farming and ranching forming the backbone of the local economy. The International Peace Garden, a 2,339-acre botanical garden straddling the U.S.-Canada border, is one of Pembina County's most significant landmarks and tourist attractions. Pembina County Courthouse in Cavalier houses the principal county offices including the County Recorder at 301 Dakota Street West, Cavalier, ND 58220, the Clerk of Court, and the County Assessor. The Cavalier area Gorge State Recreation Area offers scenic vistas and outdoor recreation. Pembina County's history includes significant indigenous heritage, fur trading, and early agricultural settlement. Pembina County maintains a blend of rural character with cross-border commerce due to its international boundary location.

301 Dakota Street West, Cavalier, ND 58220

Sheriff, Police & Law Enforcement

Law Enforcement & Arrests

Criminal, Arrest & Jail Records

Criminal Records

Criminal records in Pembina County, ND are maintained by local law enforcement agencies and the court system. Background checks are typically obtained through state-level repositories or authorized vendors. For an authoritative source, see Pembina County, ND - Departments.

Arrest Records

Arrest records in Pembina County, ND are public under most state public-records laws unless sealed or expunged by a court. They are maintained by the arresting agency, primarily the County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments.

Jail & Inmate Records

The Pembina County jail is operated by the County Sheriff's Office and houses pretrial detainees and short-sentence inmates. Inmate locator tools allow public searches by name or booking number.

Courts & Case Records

  • The state of North Dakota provides an online case search system through the North Dakota Supreme Court website at www.ndcourts.gov, where users can search for public case records by party name, case number, or attorney.
  • Certified copies of court documents can be obtained from the Clerk of District Court for a fee of $10 per document plus $1 per page.
301 Dakota Street West, Cavalier, ND 58220

Property & Public Records

Property records for Pembina County, North Dakota are maintained by the Pembina County Recorder. This office maintains recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements for properties in Pembina County.

🔗 https://pembinacountynd.gov

Vital Records

Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.

  • Birth certificates cost $7 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously; death certificates cost $5 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy.
  • Processing time is typically 2-4 weeks for mail requests and same-day for in-person requests at the state office in Bismarck.
  • Certified copies can be ordered online through the VitalChek service at www.vitalchek.com, though convenience fees apply.
  • Marriage licenses are issued by Pembina County Recorder's Office at the courthouse in Cavalier; couples must apply in person with valid identification and pay the $65 license fee.

Business & Licensing

Business records, licenses, and permits for this county are processed by the County Clerk and local government offices.

  • Agricultural producers may need to register with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture for certain activities.
301 Dakota Street West, Cavalier, ND 58220

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I search for someone recently arrested in Pembina County, North Dakota?
To search for someone recently arrested in Pembina County, North Dakota, you can contact the Pembina County Jail. The jail provides an inmate lookup process through their administrative office. You may also visit the Sheriff's Office in person to inquire about recent arrests and inmate information.
Mugshots or booking photos in Pembina County, North Dakota, can be obtained from the Pembina County Sheriff's Office. They maintain records of arrests and may provide access to booking photos upon request. Some information might be available through the North Dakota statewide online portal for public records.
To obtain a criminal background check in Pembina County, North Dakota, you should contact the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The BCI handles statewide background checks and requires a completed request form along with the applicable fee. You can also inquire at the Pembina County Sheriff's Office for any local procedures that may apply.
You can look up sex offenders in Pembina County, North Dakota, by accessing the North Dakota Sex Offender Registry. This registry is maintained by the North Dakota Attorney General's Office and provides an online search tool to locate registered sex offenders by name, location, or proximity to a specific address.
North Dakota is unique in that it does not require voter registration, eligible residents can vote by presenting valid identification and proof of residency at their polling place on Election Day. Acceptable IDs include a North Dakota driver's license, state ID, or tribal ID showing your current Pembina County address. You can verify your polling place and get election information by contacting the Pembina County Auditor at (701) 265-4275. Absentee ballots are available upon request to the County Auditor beginning 40 days before any election.
Property records in Pembina County are maintained by the County Recorder's Office and County Director of Tax Equalization, both located at the Pembina County Courthouse, 301 Dakota Street West, Cavalier, ND 58220. You can access deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded documents by contacting the Recorder at (701) 265-4139 or visiting in person during business hours. Property tax assessment information is available through the Assessor's office at the same location. While some North Dakota counties offer online property searches, this county primarily provides records through in-person or telephone requests, with certified copies available for statutory fees.
Birth and death certificates for events occurring in Pembina County are issued by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Vital Records, located at 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58505. Birth certificates cost $7 for the first copy and death certificates cost $5 for the first copy, with processing taking 2-4 weeks for mail requests. You can also order certified copies online through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com with additional convenience fees, or request them in person at the state office in Bismarck for same-day service. Valid photo identification and proof of eligibility are required under North Dakota Century Code Section 23-02.1-18.
Business records in Pembina County can be accessed through multiple sources depending on the type of registration. Fictitious business name (DBA) registrations are filed with the Pembina County Recorder's Office at (701) 265-4139. For corporations, LLCs, and other formal business entities, search the North Dakota Secretary of State's online business database at https://firststop.sos.nd.gov, which provides free access to all registered business entities, their status, officers, and registered agents. County-level business licenses and permits may be maintained by the Pembina County Auditor's office, which can be contacted at (701) 265-4275 for specific local licensing requirements.

Nearby Counties

Walsh County ND Marshall County MN Kittson County MN Cavalier County ND
Quick Access
North Dakota Public RecordsState records directory
County Info
StateNorth Dakota
County SeatCavalier
Population6,787
Area1,119 sq mi
Founded1867
North Dakota Resources
North Dakota Public RecordsState directory
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