CENSUS RECORDS

Federal censuses for the state of Wisconsin begin in 1840 and continue every ten years thereafter. They are currently available through 1920 (except for the mostly destroyed 1890 census). All are indexed except 1910. The censuses for 1820 and 1830 are included with the Michigan Territory. The 1820–70 censuses for Wisconsin were indexed by the WPA, listing each individual within the state in a given census year.
The original schedules for Wisconsin territorial and state censuses, with few exceptions, are in the State Archives at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Microfilm copies are available in the microforms reading room, through interlibrary loan, and for purchase. They date from 1836 to 1905. Of most benefit are the 1875, 1885, 1895, and 1905 enumerations. The schedules for 1905 have been indexed by county.

Wisconsin Research Sources

Draper, Lyman Copeland, and Reuben Gold Thwaites, eds. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Madison, Wis.: the society, n.d. (twenty-one volumes, with the last being an every-volume index.)
Danky, James P. Genealogical Research: An Introduction to the Resources of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1986.
Nesbit, Robert C. Wisconsin: A History. 2nd ed. Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin Press, 1989.

Archives, Libraries and Societies
State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706

National Archives-Great Lakes Region, 7358 Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60629

Wisconsin State Department of Health and Family Services
Vital Records
One West Wilson
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701-0309
Tel: 608-266-1371
http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/vitalrecords/index.htm Genealogical Research Information
http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/vitalrecords/genereq.htm

State Historical Society of Wisconsin/Archives Division
816 State Street
Madison, WI 53706
Tel: 608-264-6460
Email: http://www.wisc.edu/shs-archives/

AREA RESEARCH CENTERS:

Madeline Island Historical Museum
P.O. Box 9
La Pointe, WI 54850
Tel: 715-747-2415

Superior Public Library
1530 Tower Avenue
Superior, WI 54880
Tel: 715-394-8860

University of Wisconsin/Eau Claire
William D. McIntyre Library
Special Collections Department
Eau Claire, WI 54702-5010
Tel: 715-836-2739

University of Wisconsin/Green Bay
Cofrin Library, 7th Floor
2420 Nicolet Drive
Green Bay, WI 54311-7001
Tel: 414-465-2539

University of Wisconsin/La Crosse
Murphy Library Resource Center
La Crosse, WI 54601
Tel: 608-785-8511

University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee
Golda Meir Library, Room W250
Milwaukee Urban Archives
P.O. Box 604
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0604
Tel: 414-229-5402

University of Wisconsin/Oshkosh
Forrest R. Polk Library
800 Algoma Boulevard
Oshkosh, WI 54901
Tel: 414-424-0828
414-424-3347

University of Wisconsin/Parkside
D276 Wyllie Library Learning Center
University Archives and Area Research Center
900 Wood Road
Kenosha, WI 53141-2000
Tel: 414-595-2411

University of Wisconsin/Platteville
Elton S. Karrmann Library
Southwest Wisconsin Room
Platteville, WI 53818-3099
Tel: 608-342-1719

University of Wisconsin/River Falls
Chalmer Davee Library
120 Cascade Avenue
River Falls, WI 54022
Tel: 715-425-3567

University of Wisconsin/Stevens Point Learning Resources Center
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Tel: 715-346-2586

University of Wisconsin/Stout
Library Learning Center
Menomonie, WI 54751
Tel: 715-232-2300

University of Wisconsin/Whitewater
Harold Anderson Library
800 West Main Street
Whitewater, WI 53190
Tel: 414-472-5520

Vaughn Public Library
502 West Main Street
Ashland, WI 54806
Tel: 715-682-7060

Wisconsin State Genealogical Society
2109 20th Avenue
Monroe, WI 53566
Email: jbrissee@execpc.com
http://www.rootsweb.com/~wsgs/index.htm

State Historical Society of Wisconsin/Library Division
816 State Street
Madison, WI 53706
Tel: 608-264-6534
608-264-6535 (Reference)
608-264-6525 (Government Publications Reference)