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Wisconsin, State Census, 1855 - FamilySearch Historical Records

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Wisconsin, State Census, 1855
CID1443825
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This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
Wisconsin,
United States
Flag of Wisconsin
Flag of Wisconsin
Locator map of Wisconsin
Location of Wisconsin
Record Description
Record Type State Census
Collection years 1855
FamilySearch Resources
Related Websites
Archive
Historical Society of Wisconsin


What is in This Collection?

The collection consists of an index & images to the Wisconsin state population census taken in 1855. This census only identifies the head of family by name. The rest of the census is statistical.

Population schedules consisted of large sheets with rows and columns. The schedules are arranged by county, then by political subdivision. The arrangement of families on a schedule is normally in the order in which the enumerator visited the households.

In 1855 the state legislature directed that a census be taken in June of that year and every 10 years thereafter. The completed forms were sent to the Secretary of State. The census covers approximately 90% of the population. Wisconsin census were conducted from 1855-1905. This information pertains to censuses taken in the year 1855. The state census of Wisconsin was taken in order to enumerate the population for representation purposes.

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

Index and Image Visibility

FamilySearch provides images and indexes subject to contractual limitations and changes. Access to images and indexes may vary. Some collections may only have partial indexes without images. See Restrictions for Viewing Images for details.

To Browse This Collection

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for Wisconsin State Census, 1855.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

  • Name of head of family
  • Number of white males and white females in each household
  • Number of colored males and colored females in each household
  • Number of individuals who are deaf and dumb, blind, or insane
  • Number of individuals who are foreign born

Collection Content

Sample Image

  • 1855 State Census

    1855 State Census

How Do I Search This Collection?

To begin your search, it is helpful to know:

  • The name of your ancestor
  • Your ancestor's place of residence

Search the Index

Search by name on the 1443825 Collection Details Page.
  1. Enter the information in the fields in the Search Collection section or click More Options to see additional fields
  2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

View images in this collection by visiting the Collection Browse Page:
  1. Select County
  2. Select Township/City/Town/Village/Ward to view the images

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

  • Add any new information to your records
  • Use the information to find the family in additional censuses
  • Use the information to determine an approximate birth date to find other records such as birth, baptism, marriage, and death records
  • "Foreign born" information may be used to locate immigration records
  • Use the race information to find records related to that ethnicity such as records of the Freedman’s Bureau or Indian censuses
  • Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

  • Try viewing the original record. Indexes and transcriptions may not include all the data found in the original records. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
  • If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relatives that can be verified by records
  • If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality in an area search
  • Try variant spellings of your ancestor’s name
  • Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps

The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Wisconsin.

Other FamilySearch Collections

These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

FamilySearch Historical Records

Known Issues

Click here for a list of known issues with this collection.

Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation:
The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Cite This Collection.
Record Citation:
When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.
Image Citation:
When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.
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