Wisconsin Census

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Tips

If at first you don't find a name, try again under another spelling.
Photocopy each ancestor's census. Identify where you found it.
Look for an ancestor in every census during her or his lifetime.
On the family group record show each person's census listings.
Study others in the same household, neighbors, and anyone with the similar names nearby on the census in community context.

For a list of the exact date of each federal census, click here.

Online Wisconsin indexes and images

Federal population schedules

Microfilm images

Two manuscripts exist for the 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses. One set of manuscripts exists at the National Archives and another at the Wisconsin Historical Society. The information on each set is supposed to be the same, but it can be beneficial to check both. Transcription errors might exist. The two might differ in the legibility of the handwriting, the condition of the manuscript, and the quality of the microfilm.^[1] The Family History Library has microfilms of the set in the possession of the National Archives.

**Federal Census Microfilms Available from the Family History Library**
1940 N/A	1910 and Soundex	1870	1840
1930	1900 and Soundex	1860	1830 index
1920 and Soundex	1890 fragments	1850	1820 index
	1880 and Soundex

Federal Census Microfilms Available from the National Archives

1940 N/A

Federal non-population schedules

Online indexes and images

Online Federal Non-Population Schedules for Wisconsin
		Free			Free at Some Libraries (usually with library card)			Pay
Year	Type	Record Search	Census Bureau	Google Book	Heritage Quest	Ancestry FHL	Ancestry Library	Ancestry Home
1890	Veterans	-	-	-	-	Link	Link	Link
1880	Mortality	-	-	-	-	Link	Link	Link
1870	Mortality	-	-	-	-	Link	Link	Link
1860	Mortality	-	-	-	-	Link	Link	Link
1850	Mortality	Link	-	-	-	Link	Link	Link
1840	Pensioners	-	BookLink	BookLink	-	Link	Link	Link

Microfilm images

Indexes: fiche, film, or book

For a list of microform and book indexes for the non-population schedules of Wisconsin, click here.

State, territorial, and colonial censuses

Newberry Library. Territorial, State, and Federal Censuses in Michigan. List of dates and census description including counties involved, and repository.

Wisconsin state, territorial, and colonial censuses^[2]

1905

Exist ^[3]

1895

Exist^[3]

1885

Exist ^[3]

1875

Exist

1865

Lost, except for the counties of Dunn, Green, Jackson, Kewaunee, Ozaukee, and Sheboygan.

1855

Exist, except for Kewaunee County, which was not enumerated.

1847

Exist, except for the counties of Rock, Sheboygan, Washington, Waukesha, and Chippewa.

1846

Exist, except for the counties of Crawford, Fond du Lac, Grand Rapids in Portage, Sheboygan, Chippewa, LaPointe, and Richland.

1842

Exist

1838

Lost, except for the counties of Brown, Calumet, Crawford, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green, Jefferson, Manitowoc, Marquette, Milwaukee, Portage, Sheboygan, and Washington.

1836

Exist

1834

Exist for Crawford County^[4] (In 1834 far western part of Michigan Territory).

1905 Wisconsin State Census Wisconsin Census Enumeration 1905 : Names of Ex-Soldiers and Sailors Residing in Wisconsin, June 1, 1905. A published document based on information from the census schedules.
1895 Wisconsin State Census for microfilm see Family History Library films 1032705–716.
Wisconsin Census Enumeration 1895: Names of Ex-Soldiers and Sailors Residing in Wisconsin, June 20, 1895. A published document based on information from the census schedules.
1885 Wisconsin State Census For microfilm see Family History Library films 1032695–704.
Alphabetical List of the Soldiers and Sailors of the Late War Residing in the State June 20, 1885. A published document based on information from the census schedules.
1855 Wisconsin State Census Index - Family History Library book 977.5 X22w 1855
1842 Wisconsin Territorial Census Index - Family History Library book 977.5 X22j 1842
1838 Wisconsin Territorial Census Index - Family History Library book 977.5 X22j 1838
1836 Wisconsin Territorial Census Collections of the Historical Society of Wisconsin, Volume XIII. A transcription of the census.

Index - Family History Library book 977.5 X2 1836a

The existing records of Wisconsin Territorial and state censuses are available at the Wisconsin Historical Society, and microfilm copies of most of them are at the Family History Library.

Existing and lost censuses

For a list of available and missing Wisconsin censuses, click here.

Why use a census?

A well-indexed census is one of the easiest ways to locate where an ancestor's family lived and when they lived there. You can also use censuses to follow the changes in a family over time, and identify neighbors. These and other clues provided by censuses are important because they help find additional kinds of records about the family.

More about censuses

Click here for additional details about how to use censuses, such as:

Sources and footnotes

↑ "Local Genealogy," McMillan Memorial Library (http://www.scls.lib.wi.us/mcm/local/local_genealogy.html : accessed 2 October 2009).
↑ Henry J. Dubester, State Censuses: An Annotated Bibliography of Censuses of Population Taken After the Year 1790 by States and Territories of the United States (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1948)[[Template:Dubes]], 62-65, 72-73.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Ann S. Lainhart, State Census Records (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1992)[[Template:Lainha]], 113-15.
↑ LeRoy Barnett, "State Censuses of Michigan: A Tragedy of Lost Treasurers" and Appendices in Family Trails [[Template:BarnettL]] 6 no. 1 (Summer-Fall 1978): 3, 21. Original census at Michigan State Archives, Lancing. In 1834 Crawford County was part of Michigan Territory. Lists heads of house by name, and age categories for others.

Template:Stub

[1] "Local Genealogy," McMillan Memorial Library (http://www.scls.lib.wi.us/mcm/local/local_genealogy.html : accessed 2 October 2009).

[Dubes-2] Henry J. Dubester, State Censuses: An Annotated Bibliography of Censuses of Population Taken After the Year 1790 by States and Territories of the United States (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1948)[[Template:Dubes]], 62-65, 72-73.

[Lainh-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Ann S. Lainhart, State Census Records (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1992)[[Template:Lainha]], 113-15.

[Barnett-4] LeRoy Barnett, "State Censuses of Michigan: A Tragedy of Lost Treasurers" and Appendices in Family Trails [[Template:BarnettL]] 6 no. 1 (Summer-Fall 1978): 3, 21. Original census at Michigan State Archives, Lancing. In 1834 Crawford County was part of Michigan Territory. Lists heads of house by name, and age categories for others.

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