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Wisconsin Census

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Using Censuses[edit | edit source]

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 can be used to help find additional kinds of records about the family.

Additional details about how to use censuses can be found here:

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.

Wisconsin State and Territorial Censuses[edit | edit source]

Censuses were taken in Wisconsin in different years than the federal censuses and contain different information than that in federal censuses. Check these censuses for more information on a family.

Wisconsin State and Territorial Censuses[1]
1834 Territorial Census for Crawford, Brown and Iowa Counties,located in the western part of Michigan Territory[2][3]
1837 Territory Census [4]
1836 Territorial Census </ref>[5][6][7][4]
1838 Territorial Census Lost, except for the counties of Brown, Calumet, Crawford, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green, Jefferson, Manitowoc, Marquette, Milwaukee, Portage, Sheboygan,and Washington.</ref>[8][4]
1842 Territorial Census </ref>[9][4]
1846 Territorial Census, except for the counties of Crawford, Chippewa, Fond du Lac, LaPointe, Grand Rapids in Portage, Richland, and Sheboygan.</ref>[10][4]
1847 Territorial Census, except for the counties of Chippewa, Rock, Sheboygan, Washington, and and Waukesha.</ref>[11]
1855 State Census, except for Kewaunee County, which was not enumerated.</ref>[12][4]
1865 State Census Lost, except for the counties of Dunn, Green, Jackson, Kewaunee, Ozaukee, and Sheboygan.</ref>
1875 State Census</ref>[13]
1885 State Census</ref>[14][15]
1895 State Census</ref>[16][17][18]
1905 State Census[19][20][21][18]

Wisconsin State Censuses Online[edit | edit source]

Federal Population Schedules[edit | edit source]

For a list of the exact date of each federal census, see Wisconsin Censuses Existing and Lost.

Manuscripts[edit | edit source]

Two manuscript versions of the 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses exist, one at the National Archives and the other at the Wisconsin Historical Society. Because these are copies, there may be transcription errors, so that the information in each may be different. The two may also differ in the legibility of the handwriting, the condition of the manuscript, and the quality of the microfilm.[22] The Family History Library has microfilms of the set in the possession of the National Archives.

Microfilm Images[edit | edit source]

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

1880 and Soundex

Federal Census Microfilms Available from the National Archives
1940 N/A 1910 T624 1880 T9 and Soundex T779 1850 M432
1930 T626 1900 T623 1870 M593 1840 M704
1920 T625 1890 fragments M123 1860 M653

Fiche, Film, and Book Indexes[edit | edit source]

For a list of microform and book indexes for the population schedules of Wisconsin, see Wisconsin Population Schedule Indexes: Fiche, Film, or Book.

Federal Non-population Schedules[edit | edit source]

Microfilm Images[edit | edit source]

1850 Mortality 1850 - 1870 Mortality 1880 Mortality 1890 Veterans Census

Fiche, Film, and Book Indexes[edit | edit source]

For a list of microform and book indexes for the non-population schedules of Wisconsin, see [[Wisconsin Non-Population Schedule Indexes: Fiche, Film, or Book].

Online Indexes and Images[edit | edit source]

1820-1840[edit source]

Online Federal and State Population Schedules for Wisconsin 
  Free Free at Some Libraries (usually with a library card)* Pay
Family
Search[23] 		Internet Archive[24]  Misc.  Heritage Quest[25] Fold3[26] Ancestry FHL[27] Ancestry Library[27] Ancestry Home[27] Archives[28] Family Link[29]
1820[30] Territory indexes Link - MI
Tran-
script 		MI
Link 		- Link Link Link Link


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images Link Link - MI
Link 		- MI
Link 		MI
Link 		MI
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1830[31] Territory indexes Link - MI
Tran-
script 		- - Link Link Link Link


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images Link Link - MI
Link 		- MI
Link 		MI
Link 		MI
Link 		- Link
1834[32] Territory indexes - -   - - Link  Link  Link - -
images - - - - - - - - - -
1836 Territory indexes - - Link  - - Link  Link  Link - -
images - - - - - - - - - -
1837 Territory indexes - -   - - Link  Link  Link - -
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1838 Territory indexes - -   - - Link  Link  Link - -
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1840[33] indexes Link - - - - Link Link Link Link


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images Link Link - Link - Link Link Link - Link

1842-1850[edit source]

Online Federal and State Population Schedules for Wisconsin 
  Free Free at Some Libraries (usually with a library card)* Pay
Family
Search[23] 		Internet Archive[24]  Misc.  Heritage Quest[25] Fold3[26] Ancestry FHL[27] Ancestry Library[27] Ancestry Home[27] Archives[28] Family Link[29]
1842 Territory indexes - - - - - Link  Link  Link - -
images - - - - - - - - - -
1846 Territory indexes - - - - - Link  Link Link - -
images - - - - - - - - - -
1850 indexes Link - - - - Link Link Link Link


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images Link Link - Link - Link Link Link - Link

1855-1880[edit source]

Online Federal and State Population Schedules for Wisconsin 
  Free Free at Some Libraries (usually with a library card)* Pay
Family
Search[23] 		Internet Archive[24]  Misc.  Heritage Quest[25] Fold3[26] Ancestry FHL[27] Ancestry Library[27] Ancestry Home[27] Archives[28] Family Link[29]
1855 State indexes Link - - - - Link Link Link - -
images - - - - - - - - - -
1860 indexes Link - - Link Link Link Link Link Link


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images Link Link - Link Link Link Link Link - Link
1870 indexes Link - - Link - Link Link Link Link


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1875 State indexes Link - - - - -  -  -  - -
images -  - - - - -  -  -  - -
1880 indexes Link Soundex - Link - Link Link Link Link


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images - Link - Link - Link Link Link - Link

1885-1940[edit source]

Online Federal and State Population Schedules for Wisconsin 
  Free Free at Some Libraries (usually with a library card)* Pay
Family
Search[23] 		Internet Archive[24]  Misc.  Heritage Quest[25] Fold3[26] Ancestry FHL[27] Ancestry Library[27] Ancestry Home[27] Archives[28] Family Link[29]
1885 State indexes -  Link - - - -  -  -  - -
images - - - - - -  -  -  - -
1895 State indexes - Link - - - Link Link Link - -
images - - - - - Link Link Link - -
1900 indexes Link - - Link - Link Link Link Link


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images Link Link - Link - Link Link Link - Link
1905 State indexes Link - - - - Link Link Link - -
images - - - - - Link Link Link - -
1910 indexes Link - Link - Link Link Link Link


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images Link Link - Link - Link Link Link - Link
1920 indexes Link - Link - Link Link Link Link


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images Link Link - Link - Link Link Link - Link
1930 indexes Link - -  Link Link Link Link Link


Link
images Link Link - Link Link Link Link Link - Link
1940 indexes Link - Link
Link 		- - Link Link Link - -
images Link - Link
Link
Link 		- - Link Link Link Link


Link
  Family Search Internet Archive Misc.  Heritage Quest Fold3 Ancestry FHL  Ancestry Library  Ancestry Home Archives Family Link
Free Free at Some Libraries (usually with a library card) Pay


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
1840 Pensioners - BookLink BookLink - Link Link Link
1850 Mortality - - - - Link Link Link
1860 Mortality - - - - Link Link Link
1870 Mortality - - - - Link Link Link
1880 Mortality - - - - Link Link Link
1890 Veterans - - - - Link Link Link

FamilySearch Historical Record Collections[edit | edit source]

Online collections containing these records are located in FamilySearch.org. Wiki articles describing these collections are found at:

Sources[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 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)[FHL Book 973 X23s; Fiche 6018062], 62-65, 72-73.
  2. ↑ LeRoy Barnett, "State Censuses of Michigan: A Tragedy of Lost Treasurers" and Appendices in Family Trails [FHL Book 977.4 D25f] 6 no. 1 (Summer-Fall 1978): 3, 21. Original census at Michigan State Archives, Lansing. Lists heads of house by name, and age categories for others.
  3. ↑ Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp. Michigan Census, 1827-70 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Original data: Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp. Wisconsin Census, 1820-90 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com, 1999. Original data: Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.
  5. ↑ Wisconsin Territorial Census for 1836 (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1980. Microfilm or original records in the Wisconsin Historical Society at Madison, Wisconsin.) [FHL Film 1293919 item 1]
  6. ↑ Reuben Gold Thwaites, "The Territorial Census for 1836." (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1980. Published in Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, v. 13 p. 247-170. Madison : State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1895) [[FHL Film 1293922 item 2]
  7. ↑ Reuben Gold Thwaites, Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Company,1895)
  8. ↑ Wisconsin Territorial Census for 1838 (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1980. Microfilm of original records in the Wisconsin State Historical Society at Madison.) [FHL Film 1293919 item 2]
  9. ↑ Wisconsin Territory Census for 1842 (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1980. Microfilm of original records in the Wisconsin State Historical Society at Madison.) [FHL Film 1293919 item 3]
  10. ↑ Wisconsin Territory, Secretary, Wisconsin Territory Census for 1846. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1980. Microfilm of original records in the Wisconsin State Historical Society at Madison, Wisconsin.)[[FHL Film 1293920]
  11. ↑ Wisconsin Territory, Secretary, Wisconsin Territory census for 1847 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1980. Microfilm of original records in the Wisconsin State Historical Society, at Madison, Wisconsin.)[[FHL Films 1293921-22]
  12. ↑ Wisconsin Department of State, Wisconsin State Census, 1855 (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1979. Microfilm of original records in the Wisconsin State Historical Society at Madison, Wisconsin.) [[FHL Films 1032686-89]
  13. ↑ Wisconsin, Department of State, Wisconsin State Census, 1875 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1979. Microfilm of original records in the Wisconsin Historical Society at Madison, Wisconsin.) [[FHL Films 1032689-94]
  14. ↑ Wisconsin, Secretary of State Enumeration of Soldiers and Sailors of the Late War Residing in Wisconsin June 20, 1885 (S.l.:sn,1885)
  15. ↑ Wisconsin, Department of State, Wisconsin State Census, 1885 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1979. Microfilm of original records at the Wisconsin Historical Society at Madison, Wisconsin.)[[FHL Films 1032695-704]]
  16. ↑ Wisconsin, Secretary of State, Wisconsin Census Enumeration 1895, Names of Ex-Soldiers and Sailors Residing in Wisconsin, June 1, 1895 (Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Company, 1896.) A published document based on information from the census schedules.
  17. ↑ Wisconsin, Department of State, Wisconsin State Census, 1895 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1979. Microfilm of original records in the Wisconsin Historical Society at Madison, Wisconsin.)[[FHL Films 1032705-16]]
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Ancestry.com. Wisconsin State Censuses, 1895 and 1905 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Wisconsin State Census, 1895 Microfilm, 10 reels and 1905 Microfilm, 44 reels. Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin
  19. ↑ Ann S. Lainhart, State Census Records (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1992)[[FHL book 973 X2Lai]], 113-15.
  20. ↑ Wisconsin, Secretary of State, Wisconsin Census Enumeration 1905, Names of Ex-Soldiers and Sailors Residing in Wisconsin, June 1, 1905 (Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Company, 1906) A published document based on information from the census schedules.
  21. ↑ Wisconsin Department of State, Wisconsin State Census, 1905 (Wisconsin, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1952. Microfilm of original records in Wisconsin)[FHL Films 1020439-990]
  22. ↑ "Local Genealogy," McMillan Memorial Library (http://www.scls.lib.wi.us/mcm/local/local_genealogy.html : accessed 2 October 2009).
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 FamilySearch, a free online service of the Family History Library, including free images of many federal censuses, including an index of the 1880 federal census of the United States; connected with 1880 census images provided by Ancestry.com, a subscription site.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 Internet Archive, a free online service includes free images of most of the federal censuses.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 HeritageQuest has arranged with many subscribing public libraries in the United States to allow users free access on home computers by means of their personal library card numbers. HeritageQuest provides images of all surviving 1790 to 1930 federal censuses, and indexes to many but not all of them.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 Fold3, formerly known as Footnote.com, a subscription site partnering with the National Archives and includes some federal censuses. Free access is available at many public libraries.
  27. ↑ 27.00 27.01 27.02 27.03 27.04 27.05 27.06 27.07 27.08 27.09 27.10 27.11 Ancestry.com, a subscription site that provides online indexes and images to all surviving federal and many state census records, among other sources. They have three online editions: (1) an FHL edition free only at the Family History Library and a few Family History Centers, (2) a slightly smaller Library edition free only at some public libraries, and (3) a Home edition subscription service for individuals.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 Archives.com, a subscription site that provides online indexes and images to all surviving federal census records, among other sources.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 FamilyLink.com, a subscription site that provides online images (and some indexes) to all surviving federal and many state census records, among other sources.
  30. ↑ In 1820 the people living in present-day Wisconsin were enumerated as part of the Michigan Territory federal census. Green Bay was in Brown County, Michigan Territory. Prarie du Chien was in Crawford County, Michigan Territory. The southwest tip of Lake Superior was in Michilimackinac County, Michigan Territory but was sparsley settled.
  31. ↑ In 1830 the people living in present-day Wisconsin were enumerated as part of the Michigan Territory federal census. Green Bay was in Brown County, Michigan Territory. Prarie du Chien was in Crawford County, Michigan Territory. The southwest tip of Lake Superior was in Chippewa County, Michigan Territory but was sparsely settled. The southwest corner of Wisconsin was called Iowa County, Michigan Territory.
  32. ↑ In 1834 the people living in present day Wisconsin were enumerated as part of the Michigan Territory. The 1834 Michigan early census included what was known as Brown county, Iowa county and Prairie Du Chien in Crawford county, all located in the current state of Wisconsin
  33. ↑ The 1840 federal census of Wisconsin Territory included land that is now in northeastern Minnesota.
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