Vilas County, Wisconsin Genealogy

Guide to Vilas County, Wisconsin ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The County was named for William Freeman Vilas. The County has Eagle River as its seat and the County was created April 12, 1893. The County is located in the north central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Vilas County Courthouse 330 Court Street Eagle River, WI 54521 Phone: 715-479-3600 Vilas County Website Register of Deeds has birth, marriage, death and land records. Register in Probate has probate records.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Census Records

 * 1855 - 1855 Wisconsin State Census This census includes name of head of family; other individuals in the household are identified by sex and race, number of deaf and dumb, blind, insane and foreign born.
 * 1865 - 1865 Wisconsin State Census Name index and images of the 1865 State Census which names the head of household. Most records have been destroyed but schedules exist for the following counties: Dunn, Green, Jackson, Kewaunee, Ozaukee, and Sheboygan.
 * 1875 - 1875 Wisconsin State Census Identifies head of household by name.
 * 1885 - at FamilySearch — index and images. Search indexed census.Identifies by name of head of household.  Other information is statistical and identifies the rest of the household by race, gender and country of birth.
 * 1895 - at FamilySearch — index and images. Identifies head of household by name. Other information is statistical.
 * 1905 - at FamilySearch — Name index and images of population. Enumerates by name all inhabitants.

Church Records

 * Vilas County Churches WIGenWeb project

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Wisconsin
 * Family Maps of Vilas County, Wisconsin (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.

Civil War

 * - 11th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company K

Newspapers

 * Vilas County Newspapers WIGenWeb project

Probate Records
Online Records


 * 1800–1987 Wisconsin Wills and Probate Records 1800-1987 at Ancestry — images and index $
 * 1848–1948 at FamilySearch — images

Birth

 * 1820-1907 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1826-1908 Wisconsin, Births and Christenings Index, 1826-1908 at Ancestry — index $
 * 1826-1926 at FamilySearch — index

Marriage

 * 1836-1911 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1836-1930 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1973-1997 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1973-1997 Wisconsin Marriages, 1973-1997 at Ancestry — index/images $

Death

 * 1820-1907 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1835-1968 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1867-1907 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1959-1997 at FamilySearch — index

Divorce

 * 1965-1984 at FamilySearch — index

Archives

 * History Center and Archives, Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center Wisconsin Historical Society 29270 County Highway G Ashland, WI 54806-9339 Phone: 715-685-2647 Email: [mailto:whsnorthwoods@whs.wisc.edu whsnorthwoods@whs.wisc.edu] Website

Societies

 * Vilas County Historical Society Main Street Sayner, WI 54560 Phone: 715-542-3388 Website
 * Eagle River Genealogy Society PO Box 693 Eagle River, WI 54521 Phone: 715-479-8899
 * Eagle River Historical Society PO Box 2011 Eagle River, WI 54521 Phone: 715-479-4845 Website Facebook
 * Lac du Flambeau Historical and Cultural Society PO Box 729 Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538 Phone: 715-588-7626 Website
 * Land O' Lakes Historical Society PO Box 541 Land O' Lakes, WI 54540 Phone: 715-547-3638 Website

Websites

 * Vilas County, WI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Wisconsin Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Wisconsin Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Vilas County WIGenWeb project
 * Vilas County Archives USGenWeb Archives
 * - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records