Wisconsin State Census, 1875 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes information from the census taken in 1875. 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. The state census of Wisconsin was taken in order to enumerate the population for representation purposes.

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.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
 * Name of head of household
 * Number of white males and white females in household
 * Number of colored males and colored females in household
 * Number of individuals who are deaf, dumb, blind or insane

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The name of a parent or the place of residence

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.

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

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the information to calculate an approximate birth date and to find a birth, marriage or death record
 * Use the information to find civil and church records
 * Use the information to find more family members in additional 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 relations 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.
 * Wisconsin Guided Research
 * Wisconsin Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

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

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Wisconsin state census, 1875
 * Wisconsin, 1870 federal census : population schedules
 * Wisconsin 1880 federal census : soundex and population schedules

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * United States Census, 1880
 * Wisconsin State Census, 1885

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.