Polk County, Wisconsin Genealogy

Guide to Polk 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 James K. Polk. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Polk County Courthouse 100 Polk County Plaza Balsam Lake, WI 54810 Phone: 715-485-9926 Polk County Website Register of Deeds has birth records from 1858, marriage records from 1861, death records from 1866 and land records. Clerk of Circuit Courts has divorce and court records. Registrar 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
State Census
 * 1855 - 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. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1865 - 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. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1875 - Identifies head of household by name. - How to Use this Collection
 * 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. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1895 - at FamilySearch — index and images. Identifies head of household by name. Other information is statistical. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1905 - at FamilySearch — Name index and images of population. Enumerates by name all inhabitants. - How to Use this Collection

Federal Census
 * 1870 - Polk Co. 1870 Census WIGenWeb project

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Century Church Congregations - List of churches. WIGenWeb project
 * Bethesda Lutheran Church, Early History WIGenWeb Project
 * FamilySearch Places

Land and Property Records

 * Wisconsin Land Patents Database, Polk County (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1888 Polk Co. Plat Book Index WIGenWeb Project

Local Histories

 * Ancient Polk County History WIGenWeb Project
 * History of West Eureka WIGenWeb Project
 * Early History of the St Croix Valley--Maggie Orr O'Neill WIGenWeb Project
 * Reminiscences Of Early Pioneer Days in Polk County by Worthy Prentice Index of the book below - WIGenWeb Project
 * Reminiscences Of Early Pioneer Days in Polk County by Worthy Prentice WIGenWeb Project
 * History of the Village of Centurias, 1900-1950 WIGenWeb Project

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Wisconsin
 * Township Map WIGenWeb project
 * 1901 Map of Polk County WIGenWeb project

Civil War

 * - 2nd Regiment, Wisconsin Cavalry, Company D
 * - 7th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company G


 * Civil War Veterans of Polk County WIGenWeb project

Newspapers

 * Polk County Newspapers Index USGenWeb Archives
 * Wisconsin Digital Newspaper at Wisconsin State Historical Society

Probate Records
Online Records


 * 1800–1987 Wisconsin Wills and Probate Records 1800-1987 at Ancestry — images and index $
 * 1848–1948 at FamilySearch — images - How to Use this Collection

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Birth

 * 1820-1907 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1820-1920: Wisconsin, Birth Index, 1808-1920 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1826-1908 Wisconsin, Births and Christenings Index, 1826-1908 at Ancestry — index $
 * 1826-1926 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * Pre-1907 Pre-1907 Wisconsin Vital Records Index at Wisconsin Historical Society - free index, images ($)

Marriage

 * 1836-1911 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1836-1930 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1855-1867 Polk County Marriage Index Listed alphabetically by both bride and groom. WIGenWeb project
 * Pre-1907 Pre-1907 Wisconsin Vital Records Index at Wisconsin Historical Society - free index, images ($)
 * 1973-1997 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1973-1997 Wisconsin Marriages, 1973-1997 at Ancestry — index/images $

Death

 * 1820-1907 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1820-1907 Polk County Death Index WIGenWeb project
 * 1835-1968 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1867-1907 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * Pre-1907 Pre-1907 Wisconsin Vital Records Index at Wisconsin Historical Society - free index, images ($)
 * 1959-1997 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Divorce

 * 1965-1984 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Archives

 * University Archives and Area Research Center Chalmer Davee Library University of Wisconsin-River Falls 120 Cascade Avenue River Falls, WI 54022 Phone: 715-425-3567 Fax: 715-425-0609 Email: [mailto:archives@uwrf.edu archives@uwrf.edu] Website

Libraries

 * Chalmer Davee Library University Archives and Area Research Center University of Wisconsin-River Falls 120 Cascade Avenue River Falls, WI 54022 Phone: 715-425-3567 Fax: 715-425-0609 Email: [mailto:archives@uwrf.edu archives@uwrf.edu] Website

Societies
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 * Amery Historical Society c/o Amery Public Library 225 Scholl Court Amery, WI, 54001 Phone 715-554-0239 Website
 * Luck Area Historical Society and Museum PO Box 197 301 Main Street Luck, WI 54853 Phone 715-472-2030 E-mail:[mailto:lahsmuseum@gmail.com lahsmuseum@gmail.com] Facebook Website
 * Polk County Wisconsin Genealogical Society 901 8th Street Centuria, WI 54824 Phone 715-472-2030 E-mail:[mailto:polkgen@gmail.com polkgen@gmail.com] Facebook Website
 * Polk County Historical Society PO Box 41 120 Main Street Balsam Lake, WI 54810-0041 Phone 715-485-9269 E-mail:[mailto:info@polkcountymuseum.org info@polkcountymuseum.org] Facebook Website
 * Osceola Historical Society PO Box 342 408 River Street Osceola, WI 54020 Telephone: 715-294-3530 E-mail:[mailto:osceolahistorical@gmail.com osceolahistorical@gmail.com] Facebook Website

Websites

 * Polk County, WI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Wisconsin Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Polk County WIGenWeb project
 * Polk 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