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 has Balsam Lake as its seat and the County was created 1853. 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 - 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.

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

Church Records

 * Century Church Congregations - List of churches. WIGenWeb project
 * Bethesda Lutheran Church, Early History WIGenWeb Project

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

 * 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

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
 * 1855-1867 Polk County Marriage Index Listed alphabetically by both bride and groom. WIGenWeb project
 * 1973-1997 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1973-1997 Wisconsin Marriages, 1973-1997 at Ancestry — index/images $

Death

 * 1820-1907 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1820-1907 Polk County Death Index WIGenWeb project
 * 1835-1968 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1867-1907 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1959-1997 at FamilySearch — index

Divorce

 * 1965-1984 at FamilySearch — index

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

 * Polk County Historical Society PO Box 41 Balsam Lake, WI 54810-0041 Phone: 715-268-8375 Website Facebook
 * Osceola Historical Society PO Box 342 Osceola, WI 54020 Telephone: 715-294-3530 Website Facebook

Websites

 * Polk County, WI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Wisconsin Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * 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