Winnebago County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Winnebago County was named for the Ho-Chunk or Hoocągra tribe and is located in north-central Iowa.

County Courthouse
Winnebago County Courthouse 126 S Clark Forest City, IA 50436 Phone: 641-585-4520 Winnebago County Website

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:

Biographies

 * History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens. 1884, Springfield, IL: Union Publishing Co. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa : a record of settlement, organization, progress, and achievement. 1917, Chicago, IL: The Pioneer Publishing Company. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library Vol.1, FamilySearch Digital Library vol. 2
 * Winnebago County, Iowa Biographies Project at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories
 * IAGenWeb, Winnebago County, 1884
 * IAGenWeb, Winnebago County, 1917

Census Records
State Census
 * 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1895 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images (individual cards, not family context)
 * 1915 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records
Lutheran
 * FamilySearch Places
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

Local Histories

 * History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens. 1884, Springfield, IL: Union Publishing Co. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa : a record of settlement, organization, progress, and achievement. 1917, Chicago, IL: The Pioneer Publishing Company. Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library Vol.1, FamilySearch Digital Library vol. 2.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * David Rumsey Map Collection is a large online collection of rare, old, antique historical atlases, globes, maps, charts plus other cartographic treasures.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Multiple Wars
 * 1835-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only
 * 1862-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Civil War
 * 1861-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * 1894-2007- Buffalo Center Tribune Archives, Winnebago County
 * 1955 — Forest City Summit at Ancestry.com ($) — Forest City, IA, USA

Obituaries

 * IAGenWeb Obits

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

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 and images, ($)

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1934-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Birth

 * 1850-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1921-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Marriage

 * 1518-1996 Iowa, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index ($)
 * 1809-1992 Iowa, Marriages, 1809-1992 at MyHeritage — index, ($)
 * 1836-1926 Iowa, Marriages, 1836 - 1926 at MyHeritage — index, ($)
 * 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1951 Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

Death

 * 1850-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and some images; Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1880-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1900-1939 Iowa Death Index, 1900-1939 at MyHeritage — index, ($)
 * 1904-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1920-1967 Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1920-1967 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

Divorce

 * 1898-1928 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Family History Centers

 * To locate the closest family history center or affiliate library, use the link listed above.

Libraries
Forest City Public Library 115 East L. Street Forest City, Iowa 50436 641-585-4542 E-mail:[mailto:library@forestcityia.com library@forestcityia.com] Website

Museums
Heritage Town Center Museum 201 2nd Avenue SW Buffalo Center, Iowa 50424 641-562-2505 E-mail:[mailto:bclib4@wctatel.net bclib4@wctatel.net] Website Mansion Museum 336 N. Clark Street Forest City, IA 50436 641-585-258 Website

Societies
Winnebago Historical Society of Iowa 336 N. Clark Street Forest City, IA 50436 641-585-2308 Website

Websites

 * Linkpendium
 * GenealogyTrails
 * Winnebago County IAGenWeb
 * Winnebago County USGenWeb Archives
 * State Historical Society of Iowa — Select from research collection topics
 * State Library of Iowa
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collection
 * Winnebago County at Cyndi's List.
 * Norwegian Ridge


 * – 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.