Vilas County, Wisconsin Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for William Freeman Vilas. 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 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

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Vilas County Churches WIGenWeb project
 * FamilySearch Places

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * 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
 * 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
 * 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
 * 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

 * 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 PO Box 217 2889 State Hwy 155 Sayner, WI 54560-9502 Phone: 715-542-3388 E-mail:[mailto:vilasmuseum@yahoo.com vilasmuseum@yahoo.com] Facebook Website
 * Eagle River Genealogy Society PO Box 1333 1181 Hwy 45 South Eagle River, WI 54521-1333 Phone: 715-891-2950 E-mail:[mailto:eaglerivergenealogysociety@hotmail.com eaglerivergenealogysociety@hotmail.com] Website
 * Eagle River Historical Society PO Box 2011 1181 Hwy 45 South Eagle River, WI 54521 Phone: 715-337-0811 Email: [mailto:eagleriverhistoricalsociety@gmail.com eagleriverhistoricalsociety@gmail.com] Facebook Website
 *  Ojibwe Museum & Cultural Center PO Box 804 603 Peace Pipe Rd Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538 Phone: 715-588-3333 Facebook Website
 * Land O' Lakes Historical Society and Northern Waters Museum PO Box 541 6490 Chippewa Drive Land O' Lakes, WI 54540 Phone: 715-547-6979 Website
 * Northern Waters Genealogical Society PO Box 462 Boulder Junction, WI 54512 E-mail:[mailto:northern.waters.gen@gmail.com northern.waters.gen@gmail.com] Website

Websites

 * Vilas County, WI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * 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