Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Court Records | Vital Records | CENSUS Records | TAX Records | Military Records | Church & Cemetery |
Maps & Atlases | Genealogy Addresses | Genealogy Related Sites |

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Milwaukee was created in 1834 from Brown County. The County Seat is Milwaukee. The County was named for the Indian word Millioke which means "The Good Land", or "Gathering place by the water." Another interpretation is "beautiful or pleasant lands".

Counties adjacent to Milwaukee County are Ozaukee County (north), Racine County (south), Waukesha County (west), Washington County (northwest). Milwaukee County Cities Include Cudahy, Franklin, Glendale, Greenfield, Milwaukee, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, St. Francis, Wauwatosa, West Allis. Villages Include Bayside, Brown Deer, Fox Point, Greendale, Hales Corners, River Hills, Shorewood, West Milwaukee, Whitefish Bay.

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Records at the Milwaukee County Courthouse

See Also Wisconsin Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Search Wisconsin Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. Additional info below identify the purposes (C=county purposes; J=judicial purposes), the county or counties to which it was attached, and the dates of that attachment.

All Departments below can be contacted by clicking the link below for each department. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. Milwaukee County was attached to (J)Brown County, 1834–35. Some early records may be found there.

Milwaukee County Register of Deeds Office has Birth Records from 1835, Marriage Records from 1851, Death Records from 1872 and Land Records from 1836.

In 1848 the Wisconsin Constitution established the Register of Deeds as a permanent element of the County level of governmental structure. The purpose of the Milwaukee County Register of Deeds is to provide official record keeping for Records or files land record documents authorized by law, such as deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, certified survey maps, plats and Federal Tax liens. Files and indexes Birth, Death and Marriage records, Military Discharges, and issues certified copies upon request.

Milwaukee County Register in Probate Office has Probate Records from 1838.

It is the responsibility of the Register in Probate to maintain and update files regarding probate of estates, guardianships, protective placements, adoptions and mental commitments. This is a statutory office with the position of Register in Probate filled by judicial appointment.

Milwaukee County Clerk of Court Office has Court Records from 1837.

The Clerk of Court is part of the Judicial Branch of local government and as such is required to maintain a record of all documents filed with the courts, keep a record of all court proceedings, and collect various fines and forfeitures ordered by the court and specified by statute.

Below is a list of online resources for Milwaukee County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Milwaukee County Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
  • Wisconsin Public Land Survey Records: Original Field Notes & Plat Maps
  • Wisconsin Land Records: This database contains information on Wisconsin (U.S.A.) land records. The database comes from the Bureau of Land Management's Wisconsin Pre-1908 Homestead and Cash Entry Patent and Cadastral Survey Plat Index. Information recorded in the collection includes patentee name, land office, legal description, etc.
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Court Books at Amazon.com
  • Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
  • Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.
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Milwaukee County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

The earliest tax records in Wisconsin appear to be for real estate. Brown County has an extant tax roll for 1824. Tax rolls are kept by the county treasurer for each county. Many of these records have been transferred to the appropriate Area Research Centers.

Below is a list of online resources for Milwaukee County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Milwaukee County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Milwaukee County Treasurers Office
    The County Treasurer's office collects all real estate taxes including postponed and delinquent, all county revenues in addition to the research and issue tax deed applications. Our department is the holder of tax records and assessed values.
  • Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Tax Books at Amazon.com
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Milwaukee County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Wisconsin

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Wisconsin Division of Health, Vital Records, 1 West Wilson Street, Rm 158, Madison, WI 53701. Thier mailing address is Wisconsin Vital Records Office, P.O. Box 309, Madison, WI 53701-0309. Telephone: For automated assistance 24 hours a day, please call (608) 266-1371. To contact our service counter during the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 4:15 P.M. (C.S.T.), Monday through Friday, please call (608) 266-1373. All fees are not refundable if no record is found. You must enclose a personal check or money order made payable to "Wis. Vital Records". Please do not send cash. Please include a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope with your request. They have the following records:

  • Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates: In Wisconsin, official registration of births, marriages & deaths vary by county.
    • Cost: $20.00 is the cost for the search, which includes one copy of the birth, marriage or death certificate, if found. Additional copies of the same record, requested at the same time as the first, are $3.00 each. The cost is the same whether you request a certified or uncertified copy of the birth certificate.
    • Processing Time: Filled requests take 3-6 months when ordered by mail (Application for Birth, Marriage or Death) or 2-5 Days when you order online.
  • Divorces: Divorces on availible since Oct 1907.
    • Cost: $20.00 is the cost for the search, which includes one copy of the divorce certificate, if found. Additional copies of the same record, requested at the same time as the first, are $3.00 each. The cost is the same whether you request a certified or uncertified copy of the birth certificate.
    • Processing Time: Filled requests take 3-6 months when ordered by mail (Application) or 2-5 Days when you order online Below.
  • Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
  • Order In Person: You can apply in person for a copy of a marriage certificate at 1 West Wilson Street, Room 158, in Madison, Wisconsin (driving directions/parking). The office is open from 8:00 A.M. until 4:15 P.M. (C.S.T.), Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. Identification is required to pick up certified copies of vital records in person.

Below is a list of online resources for Milwaukee County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Milwaukee County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

  • VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
  • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
  • Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Wisconsin newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
  • Pre-1907 Birth Index (22 kb)
  • Pre-1907 Death Index (19 kb)
  • 1959-1979 Death Index (23 kb)
  • 1979-1984 Death Index (7 kb)
  • Pre-1892 Wisconsin Brides and/or Grooms from Maine State Archives Cards
  • Wisconsin Marriage Index 1852-1907
  • Wisconsin Marriage Index (selected entries pre-1907)
  • Wisconsin Births, 1820-1907: This database indexes over 985,000 births recorded in the State of Wisconsin, USA, prior to 1907. Information provided in the index includes: name, birth date, country, and source information.
  • Wisconsin Deaths, 1820-1907: This database indexes over 435,000 deaths recorded in the state of Wisconsin prior to 1907.
  • Wisconsin Marriages, 1835-1900: Marriage records from various counties in Wisconsin between 1835 and 1900.
  • Wisconsin Marriages, 1973-1997: This database is an index to approximately 949,000 marriages that took place in the State of Wisconsin, USA, between 1973 and 1997. Information that may be found in this database includes groom's name, groom's age, groom's residence (county and/or state), bride's name, bride's age, bride's residence (county and/or state), marriage date, marriage county, and marriage certificate number.
  • Wisconsin Marriages, pre-1907: This index contains over 920,000 individuals married in the State of Wisconsin, USA, prior to 1907. Information that may be found in this database for each individual includes their name, marriage date, county of marriage, and source information.
  • Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
  • Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.
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Milwaukee County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Wisconsin

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Milwaukee County, Wisconsin are 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

Below is a list of online resources for Milwaukee County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Milwaukee County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Census Online - Wisconsin Census Records
  • Wisconsin Census, 1820-90: This database contains indexes to the Wisconsin (U.S.A.) portions of the 1820-1860 U.S. Federal Censuses as well as indexes to the 1836-1838, 1842, 1846, and 1855 State Censuses, the 1840 Pensioners Lists, the 1890 Veterans Schedules, and other early censuses. Information contained in these indexes can include name, state, county, township, year of record, and name of record set.
  • Wisconsin State Censuses, 1895 and 1905: This database contains an index to the 1895 and 1905 Wisconsin state censuses. Both censuses cover all counties that existed at the time. Information listed includes: name of individual, and place of enumeration. The 1905 census also includes relationship to head of household, race, gender, age, marital status, and birthplace.
  • The USGenWeb Archives Wisconsin CENSUS IMAGES PROJECT
  • Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Census Books at Amazon.com
  • Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.
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Milwaukee County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Genealogy Atlases has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Wisconsin showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Wisconsin showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect... free for viewing or download here

Below is a list of online resources for Milwaukee County Maps. Email us with websites containing Milwaukee County Maps by clicking the link below:

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Milwaukee County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Wisconsin

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Milwaukee County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Milwaukee County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Milwaukee County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Wisconsin Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Milwaukee County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Milwaukee County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Area Research Center - University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Division of Archives and Special Collections, Golda Meir Library, Room W250, PO Box 604, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0604; Phone: (414) 229-5402
    Counties covered are: Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington, and Waukesha.
  • Bay View Historical Society, PO Box 07614, Milwaukee, WI 53207; Phone: 414-483-9330
  • Brown Deer Historical Society, 4800 W Green Brook Dr, Brown Deer, WI 53223; Phone: 414-354-4116
  • Cudahy Historical Society, PO Box 332, Cudahy, WI 53110; Phone: 414-481-7964
  • Franklin Historical Society, 7575 S 51st St, Franklin, WI 53132; Phone: 414-421-0168
  • Greendale Historical Society, 5650 Parking St, Greendale, WI 53129; Phone: 414-421-1300
  • Greenfield Historical Society, W208 S6833 High Bluff Drive, Miskego, WI 53150; Phone: 414-543-6321
  • Hales Corners Historical Society, 5885 S 116th St, Hales Corners, WI 53130; Phone: 414-549-6150
  • Historic Milwaukee, Inc, PO Box 511220, Milwaukee, WI 53203-0211; Phone: 414-277-7795
  • Milwaukee County Genealogical Society, PO Box 27326, Milwaukee, WI 53227-0326
  • Milwaukee County Historical Center, 910 N Old World Third St, Milwaukee, WI 53203; Phone: 414-273-8288
  • Milwaukee Maritime Center, 500 N Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53202; Phone: 414-276-5664
  • Milwaukee Metropolitan Historians Assn, 2588 N Prospect Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211; Phone: 414-964-8361
  • Oak Creek Historical Society, PO Box 243, Oak Creek, WI 53154-0243; Phone: 414-529-0196
  • Shorewood Historical Society, 3930 North Murray Ave, Shorewood, WI 53211; Phone: 414-332-4437
  • South Milwaukee Historical Society, 3516 18th Ave, South Milwaukee, WI 53172; Phone: 414-768-8790
  • St Francis Historical Society, 4235 S Nicholson Ave, St Francis, WI 53235; Phone: 414-762-7805
  • Wauwatosa Historical Society, 7406 Hillcrest Dr, Wauwatosa, WI 53213; Phone: 414-774-8672
  • West Allis Historical Society, 8405 W National Ave, West Allis , WI 53227; Phone: 414-541-6970
  • West Milwaukee Historical Society, 1665 S 52nd St, West Milwaukee, WI 53214; Phone: 414-321-9059
  • Whitefish Bay Historical Society, 5166 N Berkeley Blvd, Whitefish Bay, WI 53217; Phone: 414-962-0606
  • Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53206; Phone: 414-372-7677
  • Wisconsin Labor History Society, 313 E Plainfield Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207; Phone: 414-483-1754
  • Wisconsin Marine Historical Society, 814 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233-2385; Phone: 414-286-3074
  • Wisconsin Slovak Historical Society, PO Box 164, Cudahy, WI 53110; Phone: 414-744-8095
  • Wisconsin State Old Cemetery Society, 1562 N 119th St, Wauwatosa, WI 53226; Phone: 414-771-7781
  • State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706-1488
  • Wisconsin State Genealogical Society, PO Box 5106, Madison, WI 53705
  • National Archives - Great Lakes Region (Chicago), 7358 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, Illinois 60629-5898; 773-948-9001; E-mail: chicago.archives@nara.gov (Maintains retired records from Federal agencies and courts in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.)
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
  • Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
  • Wisconsin Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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Milwaukee County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Wisconsin

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Milwaukee County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Milwaukee County Tombstone Transcription Project.

The Wisconsin Historical Records Survey Project of Madison published the Directory of Churches and Religious Organizations in Wisconsin in 1941 and Guide to Church Vital Statistics Records in Wisconsin in 1942. There are also numerous publications by the project for specific denominations. Extensive microfilm collections of church records in Wisconsin are available through the FHL. The State Historical Society of Wisconsin and Area Research Centers have a variety of church records including microfilm and original records.

Numerous cemeteries have been read and transcribed by local genealogical societies in Wisconsin. The transcriptions are frequently deposited with an Area Research Center, a local library, or the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. A considerable number have been printed in the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society Newsletter. Some have been privately published.

The Wisconsin State Old Cemetery Society, 6100 West Mequon Road, Mequon, WI 53092, publishes a newsletter and maintains an archive of tombstone inscriptions from around the state. Contact the society for membership information

Below is a list of online resources for Milwaukee County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Milwaukee County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Milwaukee County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Milwaukee County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Extended History

 

From: Handbook of Wisconsin by S. Silas, 1855, pg. 88-90

Is one of the smallest Counties, and depends upon its commerce more than its agriculture or manufacturers. It has been densely wooded with hard timber, and at least one half of its surface is yet covered with it. Every foot of public land is of course long since taken up, and the majority of the farms are small and well tilled.

Milwaukee, the County Seat, is the largest city in the State, and through this port a great part of the exports and imports pass. From it lead out the Milwaukee and Mississippi Rail Road, now completed to Madison, with a branch to Janesville--the Watertown, completed to Watertown, and partly graded to Columbus, to be continued to Portage or some other point on the Wisconsin--the La Crosse and Milwaukee, running to Hartford and nearly completed to Beaver Dam--and the Lake shore from Chicago to Milwaukee. Other Roads, either tributary to these or independent lines, are under way, which is fast rendering this city the centre of a large Rail Road system. No place in the west has combined so completely, healthiness of location, abundant water power, facilities of manufacture, and equal agricultural lands in its immediate vicinity.

A larger amount of wheat, by 360,000 bushels, was shipped from this port during 1854 than from any other port on the Lakes, and this difference will be increased during 1855 by over 1,000,000 bushels. The wheat of Wisconsin is from 3 to 5 cents more per bushel than that raised farther south, on account of its superior quality, which fact will always secure to this port the pre-eminance of being the largest wheat shipping one in the west.

To show the growth of Milwaukee, we copy the following from the Green Bay Intelligencer published in 1835:

"The Milwaukee country is attracting much attention. A settlement has commenced ear its mount; and there can be no doubt it will be much visited during the coming season by northern emigrants, and by all who fear the billious fevers and other diseases of more southern latitudes. Two or three young man from the State of New York have commenced the erection of the saw mill on the first rapid, about three miles above the mouth of the Milwaukee river."

The population of the city in 1850 was 20,025. In 1855 30,149, increase in five years 10,123.

County Courthouse

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