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Guide to Douglas County, Wisconsin ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Resources
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biographies
- 2.3 Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census Records
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Directories
- 2.9 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.10 Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
- 2.11 Funeral Homes
- 2.12 Genealogies
- 2.13 Guardianship
- 2.14 Land and Property Records
- 2.15 Local Histories
- 2.16 Maps and Gazetteers
- 2.17 Migration
- 2.18 Military Records
- 2.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 2.20 Newspapers
- 2.21 Obituaries
- 2.22 Other Records
- 2.23 Periodicals
- 2.24 Probate Records
- 2.25 School Records
- 2.26 Social Security Records
- 2.27 Tax Records
- 2.28 Vital Records
- 3 Research Facilities
- 4 Societies
- 5 Websites
- 6 Research Guides
- 7 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for Stephen A. Douglas. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Douglas County Courthouse
1313 Belknap Street
Superior, WI 54880-2769
Phone: 715-395-1341
Douglas County Website
Register of Deeds has birth, marriage and death records from 1878 and land records.
Clerk of Courts has divorce, probate and court records from 1878. [3]
Douglas County, Wisconsin Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1878 | 1878 | 1878 | 1878 | 1854 | 1878 | 1820 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
For animated maps illustrating Wisconsin County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Wisconsin County Boundary Maps" (1790-1961) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website. |
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
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:[6]
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Ghost towns | ||
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History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 812 | — |
| 1870 | 1,122 | 38.2% |
| 1880 | 655 | −41.6% |
| 1890 | 13,468 | 1956.2% |
| 1900 | 36,335 | 169.8% |
| 1910 | 47,422 | 30.5% |
| 1920 | 49,771 | 5.0% |
| 1930 | 46,583 | −6.4% |
| 1940 | 47,119 | 1.2% |
| 1950 | 46,715 | −0.9% |
| 1960 | 45,008 | −3.7% |
| 1970 | 44,657 | −0.8% |
| 1980 | 44,421 | −0.5% |
| 1990 | 41,758 | −6.0% |
| 2000 | 43,287 | 3.7% |
| 2010 | 44,159 | 2.0% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing Douglas census records online, see: Wisconsin Census.
State Census
- 1855 - Wisconsin 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 - Wisconsin State Census, 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 - Wisconsin State Census, 1875 Identifies head of household by name. - How to Use this Collection
- 1885 - Wisconsin State Census, 1885 — 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 - Wisconsin State Census, 1895 — index and images. Identifies head of household by name. Other information is statistical. - How to Use this Collection
- 1905 - Wisconsin State Census, 1905 — Name index and images of population. Enumerates by name all inhabitants. - How to Use this Collection
Federal Census
- 1870 - Index of Douglas County, 1870 Federal Census USGenWeb Archives
- 1880 - Index of Douglas County, 1880 Federal Census USGenWeb Archives
- 1930 - Index of Douglas County, 1930 Federal Census WIGenWeb Project
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Wisconsin denominations, view the Wisconsin Church Records wiki page.
Lutheran
- Records of Zion Lutheran Church, Superior, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Wisconsin Land and Property for additional information about early Wisconsin land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
- Wisconsin Land Patents Database, Douglas County - USGenWeb Archives
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- History of the Douglas County Area with links. WIGenWeb Project
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
- Old Antique Atlases & Maps of Wisconsin
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Regiments. Service men in Douglas served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Douglas:
- - 2nd Regiment, Wisconsin Cavalry, Company E
- 1883 list of Pensioners or dependents, Douglas Co. USGenWeb Archives
World War I[edit | edit source]
- Wisconsin Gold Star List, Douglas County WIGenWeb Project
- Douglas County WI Archives Military Records, Army Casualties, WWI - Rosters USGenWeb Archives
World War II[edit | edit source]
- World War II Casualties Databases. Acess Genealogy
- Army Enlistees, Douglas County - USGenWeb Archives
- Names: AAKEBERG ARTHUR J - BRAUN EDWARD A
- Names: BREDAHL HANS - DUNBAR GIFFORD G
- Names: DUNIGAN CHARLOTTE C - GUSTAFSON STANLEY E
- Names: GVORA JOHN G - JOHNSON WILLIAM M
- Names: JOHNSTAD HAROLD S - LINDQUIST THEODORE J
- Names: LINN VERNON V - NAJT CHARLES
- Names: NARWOOD AXEL W - POLLOCK ROBERT M
- Names: POTOSKY JOE G - SMILANICH ELI
- Names: SMITH BENJAMIN W - VERVILLE GLENN G
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Obituaries for the Douglas County area WIGenWeb Project
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate records are held by the Douglas Clerk of Circuit Court and are housed at the Douglas Courthouse. See the wiki page Wisconsin Probate Records for information about how to use probate records.
Content: Probate records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
Record types: Wills, estates, guardianships, and adoptions.
Online Records
- 1800–1987 Wisconsin Wills and Probate Records 1800-1987 at Ancestry — images and index $
- 1848–1948 Wisconsin Probate Estate Files 1848-1948 at FamilySearch — images - How to Use this Collection
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index 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.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Wisconsin tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. Because only persons who owned property or other items that could be taxed were listed, some residents were not included in tax lists. There may also be gaps of several years in the tax records. For more information see the Wiki page, Wisconsin Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Most counties started keeping records in the 1870s. In 1907, the counties began sending copies to the state.
For pre-1907 births, deaths, and marriages, search the Wisconsin Genealogy Index.
For additional information, see Wisconsin Vital Records.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1820-1907 Wisconsin, Birth Index, 1820-1907 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1826-1908 Wisconsin, Births and Christenings Index, 1826-1908 at Ancestry — index $
- 1826-1926 Wisconsin, Births and Christenings, 1826-1926 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1836-1911 Wisconsin, County Marriages, 1836-1911 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1836-1930 Wisconsin, Marriages, 1836-1930 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1973-1997 Wisconsin, Marriage Index, 1973-1997 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1973-1997 Wisconsin Marriages, 1973-1997 at Ancestry — index/images $
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1820-1907 Wisconsin, Death Index, 1820-1907 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1835-1968 Wisconsin, Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1867-1907 Wisconsin, Death Records, 1867-1907 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1959-1997 Wisconsin, Death Index, 1959-1997 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1965-1984 Wisconsin, Divorce Index, 1965-1984 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
- Area Research Center
Jim Dan Hill Library, University of Wisconsin, Superior
Belknap and Catlin
P.O. Box 2000
907 N. 19th St.
Superior, WI 54880
Telephone: 715-394-8359
archives@uwsuper.edu
Website
Facebook
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Douglas County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Wisconsin Archives and Libraries.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Libraries
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Douglas County. For state-wide library facilities, see Wisconsin Archives and Libraries.
- Jim Dan Hill Library, University of Wisconsin, Superior
Area Research Center
Belknap and Catlin
P.O. Box 2000
907 N. 19th St.
Superior, WI 54880
Telephone: 715-394-8359
archives@uwsuper.edu
Website
Facebook
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Douglas County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Wisconsin Societies.
- Douglas County Historical Society
1011 John Ave
Superior, WI 54880
Phone: 715-392-8449
Website
Website - Gordon-Wascott Historical Society and Museum
9672E Hwy Y
Gordon, WI 54838
Phone: 715-376-4249
Email: deadskunk@centurytel.net - Old-Brule Heritage Society, Inc
PO Box 24
Maple, WI 5485
Website - Solon Springs Historical Society
10732 S Rocky Hill Rd
Solon Springs, WI 54873
Phone: 715-378-4296 - Twin Ports Genealogical Society
PO Box 16895
Duluth, MI 55816-0895
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Douglas County, WI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- Wisconsin Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Douglas County WIGenWeb Project
- Douglas County USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog - 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
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Douglas County, Wisconsin " in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_County,_Wisconsin."
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Wisconsin.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Douglas County, Wisconsin. Page 755-760, At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 757-759.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Wisconsin.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Douglas County, Wisconsin," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_County,_Wisconsin, accessed 6 September 2018.
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