Door County, Wisconsin
Genealogy, History & Facts

County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links

Door County, Wisconsin Facts

When was Door County, WI Created?
Door County was created on February 11, 1851 from Brown County.

What is the County Seat of Door County, WI?
The County Seat is located in Sturgeon Bay and the county government website is www.co.door.wi.gov/

What counties are adjacent to Door County, WI?
Bordering Counties are Kewaunee County.

Door County, WI Vital Records

Where can find Door County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Door County vital records can be found at the Wisconsin Office of Vital Records has copies of Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Records reported since 1907. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Wisconsin for current fees and application process..

You can search online for Door County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for Wisconsin Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Application to mail.

• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• Social Security Death Index
• USGenweb Archives Wisconsin Marriage Project
• Earliest Registration Dates by County
• Pre-1907 Birth Index
• Wisconsin, Births and Christenings, 1826-1926
• Wisconsin, Divorce Index, 1965-1984
• Wisconsin Marriage Index 1852-1907
• Wisconsin Marriage Index (selected entries pre-1907)
• Wisconsin, Marriage Index, 1973-1997
• Wisconsin, Marriages, 1836-1930
• Pre-1892 Wisconsin Brides and/or Grooms from Maine State Archives Cards
• Wisconsin, Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968
• Pre-1907 Death Index
• 1959-1979 Death Index
• 1979-1984 Death Index

Door County, WI Census Records

What Door County, WI census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Door County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1820, 1830 (as Michigan Territory), 1840 (as Wisconsin Territory), 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940.

Door Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Door Co. Industry and Agriculture can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Door Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. One can find free down-loadable and also printable census forms to help you with your research.

There are Wisconsin State censuses from 1895 and 1905. Also the Wisconsin Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index for 1820-1890. You can find free down-loadable and also printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also Wisconsin Census Records Research Guide

• Search The U.S. Federal Census Collection
• Door County, WI Census Records Links

Door County, WI Courthouse and Government Records

Door County Courthouse

What genealogical records can I find in the Door County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Door County.The date listed for each category of record is usually the earliest registration filed. The earliest date does not indicate that there are numerous records for that year and does not mean that all such events were actually registered.

See Also Wisconsin Courthouse Records Research Guide.

• Door County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
  • Address: Government Center, 421 Nebraska Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235; Phone: 920.746.2200
  • County was attached to Manitowoc County for judicial purposes from 1851–55 and Brown County for county and judicial purposes from 1855–60. Some early records may be found there.
• Door County Register of Deeds
  • Phone: 920-746-2270
  • Birth Records: 1852
  • Marriage Records: 1856
  • Death Records: 1856
  • Land Records: 1857
• Door County Register in Probate Office
  • Address: 1207 S. Duluth Ave., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
  • Phone: 920-746-2482
  • Probate Records: 1861
• Door County Clerk of Court Office
  • Address: 1205 S. Duluth Ave., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
  • Phone: (920) 746-2205
  • Court Records: 1861
• Public Records of the Consolidated Court Automation Programs provides access to certain public records of the circuit courts of Wisconsin
• Wisconsin, Probate Estate Files, 1848-1935
• U.S., Indexed Early Land Ownership and Township Plats, 1785-1898
• BLM Land Records

Door County, WI Societies and Family History Resources

What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Door County, WI?
A list of Door County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Wisconsin Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.

• Door County Historical Society, 4994 Ripp Rd, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235; Phone: 920-743-4945
•  Jacksonport Historical Society, 6275 Hwy 57, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235; Phone: 920-823-2288
• Area Research Center – University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, Cofrin Library, 7th floor, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, WI 54311-7001; Phone: 920/465-2539
• Wisconsin Area Research Center Network
• State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706-1488
• Wisconsin State Genealogical Society, PO Box 5106, Madison, WI 53705
• Wisconsin Genealogy Index (wisconsinhistory.org) Search for pre-1907 Vital Records, as well as for 150,000 Wisconsin Name Index (WNI) records, including biographical sketches, obituaries, and newspaper articles published before 2000.

Where can I connect with other Door County, WI Researchers through message boards and forums?

• Wisconsin State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
• Door County, Wisconsin Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Door County
• Door County, Wisconsin Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)

What other genealogical resources are available in Door County, WI?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Door County. Many of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business oriented Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a cost. This is just a listing which has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another.

Door Co. WI Books, Newspapers & Publications

• Wisconsin Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
• Wisconsin historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
• Historical Newspapers from Wisconsin (1837 – 1992) (genealogybank.com)
• Door County, Wisconsin Books (amazon.com)
• Door County Wisconsin Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
• Search Wisconsin Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)

Door Co. WI Church & Cemeteries

• Wisconsin Church & Cemetery Research Guide
• Door Co., Wisconsin Graves (findagrave.com)
• Door County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
• Door Co., Wisconsin Cemeteries (Internment.net)
• Door Co., Wisconsin Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
• Door County, Wisconsin Church Books (amazon.com)

Door Co. WI Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

• Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
• Historical Image Collections (wisconsinhistory.org)
• Local History & Biography Articles (wisconsinhistory.org) thousands of historical newspaper articles on Wisconsin people and communities
• The Wisconsin Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)

Door Co. WI General and History Websites

• See Also State History for Wisconsin
• Door County, Wisconsin Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• History of Door County, Wisconsin : the county beautiful (search.ancestry.com)
• Old peninsula days : tales and sketches of the Door Peninsula (search.ancestry.com)
• Door County, Wisconsin Wiki (familysearch.org)
• Door Co. WI Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
• Family History Library (familysearch.org)
• Door County, Wisconsin (linkpendium.com)
• Cyndi’s List – United States – Wisconsin – Counties – Door (cyndislist.com)
• Door County Wisconsin (genealogytrails.com)
• Door Co. WIGenweb (wigenweb.org)
• Door County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
• Door Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)

Door Co. WI Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

• See Also Map of Wisconsin Links and Information
• Door Co. D.O.T. Road and Highway Maps (dot.wisconsin.gov)
• Wisconsin Public Land Survey Records: Original Field Notes & Plat Maps for Door County
• 1895 Door County Map (livgenmi.com)

Door Co. WI Military Records

• Wisconsin Military Records Research Guide
• Wisconsin Military Records (fold3.com) gives you easy access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents of the Wisconsin both women and men which served. Just the thing for Door County genealogists, researchers, historians and much more.