Jefferson 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

Jefferson County, Wisconsin Facts

When was Jefferson County, WI Created?
Jefferson County was created on December 7, 1836 from Milwaukee County (Organized in February 1839).

What is the County Seat of Jefferson County, WI?
The County Seat is located in Jefferson and the county government website is www.jeffersoncountywi.gov

What counties are adjacent to Jefferson County, WI?
Bordering Counties are Dodge County, Waukesha County, Walworth County, Rock County, Dane County.

Jefferson County, WI Vital Records

Where can find Jefferson County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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

Jefferson County, WI Census Records

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

Jefferson Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Jefferson Co. Industry and Agriculture can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Jefferson 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
• Jefferson County, WI Census Records Links

Jefferson County, WI Courthouse and Government Records

Jefferson County Courthouse

What genealogical records can I find in the Jefferson County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Jefferson 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.

• Jefferson County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
  • Address: 320 South Main Street, Jefferson, WI 53549; Phone: 920.674.7144
  • County was attached to Milwaukee County for county and judicial purposes from 1836–39. Some early records may be found there.
• Jefferson County Register of Deeds
  • Phone: 920-674-7235
  • Birth Records: 1852
  • Marriage Records: 1844
  • Death Records: 1856
  • Land Records: 1838
• Jefferson County Register in Probate Office
  • Phone: 920-674-7245
  • Probate Records: 1846
• Jefferson County Clerk of Court Office
  • Phone: (920) 674-7150
  • Court Records: 1842
• 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

Jefferson County, WI Societies and Family History Resources

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

• Bark River Woods Historical Society, W4080 St Rd 106, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-9681; Phone: 920-563-4773
•  Concord Historical Society, PO Box 402, Sullivan, WI 53178; Phone: 414-593-8099
•  Dodge/ Jefferson County Genealogical Society, PO Box 91, Watertown, WI 53094
•  Fort Atkinson Historical Society, 407 Merchants Ave, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538; Phone: 920-563-7769
• Jefferson Historical Society, 305 S Main, Jefferson, WI 53549; Phone: 920-674-2455
•  Johnson Creek Historical Society, PO Box 113, Johnson Creek, WI 53038
•  Lake Mills/Aztalan Historical Society, PO Box 122, Lake Mills, WI 53551; Phone: 920-648-8575
•  Palmyra Historical Society, 226 W Main St, Palmyra, WI 53156; Phone: 414-495-4245
•  Waterloo Area Historical Society, PO Box 52, Waterloo, WI 53594; Phone: 920-478-2328
•  Watertown Historical Society, 701 S Tenth St, Watertown, WI 53094-4833; Phone: 920-261-0275
• Area Research Center – University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, Harold Andersen Library, 800 West Main Street, Whitewater, WI 53190; Phone: 262/472-5520
• 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 Jefferson County, WI Researchers through message boards and forums?

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

What other genealogical resources are available in Jefferson County, WI?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Jefferson 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.

Jefferson 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)
• Watertown Chronicle (Watertown, Wisconsin) (search.ancestry.com)
• Democratic State Register (Watertown, Wisconsin) (search.ancestry.com)
• Rock River Pilot (Watertown, Wisconsin) (search.ancestry.com)
• Jefferson County, Wisconsin Books (amazon.com)
• Jefferson County Wisconsin Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
• Search Wisconsin Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)

Jefferson Co. WI Church & Cemeteries

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

Jefferson 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)

Jefferson Co. WI General and History Websites

• See Also State History for Wisconsin
• Jefferson County, Wisconsin Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• Jefferson County, Wisconsin Wiki (familysearch.org)
• Jefferson Co. WI Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
• Family History Library (familysearch.org)
• Jefferson County, Wisconsin (linkpendium.com)
• Cyndi’s List – United States – Wisconsin – Counties – Jefferson (cyndislist.com)
• Jefferson County Wisconsin (genealogytrails.com)
• Jefferson Co. WIGenweb (wigenweb.org)
• Jefferson County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
• Jefferson Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)

Jefferson Co. WI Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

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

Jefferson 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 Jefferson County genealogists, researchers, historians and much more.