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Portage 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
Portage County, Wisconsin Facts
When was Portage County, WI Created?
Portage County was created on December 7, 1836 from Brown County, Crawford County, Iowa County and Milwaukee County.
What is the County Seat of Portage County, WI?
The County Seat is located in Stevens Point and the county government website is www.co.portage.wi.us/
What counties are adjacent to Portage County, WI?
Bordering Counties are Marathon County, Shawano County, Waupaca County, Waushara County, Adams County, Wood County.
Portage County, WI Vital Records
Where can find Portage County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Portage 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 Portage 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
Portage County, WI Census Records
What Portage County, WI census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Portage 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.
Portage Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Portage Co. Industry and Agriculture can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Portage 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
Portage County, WI Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Portage County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Portage 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.
- Portage County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 1516 Church Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481; Phone: 715.346.1351
- County was attached Brown County for county and judicial purposes from 1836–41;Dane County, for judicial purposes from 1841–44. Some early records may be found there.
- Portage County Register of Deeds
- Phone: 715 346-1428
- Birth Records: 1866
- Marriage Records: 1848
- Death Records: 1876
- Land Records: 1841
- Portage County Register in Probate Office
- Phone: 715-346-1362
- Probate Records: 1837
- Portage County Clerk of Court Office
- Phone: (715) 346-1364
- Court Records: 1844
- 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
Portage County, WI Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Portage County, WI?
A list of Portage County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Wisconsin Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Area Research Center – University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, James H. Albertson Library, Stevens Point, WI 54481; Phone: 715/346-2586
- Almond Historical Society, 319 County A, Almond, WI 54900; Phone: 715-366-7341
- Portage County Historical Society, PO Box 672, Stevens Point, WI 54481; Phone: 715-344-5752
- Stevens Point Area Genealogical Society, 1001 Main, Stevens Point, WI 54481
- 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 Portage County, WI Researchers through message boards and forums?
- Wisconsin State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Portage County, Wisconsin Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Portage County
- Portage County, Wisconsin Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Portage County, WI?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Portage 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.
Portage 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)
- Stevens Point Daily Journal (Stevens Point, Wisconsin) (search.ancestry.com)
- Stevens Point Journal, The (Stevens Point, Wisconsin) (search.ancestry.com)
- Gazette (Stevens Point, Wisconsin) (search.ancestry.com)
- Stevens Point Gazette, The (Stevens Point, Wisconsin) (search.ancestry.com)
- The Wisconsin Lumberman (Stevens Point, Wisconsin) (search.ancestry.com)
- Portage County, Wisconsin Books (amazon.com)
- Portage County Wisconsin Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
- Search Wisconsin Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Portage Co. WI Church & Cemeteries
- Wisconsin Church & Cemetery Research Guide
- Portage Co., Wisconsin Graves (findagrave.com)
- Portage County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Portage Co., Wisconsin Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Portage Co., Wisconsin Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Portage County, Wisconsin Church Books (amazon.com)
Portage 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)
Portage Co. WI General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Wisconsin
- Portage County, Wisconsin Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Portage County, Wisconsin Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Portage Co. WI Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Portage County, Wisconsin (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Wisconsin – Counties – Portage (cyndislist.com)
- Portage County Wisconsin (genealogytrails.com)
- Portage Co. WIGenweb (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
- Portage County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Portage Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Portage Co. WI Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Wisconsin Links and Information
- Portage Co. D.O.T. Road and Highway Maps (dot.wisconsin.gov)
- Wisconsin Public Land Survey Records: Original Field Notes & Plat Maps for Portage County
- 1895 Portage County Map (livgenmi.com)
Portage 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 Portage County genealogists, researchers, historians and much more.