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Columbia 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
Columbia County, Wisconsin Facts
When was Columbia County, WI Created?
Columbia County was created on February 3, 1846 from Portage County.
What is the County Seat of Columbia County, WI?
The County Seat is located in Portage and the county government website is www.co.columbia.wi.us/
What counties are adjacent to Columbia County, WI?
Bordering Counties are Marquette County, Green Lake County, Dodge County, Dane County, Sauk County, Juneau County, Adams County.
Columbia County, WI Vital Records
Where can find Columbia County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Columbia 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 Columbia 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
Columbia County, WI Census Records
What Columbia County, WI census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Columbia County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940.
Columbia Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Columbia Co. Industry and Agriculture can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Columbia 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
Columbia County, WI Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Columbia County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Columbia 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.
- Columbia County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 400 DeWitt Street, Portage, WI 53901; Phone: 608.742.2191
- Columbia County Register of Deeds
- Phone: 608-742-9677
- Birth Records: 1860
- Marriage Records: 1849
- Death Records: 1877
- Land Records: 1826
- Columbia County Register in Probate Office
- Phone: 608-742-9636
- Probate Records: 1847
- Columbia County Clerk of Court Office
- Phone: (608) 742-9642
- Court Records: 1851
- 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
Columbia County, WI Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Columbia County, WI?
A list of Columbia County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Wisconsin Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Cambria-Friesland Historical Society, PO Box 501, Cambria, WI 53923; Phone: 920-348-5787
- Columbia County Historical Society, W3988 Hwy 33, Cambria, WI 53923; Phone: 920-348-5516
- Dells Country Historical Society, 1621 E Broadway, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965; Phone: 608-254-8129
- Lodi Valley Historical Society, 173 S Main St, Lodi, WI 53555; Phone: 608-592-5910
- Portage Historical Society, PO Box 727, Portage, WI 53901; Phone: 608-742-6663
- Poynette Area Historical Society, W5660 Hall Rd, Poynette, WI 53955; Phone: 608-635-2970
- 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 Columbia County, WI Researchers through message boards and forums?
- Wisconsin State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Columbia County, Wisconsin Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Columbia County
- Columbia County, Wisconsin Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Columbia County, WI?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Columbia 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.
Columbia 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)
- River Times (Fort Winnebago, Wisconsin) (search.ancestry.com)
- The Breeze (Pardeeville, Wisconsin) (search.ancestry.com)
- Columbia County, Wisconsin Books (amazon.com)
- Columbia County Wisconsin Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
- Search Wisconsin Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Columbia Co. WI Church & Cemeteries
- Wisconsin Church & Cemetery Research Guide
- Columbia Co., Wisconsin Graves (findagrave.com)
- Columbia County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Columbia Co., Wisconsin Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Columbia Co., Wisconsin Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Columbia County, Wisconsin Church Books (amazon.com)
Columbia 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)
Columbia Co. WI General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Wisconsin
- Columbia County, Wisconsin Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Columbia County, Wisconsin Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Columbia Co. WI Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Columbia County, Wisconsin (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Wisconsin – Counties – Columbia (cyndislist.com)
- Columbia County Wisconsin (genealogytrails.com)
- Columbia Co. WIGenweb (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
- Columbia County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Columbia Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Columbia Co. WI Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Wisconsin Links and Information
- Columbia Co. D.O.T. Road and Highway Maps (dot.wisconsin.gov)
- Wisconsin Public Land Survey Records: Original Field Notes & Plat Maps for Columbia County
- 1895 Columbia County Map (livgenmi.com)
Columbia 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 Columbia County genealogists, researchers, historians and much more.