Lincoln 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

Lincoln County, Wisconsin Facts

When was Lincoln County, WI Created?
Lincoln County was created on March 4, 1874 from Marathon County.

What is the County Seat of Lincoln County, WI?
The County Seat is located in Merrill and the county government website is www.co.lincoln.wi.us/

What counties are adjacent to Lincoln County, WI?
Bordering Counties are Oneida County, Langlade County, Marathon County, Taylor County, Price County.

Lincoln County, WI Vital Records

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

Lincoln County, WI Census Records

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

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

Lincoln County, WI Courthouse and Government Records

Lincoln County Courthouse

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

• Lincoln County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
  • Address: 1110 East Main Street, Merrill, WI 54452; Phone: 715.536.0312
  • County was attached to Marathon County for judicial purposes from 1874–75. Some early records may be found there.
• Lincoln County Register of Deeds
  • Phone: 715-536-0318
  • Birth Records: 1875
  • Marriage Records: 1875
  • Death Records: 1871
  • Land Records: 1867
• Lincoln County Register in Probate Office
  • Phone: 715-536-0342
  • Probate Records: 1883
• Lincoln County Clerk of Court Office
  • Phone: (715) 536-0319
  • Court Records: 1885
• 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

Lincoln County, WI Societies and Family History Resources

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

• Merrill Historical Society, 804 E 3rd St, Merrill, WI 54452; Phone: 715-536-6606
• Area Research Center – University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, James H. Albertson Library, Stevens Point, WI 54481; Phone: 715/346-2586
• 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 Lincoln County, WI Researchers through message boards and forums?

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

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

Lincoln 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)
• The Merrill Daily Herald (Merrill, Wisconsin) (search.ancestry.com)
• Lincoln County, Wisconsin Books (amazon.com)
• Lincoln County Wisconsin Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
• Search Wisconsin Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)

Lincoln Co. WI Church & Cemeteries

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

Lincoln 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)

Lincoln Co. WI General and History Websites

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

Lincoln Co. WI Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

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

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