Oconto 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

Oconto County, Wisconsin Facts

When was Oconto County, WI Created?
Oconto County was created on February 6, 1851 from Brown County.

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

What counties are adjacent to Oconto County, WI?
Bordering Counties are Marinette County, Brown County, Shawano County, Menominee County, Langlade County, Forest County.

Oconto County, WI Vital Records

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

Oconto County, WI Census Records

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

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

Oconto County, WI Courthouse and Government Records

Oconto County Courthouse

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

PLEASE READ FIRST!!! Please call the clerk’s department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The files are available to interested parties, barring private issues. Many staff will guide individuals in locating the materials, however it’s up to the person to carry out the research. County’s first courthouse burned down in 1891.

• Oconto County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
  • Address: 301 Washington Street, Oconto, WI 54153-1699; Phone: 920.834.6800
  • County was attached to Brown County for county and judicial purposes from 1851–52, 1852–54 and 1855–57. Some early records may be found there.
• Oconto County Register of Deeds
  • Phone: 920-834-6807
  • Birth Records: 1876
  • Marriage Records: 1859
  • Death Records: 1872
  • Land Records: 1838
• Oconto County Register in Probate Office
  • Phone: 920-834-6839
  • Probate Records: 1857
• Oconto County Clerk of Court Office
  • Phone: (920) 834-6857
  • Court Records: 1857
• Shawano and Oconto Counties, Indexes and Records, 1850-2007
• 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

Oconto County, WI Societies and Family History Resources

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

• 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
• Oconto County Genealogical Society, PO Box 114, Suring, WI 54174
•  Oconto County Historical Society, 917 Park Ave, Oconto, WI 54153; Phone: 920-834-6206
• 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 Oconto County, WI Researchers through message boards and forums?

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

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

Oconto 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)
• Oconto County Enterprise (Oconto, Wisconsin) (search.ancestry.com)
• Oconto County, Wisconsin Books (amazon.com)
• Oconto County Wisconsin Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
• Search Wisconsin Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)

Oconto Co. WI Church & Cemeteries

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

Oconto 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)

Oconto Co. WI General and History Websites

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

Oconto Co. WI Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

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

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