Pierce 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

Pierce County, Wisconsin Facts

When was Pierce County, WI Created?
Pierce County was created on February 25, 1858 from St. Croix County.

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

What counties are adjacent to Pierce County, WI?
Bordering Counties are St. Croix County, Dunn County, Pepin County, Goodhue County, Minnesota, Dakota County, Minnesota, Washington County, Minnesota.

Pierce County, WI Vital Records

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

Pierce County, WI Census Records

What Pierce County, WI census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Pierce 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.

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

Pierce County, WI Courthouse and Government Records

Pierce County Courthouse

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

• Pierce County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
  • Address: 414 West Main Street, Ellsworth, WI 54011; Phone: 715.273.3531
• Pierce County Register of Deeds
  • Phone: 715-273-3531
  • Birth Records: 1870
  • Marriage Records: 1851
  • Death Records: 1876
  • Land Records: 1855
• Pierce County Register in Probate Office
  • Phone: 715-273-6752
  • Probate Records: 1875
• Pierce County Clerk of Court Office
  • Phone: (715) 273-3531
  • Court Records: 1854
• 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

Pierce County, WI Societies and Family History Resources

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

• Area Research Center – University of Wisconsin – River Falls, Chalmer Davee Library, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 120 Cascade Avenue, River Falls, WI 54022; Phone: 715/425-3567
• Pierce County Historical Assn, PO Box 148, Ellsworth, WI 54011; Phone: 715-273-6611
•  Prescott Welcome and Heritage Center, 233 Broad St N, Prescott, WI 54021; Phone: 715-262-3284, Toll-free: 800-474-3723
•  St Croix Valley Genealogical Society, PO Box 396, River Falls, WI 54022
• 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 Pierce County, WI Researchers through message boards and forums?

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

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

Pierce 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 Maiden Rock Press (Maiden Rock, Wisconsin) (search.ancestry.com)
• The People’s Champion (Ellsworth, Wisconsin) (search.ancestry.com)
• Pierce County, Wisconsin Books (amazon.com)
• Pierce County Wisconsin Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
• Search Wisconsin Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)

Pierce Co. WI Church & Cemeteries

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

Pierce 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)

Pierce Co. WI General and History Websites

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

Pierce Co. WI Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

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

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