Vilas 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

Vilas County, Wisconsin Facts

When was Vilas County, WI Created?
Vilas County was created on April 12, 1893 from Oneida County. The county was named in honor of William Vilas (1840-1908), officer in the Civil War, United States Postmaster General (1885-1888), United States Secretary of the Interior(1888-1889), and Senator from Wisconsin (1891-1897) .

What is the County Seat of Vilas County, WI?
The County Seat is located in Eagle River and the county government website is http://co.vilas.wi.us/

What counties are adjacent to Vilas County, WI?
Bordering Counties are Gogebic County, Michigan, Iron County, Michigan, Forest County, Oneida County, Price County, Iron County.

Vilas County, WI Vital Records

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

Vilas County, WI Census Records

What Vilas County, WI census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Vilas County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940. 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
• Vilas County, WI Census Records Links

Vilas County, WI Courthouse and Government Records

Vilas County Courthouse

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

• Vilas County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
  • Address: 330 Court Street, Eagle River, WI 54521; Phone: 715.479.3600
• Vilas County Register of Deeds
  • Phone: 715-479-3660
  • Birth Records: 1889
  • Marriage Records: 1893
  • Death Records: 1889
  • Land Records: 1893?
• Vilas County Register in Probate Office
  • Phone: 715-479-3642
  • Probate Records: 1900?
• Vilas County Clerk of Court Office
  • Phone: (715) 479-3632
  • Court Records: 1900?
• 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

Vilas County, WI Societies and Family History Resources

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

• Vilas County Historical Society, Main Street, Sayner 54560; Phone: 715-542-3388
• Area Research Center – Wisconsin Historical Society History Center and Archives , 29270 County Highway G, Ashland, WI 54806-9339; Phone: (715) 685-2647
• Eagle River Genealogy Society, PO Box 693, Eagle River, WI 54521; Phone: 715-479-8899
•  Eagle River Historical Society, PO Box 2011, Eagle River, WI 54521; Phone: 715-479-4845
•  Lac du Flambeau Historical and Cultural Society, PO Box 729, Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538; Phone: 715-588-7626
•  Land O’ Lakes Historical Society, PO Box 541, Land O’ Lakes, WI 54540; Phone: 715-547-3638
• 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 Vilas County, WI Researchers through message boards and forums?

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

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

Vilas 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)
• Vilas County, Wisconsin Books (amazon.com)
• Vilas County Wisconsin Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
• Search Wisconsin Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)

Vilas Co. WI Church & Cemeteries

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

Vilas 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)

Vilas Co. WI General and History Websites

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

Vilas Co. WI Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

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

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