Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
John H. Long, Editor; Peggy Tuck Sinko, Associate Editor; Gordon DenBoer, Historical Compiler; Douglas Knox, Book Digitizing Director; Emily Kelley, Research Associate; Laura Rico-Beck, GIS Specialist and Digital Compiler; Peter Siczewicz, ArcIMS Interactive Map Designer; Robert Will, Cartographic Assistant
Copyright The Newberry Library 2007
Appleton Crescent, 17 April 1858. This newspaper reported results, not found elsewhere, of a referendum and proposed boundary change.
Bailey, William F., ed. History of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, Past and Present: Including an Account of the Cities, Towns and Villages of the County. Chicago: C. F. Cooper, 1914.
Buchen, Gustave William. Historic Sheboygan County. Sheboygan: Gustave William Buchen, 1944.
Buley, R. Carlyle. Old Northwest: Pioneer Period, 1815–1840. 2 vols. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1950.
Cannon, George H. "Michigan's Land Boundary." Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, Historical Collections 38 (1912): 163–168.
Cannon, George H. "Our Western Boundary: How Michigan Lost Much Valuable Territory." Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, Historical Collections 30 (1903–1904): 244–261.
Cappon, Lester J., Barbara Bartz Petchenik, and John Hamilton Long, eds. Atlas of Early American History: The Revolutionary Era, 1760–1790. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1976. Section on boundaries is thoroughly documented.
"Centennial and Pioneer Notes." Michigan History Magazine 20 (1936): 435–437. Brief section on the boundary between Michigan and Wisconsin.
Chase, Salmon P., ed. Statutes of Ohio and of the Northwestern Territory, Adopted or Enacted from 1788 to 1833 Inclusive: Together with the Ordinance of 1787; the Constitutions of Ohio and of the United States, and Various Public Instruments and Acts of Congress; Illustrated by a Preliminary Sketch of the History of Ohio; Numerous References and Notes, and Copious Indexes. 3 vols. Cincinnati, 1833–1835.
Chippewa County, Wisconsin, Past and Present: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement. 2 vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke, 1913.
Cram, Thomas Jefferson. "Report of the Secretary of War, Communicating, in Compliance with a Resolution of the Senate, a Copy of the Report of the Survey of the Boundary between the State of Michigan and the Territory of Wisconsin." U.S. Senate, 27th Congress, 2d session, 1841–1842, Senate Document no. 170. Serial 397.
Danky, James P., ed. Genealogical Research: An Introduction to the Resources of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1986.
DenBoer, Gordon. Atlas of Historical County Boundaries: Wisconsin. Edited by John H. Long. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1997. 155 counties, 374 pages, 496 maps.
Dubester, Henry J. State Censuses: An Annotated Bibliography of Censuses of Population Taken after the Year 1790 by States and Territories of the United States. 1948. Reprint. New York: Burt Franklin, 1969. The standard guide for its subject.
"Editorial." Wisconsin Journal of Education 11 (1881): 281–282. Description of Minnesota-Wisconsin line.
Farmer, John. Map of the Territories of Michigan and Ouisconsin. Albany, N.Y., 1831.
Filby, P. William, comp. Bibliography of American County Histories. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1985.
Gillespy, John C. History of Green Lake County: Containing Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes, Etc., As Related by Old Pioneers, With a Reliable Description of the City of Berlin, Towns and Villages, Soil, Productions, Population, Etc., Observations and General Remarks. Berlin, Wis., 1860.
Harney, Richard J. History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and Early History of the Northwest. Oshkosh, Wis., 1880.
Hart, Paxton. "The Making of Menominee County." Wisconsin Magazine of History 43 (1960): 181–189.
Hening, William Waller, ed. Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature in the Year 1619 [to 1792]. 13 vols. Richmond, 1819–1823.
Historical Atlas of Wisconsin: Embracing Complete State and County Maps, City and Village Plats, Together With Separate State and County Histories; Also Special Articles on the Geology, Education, Agriculture, and Other Important Interests of the State. Milwaukee, 1878.
Historical Records Survey, Wisconsin. Barron County (Barron). Inventory of the County Archives of Wisconsin, no. 3. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Records Survey, 1939.
Historical Records Survey, Wisconsin. Chippewa County (Chippewa Falls). Inventory of the County Archives of Wisconsin, no. 9. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Records Survey, 1941.
Historical Records Survey, Wisconsin. Clark County (Neillsville). Inventory of the County Archives of Wisconsin, no. 10. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Records Survey, 1941.
Historical Records Survey, Wisconsin. Manitowoc County. Development of Town Boundaries in Wisconsin, no. 36. Manitowoc County. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Records Survey, 1941.
Historical Records Survey, Wisconsin. Origin and Legislative History of County Boundaries in Wisconsin. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Records Survey, 1942. Many maps are not reliable; contrary to statements in the preface, many boundary descriptions are not verbatim extracts from the laws. Cited as HRS Wis., Origin.
Historical Records Survey, Wisconsin. Pepin County (Durand). Inventory of the County Archives of Wisconsin, no. 46. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Records Survey, 1941. Cited as HRS Wis., Pepin.
Historical Records Survey, Wisconsin. Rusk County (Ladysmith). Inventory of the County Archives of Wisconsin, no. 54. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Records Survey, 1939.
Historical Records Survey, Wisconsin. St. Croix County (Hudson). Inventory of the County Archives of Wisconsin, no. 55. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Records Survey, 1940.
Historical Records Survey, Wisconsin. Shawano (Shawano). Inventory of the County Archives of Wisconsin, no. 58. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Records Survey, 1942. Cited as HRS Wis., Shawano.
Historical Records Survey, Wisconsin. Trempealeau County (Whitehall). Inventory of the County Archives of Wisconsin, no. 61. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Records Survey, 1940.
Historical Records Survey, Wisconsin. Vernon County (Viroqua). Inventory of the County Archives of Wisconsin, no. 62. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Records Survey, 1942.
History of Dane County, Wisconsin: Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development and Resources, An Extensive and Minute Sketch of Its Cities, Towns and Villages—Their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Churches, Schools, Societies, Its War Record, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers, the Whole Preceded by a History of Wisconsin, Statistics of the State, and an Abstract of Its Laws and Constitution and of the Constitution of the United States. Chicago, 1880.
History of Des Moines County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, Etc., a Biographical Directory of Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics, Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men, History of the Northwest, History of Iowa, Map of Des Moines County, Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, Etc. Chicago, 1879.
History of Dodge County, Wisconsin: Containing a History of Dodge County, Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Etc., an Extensive and Minute Sketch of Its Cities, Their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Churches, Schools, Societies, Etc., Etc., War Record, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers, Etc., Etc., Etc. Chicago, 1880.
History of Green County, Wisconsin: Together with Sketches of Its Towns and Villages, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History, Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Representative Citizens, History of Wisconsin, Embracing Accounts of the Pre-historic Races, and a Brief Account of Its Territorial and State Governments. Springfield, Ill., 1884.
History of Iowa County, Wisconsin: Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development and Resources, an Extensive and Minute Sketch of Its Cities, Towns and Villages—Their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Churches, Schools and Societies, Its War Record, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers, the Whole Preceded by a History of Wisconsin, Statistics of the State, and an Abstract of Its Laws and Constitution and of the Constitution of the United States. Chicago, 1881.
History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin: Containing a History of Jefferson County, Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Etc., An Extensive and Minute Sketch of Its Cities, Their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Churches, Schools, Societies, Etc., Etc., War Record, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers, Etc., Etc., Etc., Also History of Wisconsin, Constitution of the United States and of Wisconsin, Condensed Abstract of Laws of Wisconsin, Miscellaneous, Etc., Etc. Chicago, 1879.
History of Northern Wisconsin: Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development and Resources, an Extensive Sketch of Its Counties, Cities, Towns and Villages, Their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers, Views of County Seats, Etc. Chicago, 1881.
History of the Great Lakes. 2 vols. Chicago, 1899.
History of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan: Containing a Full Account of Its Early Settlement, Its Growth, Development and Resources, an Extended Description of Its Iron and Copper Mines, Also, Accurate Sketches of Its Counties, Cities, Towns and Villages, Their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers, Views of County Seats, Etc. Chicago, 1883.
History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin: Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development and Resources, an Extensive and Minute Sketch of Its Cities, Towns and Villages—Their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Churches, Schools and Societies, Its War Record, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers, the the [sic] Whole Preceded by a History of Wisconsin, Statistics of the State, and an Abstract of Its Laws and Constitution and of the Constitution of the United States. Chicago, 1880.
Hunt, John Warren. Wisconsin Gazetteer: Containing the Names, Location, and Advantages of the Counties, Cities, Towns, Villages, Post Offices, and Settlements, Together With a Description of the Lakes, Water Courses, Prairies, and Public Localities, in the State of Wisconsin. Madison, 1853.
Illinois Territory. Laws of Illinois Territory, 1809–1818. Edited by Francis S. Philbrick. Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library, vol. 25. Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1950. Cited as Ill. Terr. Laws.
Illinois Territory. Territorial Records of Illinois. Edited by Edmund J. James. Publications of the Illinois State Historical Library, no. 3. Springfield: Phillips Bros., 1901. Cited as Ill. Terr. Recs.
Indiana Territory. Executive Journal of Indiana Territory, 1800–1816. Edited by William Wesley Woollen, Daniel Wait Howe, and Jacob Piatt Dunn. Indiana Historical Society Publications, vol. 3, no. 3. Indianapolis: Bowen-Merrill, 1900. Cited as Ind. Terr., Exec. Journal.
Jackson, Ronald V. Wisconsin 1836 Census Index. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1976.
Jackson, Ronald V. Wisconsin 1838 Census Index. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1984.
Jackson, Ronald V. Wisconsin 1842 Census Index. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1984.
Jackson, Ronald V. Wisconsin 1855 Census Index. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1984.
Jones, George O., et al. History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties, Wisconsin. Minneapolis: H. C. Cooper, Jr., 1924.
Jones, J. E., ed. and comp. History of Columbia County, Wisconsin: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its People, and Its Principal Interests. 2 vols. Chicago and New York: Lewis Publishing, 1914.
Kane, Joseph Nathan. American Counties: Origins of Names, Dates of Creation and Organization, Area, Population, Historical Data, and Published Sources. 3d ed. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1972.
Kellogg, Louise Phelps. British Regime in Wisconsin and the Northwest. Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1935.
Kellogg, Louise Phelps. "Disputed Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary." Wisconsin Magazine of History 1 (1918): 304–307.
Kellogg, Louise Phelps. "Organization, Boundaries, and Names of Wisconsin Counties." Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin 57 (1910): 184–231.
Kessinger, Lawrence. History of Buffalo County, Wisconsin. Alma, Wis., 1888.
Lainhart, Ann S. State Census Records. [Baltimore]: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1992.
Lapham, Increase A. Wisconsin: A Sectional Map with the Most Recent Surveys. Milwaukee, 1849.
Larzelere, Claude S. "Boundaries of Michigan." Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, Historical Collections 30 (1903–1904): 1–27.
Lawson, Publius V., ed. History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Its Cities, Towns, Resources, People. 2 vols. Chicago: C. F. Cooper, 1908.
Lea, Albert M. "Iowa District of Wisconsin Territory." Annals of Iowa 36 (1962): 281–295. An excerpt from a work originally published in 1836.
Long, John H., ed. Historical Atlas and Chronology of County Boundaries, 1788–1980. 5 vols. Boston: G. K. Hall, 1984.
MacDonald, Grace E., comp. Check-List of Session Laws. New York: H. W. Wilson Co., 1936. Complemented by Pollack (below), this guide lists all state session laws through 1935.
MacDonald, Grace E., comp. Check-List of Statutes of States of the United States of America, Including Revisions, Compilations, Digests, Codes and Indexes. Providence: Oxford Press, 1937. The most complete guide to state codes through 1937.
McKenna, Maurice, ed. Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin: Past and Present. 2 vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke, 1912.
Martin, Lawrence. "Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary Case in the Supreme Court of the United States, 1923–26." Annals of the Association of American Geographers 20 (1930):105–163.
Martin, Lawrence. "Second Wisconsin-Michigan Boundary Case in the Supreme Court of the United States, 1932–1936." Annals of the Association of American Geographers 28 (1938): 77–126.
Michigan Territory. Laws of the Territory of Michigan. 4 vols. Lansing, Mich., 1871–1884. Cited as Mich. Terr. Laws.
Miller, George J. "Establishment of Michigan's Boundaries: A Study in Historical Geography." American Geographical Society Bulletin 43 (1911): 339–351.
Milwaukee Sentinel. 9 April 1846. This newspaper reported results of the referendum creating Waukesha County.
Moore, John Bassett. History and Digest of the International Arbitrations to Which the United States Has Been a Party, Together with Appendices Containing the Treaties Relating to Such Arbitrations, and Historical and Legal Notes on Other International Arbitrations Ancient and Modern, and On the Domestic Commissions of the United States for the Adjustment of International Claims. 6 vols. Washington, D.C., 1898.
Nicollet, Joseph N. "Hydrographical Basin of the Upper Mississippi River from Astronomical and Barometrical Observations, Surveys, and Information." 1842 [map]. Reduced and compiled by W. H. Emory. 1843. Report Intended to Illustrate a Map of the Hydrographical Basin of the Upper Mississippi River by I. [sic] N. Nicollet, facing 6. House of Representatives, 28th Congress, 2d session, 1844–1845, House Document 52. Serial 464.
Nicollet, Joseph N. "Nicollet Boundaries." Palimpsest 9 (1928): 170–175.
"Northern Boundary of Illinois Surveyed by Hiram Rountree." Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society 13 (1920): 234–237.
Parry, Clive. Consolidated Treaty Series. 231 vols. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, 1969–1981.
Paullin, Charles O. Atlas of the Historical Geography of the United States. Edited by John K. Wright. Washington, D.C., and New York: Carnegie Institution of Washington and American Geographical Society of New York, 1932. Excellent section on international and interstate boundary disputes.
Pence, George, and Nellie C. Armstrong. Indiana Boundaries: Territory, State, and County. Indiana Historical Collections, vol. 19. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Bureau, 1933.
Pollack, Ervin H., comp. Supplement with Bibliographical Notes, Emendations, and Additions to the Check List of Session Laws, Compiled by Grace E. MacDonald. Preliminary ed. Boston: National Association of State Libraries, 1941. Fills gaps in MacDonald's 1935 compilation (above) to produce the most complete list of state session laws through 1935.
Rabenhorst, Thomas D., and Carville V. Earle, eds. Historical U.S. County Outline Map Collection, 1840–1980. Baltimore: Department of Geography, University of Maryland (Baltimore County), 1984. A portfolio of redrawn federal maps; no supporting text or documentation.
Radebaugh, William. Boundary Dispute Between Illinois and Wisconsin: An Address Read Before the Chicago Historical Society at a Special Meeting Held May 19, 1904. Chicago: Chicago Historical Society, [1904].
Robinson, Morgan Poitiaux. Virginia Counties: Those Resulting from Legislation. Bulletin of the Virginia State Library, vol. 9. Richmond: Superintendent of Public Printing, 1916.
Rohrbough, Malcolm J. Land Office Business: Settlement and Administration of American Public Lands, 1789–1837. New York: Oxford University Press, 1968.
Ross, Hamilton Nelson. La Pointe—Village Outpost. Ann Arbor, Mich.: Edwards Brothers, 1960.
Royce, Charles C., comp. "Indian Land Cessions in the United States." Part 2 of Eighteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology, 1896–1897. Washington, D.C., 1899. The standard authority in its field; state maps detail all Indian land-cession treaties with the federal government.
Sanford, Albert H. "State Sovereignty in Wisconsin." Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1891, pp. 175–195. Washington, D.C., 1892.
Sawyer, Meredith P. "Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary Dispute." Michigan History Magazine 11 (1927): 381–386.
Schafer, Joseph. "Editorial Comment: State Boundaries in the Old Northwest." Wisconsin Magazine of History 21 (1938): 337–355.
Sealock, Richard B., Margaret M. Sealock, and Margaret S. Powell. Bibliography of Place-Name Literature: United States and Canada. 3d ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 1982.
Sinko, Peggy Tuck. Guide to Local and Family History at the Newberry Library. Salt Lake City: Ancestry Publishing, 1987.
Smith, Abram D., comp. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of the State of Wisconsin. Revised and annotated by William F. Vilas and Edwin E. Bryant. Vol. 6 (1857–1858). Chicago, 1872.
Smith, Alice E. From Exploration to Statehood. Vol. 1 of History of Wisconsin, edited by William Fletcher Thompson. Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1973.
Sosin, Jack M. Whitehall and the Wilderness: The Middle West in British Colonial Policy, 1760–1775. Lincoln, Neb.: University of Nebraska Press, 1961.
Soule, Annah May. "Southern and Western Boundaries of Michigan." Publications of the Michigan Political Science Association 2 (1896): 29–81. Also in Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, Historical Collections 27 (1897): 346–390.
Stephenson, Richard W., comp. Land Ownership Maps: A Checklist of Nineteenth Century United States County Maps in the Library of Congress. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1967. Most of the maps listed here have been reproduced on microfiche by the Library of Congress.
Swart, Hannah. Koshkonong Country: A History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Fort Atkinson, Wis.: W. D. Hoard & Sons, 1975.
Swindler, William F., ed. Sources and Documents of United States Constitutions. 10 vols. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, 1973–1979. The most complete and up-to-date compilation for the states.
Territorial Papers of the United States. Vols. 1–26 edited by Clarence E. Carter; vols. 27–28 edited by John P. Bloom. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1934–1975. Cited as Terr. Papers U.S.
Thorndale, William, and William Dollarhide. Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790–1920. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1987. An atlas of well-designed county outline maps for each state, accompanied by a bibliography and an explanation of methodology.
Thwaites, Reuben Gold. "Boundaries of Wisconsin." Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin 11 (1888): 451–501.
Thwaites, Reuben Gold. "[Wisconsin] Territorial Census for 1836." Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin 13 (1895): 247–270.
United States. Statutes at Large of the United States of America, 1789–1873. 17 vols. Boston: Little, Brown, 1845–1874. Cited as U.S. Stat.
U.S. Census Bureau. “Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–
Present.” http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html.
U.S. Continental Congress. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789. Edited by Worthington C. Ford, et al. 34 vols. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1904–1937.
Van Zandt, Franklin K. Boundaries of the United States and the Several States. Geological Survey Professional Paper 909. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1976. The standard compilation for its subject.
Vinton, Samuel F., and James Duane Doty. "North-eastern Boundary of Wisconsin." Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin 4 (1857–1858): 351–357.
Wakefield, J. History of Waupaca County Wisconsin. Waupaca, Wis., 1890.
Walling, Henry F., comp. and ed. Atlas of the State of Wisconsin: Including Statistics and Descriptions of Its History, Educational Institutions, Geology, Railroads, Natural Resources and Manufacturing Interests. Boston and Detroit, 1876.
Wisconsin. Laws of Wisconsin. Madison, 1848–. Cited as Wis. Laws.
Wisconsin. Revised Statutes of the State of Wisconsin: Passed at the Annual Session of the Legislature Commencing Jan. 13, 1858, and Approved May 17, 1858; to Which Are Prefixed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Wisconsin; with an Appendix, Containing Certain Acts Required to be Published Therewith. Chicago, 1858. Cited as Wis. Rev. Stat.
Wisconsin. Revised Statutes of the State of Wisconsin: Passed at the Second Session of the Legislature, Commencing January 10, 1849; to Which Are Prefixed the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Wisconsin; with an Appendix, Containing Certain Acts Required to be Published Therewith. Southport [Kenosha], Wis., 1849. Cited as Wis. Rev. Stat.
Wisconsin in Three Centuries, 1634–1905: Narrative of Three Centuries in the Making of an American Commonwealth, Illustrated with Numerous Engravings of Historic Scenesand Landmarks, Portraits, and Facsimiles of Rare Prints, Documents, and Old Maps. 4 vols. New York: Century History Co., 1906. Often attributed to the editorship of Henry C. Campbell.
Wisconsin Territory. Laws of the Territory of Wisconsin. Belmont and Milwaukee, 1836–1848. Cited as Wis. Terr. Laws.
Wisconsin Territory. Statutes of the Territory of Wisconsin, Passed by the Legislative Assembly Thereof, at a Session Commencing in November 1838, and at an Adjourned Session Commencing in January, 1839. Albany, N.Y., 1839.
Wright, J. Leitch, Jr. Britain and the American Frontier, 1783–1815. Athens, Ga.: University of Georgia Press, 1975.
Zillier, Carl, ed. History of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin: Past and Present. 2 vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke, 1912.