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1870 United States Federal Census

Original Images

This database contains images of original records.

Sample Forms
Download blank Census forms
You can fill out the form with information on your ancestor, or just use it to better read the column headings.

Handwriting Help
View a sampling of handwriting examples
The examples should help you read the text on the original images more easily.

Please choose a county in Wisconsin:

Adams Green Pierce
Ashland Green Lake Polk
Bayfield Iowa Portage
Brown Jackson Racine
Buffalo Jefferson Richland
Burnett Juneau Rock
Calumet Kenosha Sauk
Chippewa Kewaunee Shawano
Clark La Crosse Sheboygan
Columbia Lafayette St Croix
Crawford Manitowoc Trempealeau
Dane Marathon Vernon
Dodge Marquette Walworth
Door Milwaukee Washington
Douglas Monroe Waukesha
Dunn Oconto Waupaca
Eau Claire Outagamie Waushara
Fond du Lac Ozaukee Winnebago
Grant Pepin Wood

Census Records - Counties

After separating the census records into groups by state, the federal government subdivided these records into county groups. Searching for an ancestor on the county level provides a smaller region for research if you remain uncertain about the specific township where your ancestor resided. Researchers should also be aware of boundary line or jurisdictional changes through time. These changes may affect where an ancestor was enumerated on the census, so it remains important to search the counties surrounding the area where your ancestor lived.