Lafayette County, Wisconsin Records

Lafayette County, Wisconsin (Map It) was created on January 31, 1846 from Iowa County. The county was named in honor of Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette (1757-1834), a French general in the American Revolutionary War.Learn More About State of Wisconsin History

Lafayette County is bordered by Grant County (west), Iowa County (north), Green County (east), Stephenson County, Illinois (southeast), Jo Daviess County, Illinois (south).

Lafayette County Cities, Towns and Villiages include Darlington, Shullsburg, Argyle, Belmont, Benton, Blanchard, Darlington, Elk Grove, Fayette, Gratiot, Kendall, Lamont, Monticello, New Diggings, Seymour, Shullsburg, Wayne, White Oak Springs, Willow Springs, Wiota, Argyle, Belmont, Benton, Blanchardville, Gratiot, Hazel Green, South Wayne.

A Map of Lafayette County, Wisconsin contains detailed information about roads and boundaries, these maps may include rural communities, churches, and cemeteries.

Lafayette County, Wisconsin Courthouse Records

The Lafayette County Courthouse is located in Darlington, Wisconsin. Learn More About State of Wisconsin Court, Tax, Land and Probate Records.

The Clerk's Office DOES NOT DO RESEARCH. Most staff will assist people in finding the materials, but it is up to the individual to do the research.

It has been estimated that less than 50 percent of the vital records, for example, were prepared and submitted for permanent filing prior to 1907. Land deeds, probate, and court records generally begin in Wisconsin with the organization of the county. Prior to that date, check the County or Counties it was created from. Some counties formed from other counties transcribed their portion of property deeds to be kept with the new county deed records. Lafayette County was attached to Iowa County for county and judicial purposes from 1846–47. Some early records may be found there.

The following dates indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Lafayette county. The date listed for each record is usually the earliest registration filed. The date does not indicate that there are alot records for that year and does not mean that all such events were actually filed with the clerk.

• Lafayette County Register of Deeds has Birth Records from 1854, Marriage Records from 1847, Death Records from 1847 and Land Records from 1836. The purpose of the Register of Deeds is to provide official record keeping for Records or files land record documents authorized by law, such as deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, certified survey maps, plats and Federal Tax liens. Files and indexes Birth, Death and Marriage records, Military Discharges, and issues certified copies upon request.
• Lafayette County Register in Probate Office has Probate Records from 1847. The Probate Office has the responsibility to maintain and update files regarding probate of estates, guardianships, protective placements, adoptions and mental commitments. This is a statutory office with the position of Register in Probate filled by judicial appointment.
• Lafayette County Clerk of Court Office has Court Records from 1847. The Clerk of Court Office is required to maintain a record of all documents filed with the courts, keep a record of all court proceedings, and collect various fines and forfeitures ordered by the court and specified by statute.
• Lafayette County Treasurers Office collects all real estate taxes including postponed and delinquent, all county revenues in addition to the research and issue tax deed applications. Our department is the holder of tax records and assessed values.

Lafayette County, Wisconsin Census Records

• Learn More: State of Wisconsin Census Records
• U.S. Federal Population Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragmented), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940
• State Population Schedules: 1846, 1847, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905
• U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Agriculture Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Industry Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Union Veterans Schedules: 1890

Lafayette County, Wisconsin Vital Records

• Learn More: State of Wisconsin Vital Records
• Birth, Marriage,Divorce and Death Records: from October 1, 1907. State Office has scattered records earlier than 1857 and records before 1907, are very incomplete.
• Locations: Wisconsin Office of Vital Statistics, Wisconsin State Archives
• Vital Records Online: USAVital or Social Security Death Index
• Vital Records by Mail:  Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Applications.
• In Person:  Wisconsin Vital Records Office, 1 West Wilson Street, Room 160, Madison, WI 53703

Lafayette County, Wisconsin Resources

• Badger Historical Society, PO Box 186, Shullsburg, WI 53586; Phone: 608-965-3474
• Lafayette County Genealogical Society
• Lafayette County Historical Society
• Area Research Center - University of Wisconsin-Platteville
• Lafayette County, Wisconsin Message Boards

Lafayette County, Wisconsin External Links

• Wisconsin Historical Newspapers - Newspapers.com
• Historical Newspapers from Wisconsin (1837 - 1992)
• The Republican Farmer (Darlington, Wisconsin)
• Belmont Gazette (Belmont, Wisconsin)
• The Benton Advocate (Benton, Wisconsin)
• Lafayette County, Wisconsin Books - Amazon
• Lafayette Co., Wisconsin - FindaGrave
• Lafayette County, Wisconsin Links - Cyndi's List
• Lafayette Co. WIGenweb
• Lafayette County, Wisconsin Ancestry Database Collections
• Wisconsin Public Land Survey Records: Original Field Notes & Plat Maps for Lafayette County
• Lafayette County, Wisconsin Military Records