Milwaukee County
WIGenWeb
Milwaukee
County WIGenWeb is a free genealogical site about the history
of the county. We hope you find helpful clues for your research of
Milwaukee County ancestors.
Please consider contributing your pieces of Milwaukee county family history. Corrections, updates, and additions to this site are always welcome. Our combined efforts can make this a great site for all who visit!
County Coordinator: YOU? Milwaukee WIGenWeb is Available for Adoption.
Temporary County Coordinator: Rebecca Maloney
State Coordinator: Marcia Kuehl
Assistant State Coordinator: Rebecca Maloney
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, was formed from a vast original territory
established by the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature in 1836, encompassing much
of southeastern Wisconsin, with its boundaries gradually shrinking as new
counties were carved out, officially solidifying its present form as the core of
the region's development around Lake Michigan.
Key Stages in its
Formation:
Early Territory (1836): The Wisconsin Territorial
Legislature created a massive county named "Milwaukee," which included
present-day Milwaukee, Jefferson, Kenosha, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Walworth,
Washington, and Waukesha counties, plus parts of Dane, Columbia, and Dodge
counties.
Slicing Off New Counties: Over the next few
years, smaller counties were organized from this large chunk of land,
including Racine (1839), Walworth (1840), Washington (1842), and
Waukesha (1846).
Defining Milwaukee: As these counties separated,
the boundaries of Milwaukee County were refined, establishing it as the
central county along the western shore of Lake Michigan, home to the
burgeoning city of Milwaukee.
Significance:
Milwaukee County became the
most populous in Wisconsin due to its prime location and the growth of
the City of Milwaukee, serving as a major urban center.
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This page was last updated 01/13/2026