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Washington County WIGenWeb is a free genealogical site about the history of the county. We hope you find helpful clues for your research of Washington County ancestors.

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County Coordinator: YOU? Washington WIGenWeb is Available for Adoption.

Temporary County Coordinator: Rebecca Maloney

State Coordinator: Marcia Kuehl

Assistant State Coordinator: Rebecca Maloney

COUNTY FORMATION

Washington County, Wisconsin, was formed in 1836 from territory originally part of Milwaukee County (which covered much of SE Wisconsin), but disputes over the county seat led to its division in 1850, creating Ozaukee County, with West Bend becoming the seat for the remaining Washington County.

Key Formation Steps:
Initial Creation (1830s): The land that would become Washington County was first carved out of Milwaukee County by the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature, initially encompassing a larger area.
Boundary Disputes: As settlements grew (like Port Washington, Cedarburg, Grafton, and West Bend), conflicts arose over where the county seat should be located.
Division (1850): To resolve these disagreements, the area was split, with the eastern portion becoming Ozaukee County and the western portion remaining as Washington County.

County Seat Established: West Bend was designated as the county seat for the new Washington County.