Our collection of Wisconsin maps includes many different historic and modern types of maps. Old maps of Wisconsin are effective sources of geographical information and useful for historical, genealogical and territorial research.

Copies of county plat books from about 1870 to 1900 can be found at the Wisconsin Historical Society. Some county plat maps can be photocopied, although microfilms of them are not available.

State Map of Wisconsin with the counties and the county seats
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State Map of Wisconsin with the counties and the county seats

The University of Wisconsin’s Arthur Robinson Map Library, Science Hall has aerial photographs of Wisconsin in its collection. The Stoughton quadrangle was the subject of an 1889 topographical map, which was the first Wisconsin topographical map printed.

There are more than 200 maps of Wisconsin created from 1867 to the close of World War I. The Wisconsin Historical Society can point researchers to where they are held. They show excellent details about villages and towns in Wisconsin at the times when they were created.

The American Geographical and Statistical Society’s map collection can be found in Milwaukee. It is part of the University of Wisconsin’s Golda Meir Library’s collection.

The collection includes thousands of gazetteers, maps, photographs and bound books covering locations all over the world, including Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Historical Society’s earliest Wisconsin Sanborn map on file is from the year of 1883. However, an earlier one was created in 1879 for LaCrosse and still exists today.

The Wisconsin territory initially included all of the present day states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa , as well as parts of North Dakota and South Dakota.

Old Historical Atlas Maps of Wisconsin

This Historical Wisconsin Map Collection are from original copies. Most historical maps of Wisconsin were published in atlases and spans over 175 years of growth for the state.

Some Wisconsin maps years have cities, railroads, P.O. locations, township outlines, and other features useful to the Wisconsin researcher.

1839 State Michigan & Part Of Wisconsin Territory, Exhibiting the Post Offices, Post Roads, Canals, Rail Roads, &c
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Burr’s 1839 State Michigan & Part Of Wisconsin Territory, Exhibiting the Post Offices, Post Roads, Canals, Rail Roads, &c

  • Map Date: 1839
  • Map Locations: Michigan, Wisconsin
  • Map Publication: The American Atlas
  • Map Type: National Atlas
  • Map Cartographer: David H. Burr (1803-1875)
1845 State Map of Wisconsin and Iowa
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Morse’s 1845 State Map of Wisconsin and Iowa

  • Map Date: 1845 (Entered 1844)
  • Map Locations: Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota
  • Map Publication: Morse’s North American atlas. Containing the following beautifully colored maps
  • Map Type: National Atlas
  • Map Cartographer: Sidney Edwards Morse (1794-1871 ) and Samuel Breese (1802-1873)
1845 State Map of Wisconsin
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Morse’s 1845 State Map of Wisconsin

  • Map Date: 1845 (Entered 1844)
  • Map Locations: Wisconsin
  • Map Publication: Morse’s North American atlas. Containing the following beautifully colored maps
  • Map Type: National Atlas
  • Map Cartographer: Sidney Edwards Morse (1794-1871 ) and Samuel Breese (1802-1873)

Colton’s 1856 State Map of Wisconsin with Vicinity of Milwaukee

  • Map Date: 1856 (Entered 1855)
  • Map Locations: Wisconsin, City of Milwaukee
  • Map Publication: Colton’s Atlas Of The World, Illustrating Physical And Political Geography.
  • Map Type: World Atlas
  • Map Cartographer: Joseph Hutchins Colton (1800-1893)

Colton’s 1865 State Map of Wisconsin with inset of Vicinity of Milwaukee

  • Map Date: 1865 (Entered 1863)
  • Map Locations: Wisconsin, City of Milwaukee
  • Map Publication: Colton’s General Atlas
  • Map Type: World Atlas
  • Map Cartographer: Joseph Hutchins Colton (1800-1893)
1866 Sketch of Public Surveys State Map of Wisconsin by the Department of Interior Land Office
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1866 Sketch of Public Surveys State Map of Wisconsin by the Department of Interior Land Office

  • Map Date: 1866
  • Map Locations: Wisconsin
  • Map Publication: Maps accompanying Report of the commissioner of the General Land Office.
  • Map Type: National Atlas
  • Map Cartographer: United States. General Land Office.
1880 State, County and Township Map of Wisconsin and Michigan
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Mitchell’s 1880 State, County and Township Map of Wisconsin and Michigan

  • Map Date: 1880 (Entered 1879)
  • Map Locations: Wisconsin , Michigan
  • Map Type: World Atlas
  • Map Cartographer: Samuel Augustus Mitchell Jr. (1827-1901)
1880 City Map of Milwaukee
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Mitchell’s 1880 City Map of Milwaukee

  • Map Date: 1880 (Entered 1879)
  • Map Locations: Wisconsin , City of Milwaukee
  • Map Type: World Atlas
  • Map Cartographer: Samuel Augustus Mitchell Jr. (1827-1901)

Map of Wisconsin County Formations 1790-1961

This Interactive Map of Wisconsin Counties show the historical boundaries, names, organization, and attachments of every county, extinct county and unsuccessful county proposal from the creation of the Wisconsin territory in 1790 to 1961.

Wisconsin County Maps of Road and Highway’s

The Wisconsin D.O.T. Highway Department has prepared a series of county road maps. These maps contain more detailed information about man-made features than the geological survey maps.

In addition to roads and boundaries, these maps include rural communities, churches, and cemeteries. These Wisconsin maps are Free to downloade are in PDF format.

External Wisconsin Map Resources

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