Portage County Historical Society

Natural History of Portage County, Wisconsin

We will provide as much historical map information as possible about the county.

How Wisconsin Was Surveyed

The methods used to survey land is largely unknown to the general public. But, the Wisconsin Public Land Survey Records: Original Field Notes and Plat Maps site offers a complete explanation of this method as well as access to the original field notes and maps compiled by the surveyors.

Maps

This section has links to our maps as well as external links to free printable map providers.

• Map of Portage County (33k).
• Map of Wisconsin (285k).
• Map of Central Wisconsin (30k).
• Map of Townships (7k).

A Portage County Plat Book for 1895 has been photographed using a digital camera.

The following maps are from "Page-Size Maps of Wisconsin" published by: University of Wisconsin - Extension and Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, 3817 Mineral Point Road, Madison WI., 53705-5100.

• Bedrock Geology of Wisconsin (168k).
• Ice Age Deposits of Wisconsin (150k).
• Early Vegetation of Wisconsin (126k).
• Landforms of Wisconsin (109k).
• Soil Regions of Wisconsin (180k).

The following maps are in pdf format. Maps available from the Wisconsin Historical Society also.

• British Era fur trading posts 1760-1815.
• American Era fur trading posts 1815-1850.
• American Forts and Exploration ca 1820.
• Military Roads 1815-1862.
• Wisconsin counties 1835.
• Wisconsin counties 1850.
• Wisconsin counties 1870.
• Wisconsin counties 1901.
• Wisconsin Railroads 1865.
• Wisconsin Railroads 1873.
• Wisconsin Railroads 1936.

External Links

• From National Atlas, a government agency, are printable maps of all the states and more.
• This link is located in France and provides free printable maps covering all countries.

Portage County Ice Age Trail

The Portage County Ice Age Trail is part of the National Ice Age Trail system. This trail meanders through the county with many interesting landforms to observe.

• Map of the county trail.
• Ice Age Deposits of Wisconsin (150k).

Other Maps

Here is a list of all the Historical Makers in the State of Wisconsin. This blog has photos and geotags for all the markers in Wisconsin!