Madison Area History

Historical County Plat Maps from South Central Wisconsin and Early Madison City Directories

Local digital history is now available with the click of a button!

Find out more about the early years of South Central Wisconsin!

Historical County Plat Maps from South Central Wisconsin and Early Madison City Directories is a collaborative project completed by the University of Wisconsin Digital Collection Center and the Madison Public Library.

This digital collection of historic plat books and city directories provides accessibility to early information about South Central Wisconsin, specifically Columbia, Dane, Portage and Wood counties. A variety of the oldest plat books, atlases and city directories were chosen because of their frequent use and delicate condition. They are widely used by the public for local history and genealogy and even for those trying to find out why a street got its name. The historical plat books helps people to trace neighborhoods and streets from what was once farmland.

The early city directories of Madison provide helpful historical information on the early years of the state capitol in addition to helping those looking for information on specific people and businesses in the area in the 1800s and early 1900s. The directories provide an alphabetical list of citizens with their addresses and occupations, a classified business directory, lists of city and county officials, churches, schools, societies, streets and wards.

Browse the historical county plat maps and early Madison City Directories or search the full text.

See the online list.