Bringing Census Records to Life: An Interactive Historical Map of Stevens Point

The UWSP Archives, in collaboration with the UWSP GIS Center, unveils an innovative project, "Stevens Point Through the Years," that breathes life into historical census records through an interactive mapping experience. This project serves as a gateway to understanding immigration and settlement patterns in Stevens Point, WI, by transforming census data into a dynamic digital format.

From Census Schedules to Interactive Maps

The foundation of this project lies in converting original census schedules into a structured database with clearly defined parameters. By transcribing essential details from federal censuses of 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940, we can overlay this historical data onto modern street maps using geocoding procedures. The transcribed data includes:

• Last and first names

• Relation to head of household

• Street and house number

• Dwelling number

• Place of birth

• Father’s and mother’s place of birth

• Language spoken

• Trade or profession

This meticulous process makes it possible for researchers to explore census data like never before. Public users can now perform keyword searches for specific names or filter by criteria such as nationality, address, and profession. The results provide a vivid visualization of community trends, demographic shifts, and social patterns spanning five decades.

Revealing New Insights

The interactive maps enable users to observe unique historical insights, such as the clustering of immigrant communities around their places of worship. For example, one can now visualize where the congregants of the Polish Catholic church, the German Catholic church, and the local synagogue resided. Such details offer an enriched understanding of how cultural and religious affiliations influenced neighborhood structures.

Population Highlights by Census Year

The census records used in this project list the following population counts for Stevens Point:

• 1900: 9,275 individuals

• 1910: 8,692 individuals

• 1920: 11,225 individuals

• 1930: 12,298 individuals

• 1940: 15,777 individuals

Our team diligently worked to ensure the inclusion of all residents for each census year, creating a comprehensive and representative dataset.

Research and Community Engagement

This project is not just about numbers—it's about connecting people to their history. Researchers, genealogists, students, and local community members can now interact with census data on an unprecedented level of detail. By providing options to display specific data sets, such as household nationality or profession, users can uncover stories of migration, economic development, and neighborhood transformations across time.

Project Contributors

This ambitious undertaking was made possible by the dedication and expertise of several individuals:

• Dr. Toshiyuki Sano

• UW-Stevens Point Archives: Brad Casselberry, Miranda Solem, Mason Holz, Meghan Schimka

• UW-Stevens Point GIS Center: Prof. Douglas Miskowiak, Kali Eder, Cord Buckner, Jarita Bavido

• Alumni/Donor Contributions: Thomas Tews

We invite you to explore this groundbreaking tool and discover the rich, intricate history of Stevens Point’s communities through the lens of census records. This project exemplifies the power of archival preservation and GIS technology to bridge the past and present, creating opportunities for education, research, and cultural appreciation.

Presentation: Join our very own Brad Casselberry, University Archivist, and UWSP student, Jarita Bavido, at the GIS Day presentation, "Breathing Life into the Historical Census."