Columbia County

Major communities include Portage, Columbus, Lodi, Poynette, Pardeeville, and Wisconsin Dells (partially). The Wisconsin River forms much of Columbia County's western boundary, and Columbia County features diverse geography including agricultural lands, the Baraboo Hills region, and numerous lakes. Devil's Lake State Park extends partially into Columbia County, making it a significant tourism destination.

Columbia County is known for its rich agricultural heritage, particularly dairy farming and corn production. Columbia County government offices are primarily located in Portage at Columbia County Courthouse, 400 DeWitt Street, Portage, WI 53901. Columbia County has a strong connection to Wisconsin's lumber and railroad history, with Portage acting as a critical transportation hub in the 19th century.

Today, Columbia County blends its agricultural roots with growing residential development, acting as a bedroom community for both Madison and the Wisconsin Dells tourism corridor.

Inmate lookup and current custody information can be obtained by calling the jail directly at or visiting the Sheriff's Office during business hours. The jail roster is periodically updated and includes booking information. Municipal police departments operating within Columbia County include the Portage Police Department (115 West Pleasant Street, Portage), Columbus Police Department (108 South Dickason Boulevard, Columbus), Lodi Police Department (130 South Main Street, Lodi), Poynette Police Department (109 South Main Street, Poynette), and the Wisconsin Dells Police Department which has partial jurisdiction in Columbia County.

Under Wisconsin Statutes §19.32-19.39, known as the Wisconsin Public Records Law, arrest records are generally considered public information. Mugshots and booking photos are typically considered public records in Wisconsin and can be requested through the same process, though some agencies may restrict release under certain circumstances involving juveniles or ongoing investigations. Columbia County does not have tribal police jurisdiction, as there are no federally recognized tribal lands within Columbia County boundaries.

The Circuit Court has broad jurisdiction over civil cases (including family law, probate, small claims, and civil litigation), criminal cases (felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic violations), juvenile matters, and appeals from municipal courts. The Clerk of Circuit Court maintains all court records and can be contacted at the courthouse. Wisconsin's Consolidated Court Automation Programs (CCAP) provides free online access to circuit court case records at wcca.wicourts.gov, where users can search by name, case number, or other criteria for cases filed in Columbia County.

This database includes criminal, civil, family, small claims, probate, and traffic cases, with records dating back several decades. Municipal courts in Portage, Columbus, Lodi, and other Columbia County municipalities handle local ordinance violations, traffic citations, and other municipal code enforcement matters. These municipal courts maintain their own records, typically accessible through the respective city clerk's offices.

Court records access in Wisconsin is governed by Wisconsin Statutes §§19.32-19.39 (public records law) and Supreme Court Rules Chapter 70, which establish that most court records are presumptively open to the public. Some records may be sealed or restricted by court order, particularly in sensitive family law or juvenile matters. Online CCAP access is free for case searches and viewing documents, though downloading or printing may have limitations depending on the document type.

The Register of Deeds records include warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, liens (including mechanic's liens, judgment liens, and tax liens), easements, plat maps, surveys, condominium declarations, and various other instruments affecting real property. Columbia County offers free online access to recorded documents and property information through a document search portal available on the Register of Deeds website, allowing users to search by name, document type, date range, or parcel number. Property tax records and assessment information are maintained by Columbia County Treasurer's office (608-742-9660) and the Municipal Assessor, both located at the courthouse.

Columbia County provides an online Geographic Information System (GIS) parcel viewer through its website, allowing users to view parcel boundaries, ownership information, assessed values, property characteristics, zoning, and aerial imagery. Property tax records include current and historical assessed values, tax levies, payment status, and legal descriptions. All property records in Wisconsin are public under state law, though certain protected information such as some personal identifiers may be redacted.

Marriage licenses must be obtained from Columbia County Clerk's office at the courthouse, 400 DeWitt Street, Portage, WI 53901 Both parties must appear in person to apply for a marriage license, which costs approximately $110 and is valid for 30 days from issuance. There is no waiting period in Wisconsin.

Marriage records and divorce records (final judgments) are public records and can be obtained through the Register of Deeds for marriages and through the Clerk of Circuit Court for divorce decrees. Online vital records ordering is available through the Wisconsin Vital Records website at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/vitalrecords or through approved third-party vendors, though convenience fees apply. Requestors must provide valid photo identification and proof of eligibility when requesting restricted vital records.

Expedited service is available for additional fees.

For full business entity searches, including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other formal business structures, the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions maintains the official state business registry accessible online at www.wdfi.org/apps/CorpSearch. Professional licenses for occupations such as cosmetology, real estate, nursing, and other regulated professions are issued by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, not at Columbia County level, and can be verified at dsps.wi.gov. Sales tax permits and seller's permits are issued through the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

Local business licenses and permits, including health permits, liquor licenses, and certain operational permits, are issued by individual municipalities within Columbia County, businesses should contact the city or village clerk where they operate. Columbia County Planning & Zoning Department, located at 112 East Edgewater Street, Portage, WI 53901 (phone 608-742-9654), handles zoning permits, conditional use permits, and land division approvals. Building permits are issued by either Columbia County (for unincorporated areas) or by municipal building inspection departments in incorporated communities.

Columbia County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) at www.columbiabusiness.com promotes business development and can provide information about starting or expanding businesses in Columbia County. The Portage Area Chamber of Commerce (www.portagewi.com) and Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce serve their respective communities with business networking and support services.

Voter registration in Columbia County can be completed online through the Wisconsin MyVote website at myvote.wi.gov, by mail, in person at the County Clerk's office, at any municipal clerk's office within Columbia County, or at the polls on Election Day. To find your polling place in Columbia County, voters can use the MyVote Wisconsin website at myvote.wi.gov by entering their address, or contact their municipal clerk. Columbia County has polling locations in each county, including Portage, Columbus, Lodi, Poynette, Pardeeville, and numerous towns.

Public election records in Columbia County include voter registration lists (with certain personal information restricted under Wisconsin Statutes §6.36), campaign finance reports filed by candidates and committees (available through the Wisconsin Ethics Commission at ethics.wi.gov for state candidates and through municipal clerks for local candidates), candidate nomination papers and declarations, and precinct-by-precinct election results. Columbia County Clerk publishes unofficial election results on election night and certified results following canvassing. The next major election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026, featuring U.S.

House of Representatives races, potentially a U.S. Senate seat, Wisconsin state constitutional offices including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer, Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly seats, county offices, and judicial positions. Absentee voting in Columbia County is available through several methods: voters can request an absentee ballot online at myvote.wi.gov, by mail, in person at their municipal clerk's office, or by visiting the County Clerk's office.

Absentee ballot requests must be received by the Thursday before Election Day for mail ballots, though in-person absentee voting is available at clerk offices up to the Sunday before Election Day (where offered) or during the two-week period preceding the election. Transparency in Columbia County elections is supported by Wisconsin's open records laws and election statutes (Wisconsin Statutes Chapters 5-12), which mandate public access to voter lists, election results broken down by ward and reporting unit, campaign finance disclosure reports, and ballot access petitions, making sure of citizens can verify and monitor the electoral process.

Major employers in Columbia County include Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage (a state prison employing several hundred staff), Divine Savior Healthcare in Portage (a regional medical center), Portage Community School District, Columbia County government, and various manufacturing firms. The tourism industry contributes significantly to Columbia County economy, particularly in areas adjacent to Wisconsin Dells, one of Wisconsin's premier tourist destinations. Columbia County's unemployment rate typically tracks close to or slightly below the state average, ranging between 2.5% and 4.5% in recent years depending on seasonal factors.

Key economic sectors by employment include agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting; manufacturing; retail trade; healthcare and social assistance; and educational services. The Wisconsin River and the recreational lakes within Columbia County support fishing, boating, and outdoor recreation businesses. Economic development initiatives focus on supporting existing businesses, attracting new manufacturing and distribution facilities, and capitalizing on Columbia County's strategic location between Madison and the Wisconsin Dells tourism corridor.

Columbia County Economic Development Corporation actively works to retain and expand businesses, with recent initiatives including broadband expansion to rural areas, workforce development partnerships with technical colleges, and downtown revitalization projects in Portage and Columbus. Columbia County has benefited from its proximity to the Madison metropolitan area, attracting some residential growth and commuter population. Industrial parks in Portage and Columbus offer sites for business expansion.