Villages of 1,000 may become cities
Wis. Stat. § 61.189
in effect(1) Whenever the resident population of any village exceeds 1,000 as shown by the last federal census or by a census provided for under sub. (3), the village may become a 4th class city, and the trustees of the village may at a regular meeting, by a two-thirds vote of the members thereof, by resolution, so determine. The resolution shall observe the requirements of s. 5.15 (1) and (2) for wards, and shall fix the number and boundary of the aldermanic districts into which the city shall be divided and fix the time for holding the first city election, which shall not be less than 20 days from the date of such resolution, shall designate a polling place for each ward, and shall provide for the appointment of initial inspectors of election in the manner provided in ss. 7.30 and 7.32.
(2) The election shall be noticed and conducted and the result canvassed and certified as in the case of regular village elections and the village clerk shall immediately file with the secretary of administration 4 copies of a certification certifying the fact of holding such election and the result thereof and a description of the legal boundaries of such village or proposed city and 4 certified copies of a plat thereof; and thereupon a certificate of incorporation shall be issued to such city by the secretary of administration. Two copies of the certification and plat shall be forwarded by the secretary of administration to the department of transportation and one copy to the department of revenue. Thereafter such city shall in all things be governed by the general city charter law. All debts, obligations and liabilities existing against such village at the time of such change shall continue and become like debts, obligations and liabilities against such city, and such city may carry out and complete all proceedings then pending for the issue of bonds for improvements therein.
(3) If the last federal census figures are not used the village trustees shall cause to be taken an accurate census of the resident population of the village on some day not more than 10 weeks previous to the time of the adoption of such resolution, exhibiting the name of every head of a family and the name of every person a resident in good faith on such day and the lot on which that person resides, which shall be verified by the affidavit of the person taking the same affixed thereto. The original of such census shall be filed in the office of the village clerk and a duly verified copy filed with the clerk of the circuit court of the county wherein such village is situated.
(4) Any village incorporated after August 12, 1959, may not become a city unless it meets the standards for incorporation in ss. 66.0205 and 66.0207.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/61.189Fetched: 10/7/2026