Vilas County was established on April 12, 1893 by the Wisconsin Legislature, created to separate it from Oneida County It was named after William Freeman Vilas, a Vermont native who represented Wisconsin in the United States Senate from 1891 to 1897 Before becoming Vilas County, the area was part of: Marathon County: Before January 1875 Lincoln County: 1875 to 1885 Oneida County: 1885 to 1893 The county courthouse is located at 330 Court Street, Eagle River, WI 54501