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Dodge County, Wisconsin

Dodge County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education

Etymology - Origin of County Name

Dodge County was named for Henry Dodge, first Territorial governor of Wisconsin (q.v.).

[Source: Kellogg, Louise Phelps. "Derivation of County Names" in Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin for 1909, pages 219-231.]

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

History

Description from John W. Hunt's 1853 Wisconsin Gazetteer: "DODGE, County, is bounded on the north by Marquette and Fond du Lac, on the east by Fond du Lac and Washington, on the south by Waukesha and Jefferson, and on the west by Dane and Columbia; and is 30 miles square. It was so named in honor of General [Henry] Dodge, first Governor of the territory, and was set off from Brown, December 7, 1836... It was fully organized Jan, 20, 1844. The seat of justice is at the village of Juneau, formerly known as Dodge Centre. The surface of the country, west of Rock river, is diversified with openings, prairie, and good hay marsh; and the soil being good, it is well adapted to the raising of wheat and the summer grains, and to grazing. East of the river it is timbered with a heavy growth of maple and other hard woods, and the soil produces the grain crop with equal advantage with the other side, while it is more naturally adapted to the growth of the cultivated grasses. Near the banks of Rock river are beds of iron ore, which are success fully worked. It is watered by the Crawfish, Rock and Beaver Dam rivers, and their tributaries. The population in 1838 was 18; 1840, 67; 1842, 149; 1846, 7,787; 1847,14,905; and 1850, 19,140. Dwellings, 3,561; farms, 2,338; manufactories, 30."

DODGE--Population 34, 054.
From: Handbook of Wisconsin by S. Silas, 1855
pg. 61-62

A beautiful, rich, and healthy County. It is one of the best for agricultural purposes, well watered, diversified in surface, being prairie, openings, and a moderate amount of timber, and is of easy access to market. It has sufficient water power for ordinary purposes. The La Crosse and Milwaukee Rail Road passes through it nearly east and west. This will be completed to Horicon in November, and to Beaver Dam early in the winter.

The Milwaukee and Horicon Road leaves the track of the La Crosse at Horicon, running north to Berlin on the Fox. It will be in running order to Waupun early in the winter, and in connection with that part of the Valley Road from Waupun to Fond du Lac, will give the latter place a Rail Road connection with the lake shore.

The immense deposit of iron ore at Iron Ridge is one of the most remarkable in the north west. It lies within a mile of the La Crosse Rail Road, and five miles from Horicon. A furnace has already been erected at Mayville, which is manufacturing it extensively into pig iron, and there is little doubt that bar iron of the first quality can be manufactured directly from the ore.

The village of Junean in the town of Fairfield is the county seat.

Beaver Dam, at the outlet of Beaver Dam lake, is the largest place, containing a population in village and town of 3,000. Its growth at present is more rapid that at any former period. Horicon and Fox Lake are both of vigorous growth. Two wards of the city of Watertown are in Dodge County--the other three in Jefferson.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 907 square miles (2,349 km²), of which, 882 square miles (2,285 km²) of it is land and 25 square miles (64 km²) of it (2.72%) is water.

Neighboring Counties:

• Fond du Lac County - northeast
• Washington County - east
• Waukesha County - southeast
• Jefferson County - south
• Dane County - southwest
• Columbia County - west
• Green Lake County - northwest

Cities and Towns:

County Resources:

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