Richland County History

In 1842, Richland County came into being. Wisconsin itself was a young state gaining statehood in 1848. Five years earlier, the county’s population had swelled to 232 and by 1850 it had 963 residents. In 1851, Richland Center was platted by Ira S. Haseltine. It covered 16 square blocks. With a past full of citizens like Frank Lloyd Wright and Ada James, and landmarks such as the A.D. German Warehouse, the Maple Side Footbridge across the Pine River and the first municipal auditorium in the state, Richland Center has an interesting history as well as many well-preserved 19th century buildings. The city’s central location in the county and its significance as the county’s commercial and cultural focal point make the community the ideal base from which to explore the Driftless Area and beautiful Richland County, including Spring Green, Mineral Point, Viroqua and Prairie du Chien. The downtown commercial district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.