AREA LINKS

WISCONSIN LINKS

NATIONAL LINKS

LINKS BY TOPIC

  
   Admirable locations were chosen for the village sites in the county; but the hand of nature, in designing the rivers and lakes, must share more of the credit than the hand of man. The famous rock river passes from north to south through the second tier of towns in the eastern portions of the county, winding its torturous way among the meadows and groves, watering the natural vegetation peculiar to that section, and furnishing the power for numerous mills. In the western half of the county, Fox Lake, Beaver Dam Lake, the Crawfish and Beaver Rivers, occupy parallel importance with Rock River and its tributaries in the eastern half.

 
Adapted from the 1901 U. S. Atlas

   In general, the surface is rolling, there being but a very small proportion of the entire section, if we except the marshes, which is not cultivatable. Perhaps one-half of the county was originally timbered; the other half openings or prairie.
   The soil is strong, rich and durable, and vast quantities of wheat and other small grains are produced each year. Fruits of the stronger varieties thrive and are abundant. Stock raising and dairying are extensive branches of  industry, and have increased greatly in late years. In agricultural wealth, Dodge is perhaps surpassed by no other county in the State, and in population, by only three or four. The German element is numerous, and about equals that of all other nationalities, predominating chiefly in the eastern portion. They are an industrious and saving people; law-abiding and lovers of good and honest government. The town of Ashippon is chiefly settled by Scandinavians, while the Irish may be said to predominate in the towns of Elba, Portland and Shields. A large proportion of the town of Calamus is Welsh. The Americans are most numerous in the central portion of the county. (The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880)