Iowa County, WI Real Estate

Iowa County, Wisconsin

Iowa County is located in the beautiful rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin. European settlers came to the area in the 1820s and began farming and mining activities.  Still home to many family farms today, the area now boasts famous tourist attractions and internationally known businesses.

Iowa County’s population is approximately 24,000 people. Major highways include U.S. highways 18 and 14, both of which take travelers to Madison, the state capitol; and Wisconsin highways 39, 23, 130, 80, and 133, among others, for travel throughout the remainder of the county.

Iowa County covers 768 square miles of which five square miles are water. The county is in the far southwestern corner of the state of Wisconsin.

Iowa County Living

Your dream home can be more than a house. It can include the area’s quality K-12 educational opportunities, recreational venues and a business. Look for single-family homes in Iowa County that have all of these and more to offer.

Iowa County homes are reasonably priced yet feature all the necessities home-owners expect today, including key-less entry, high tech security, and energy efficiency. The housing stock in Iowa County can meet every need and price range. Choose from low-maintenance homes to duplexes to condominiums for easy, carefree living. Talk to your Shorewest agent about places of business, new or established, as well as homes in which to raise a family.

A Brief History

Mining was a major activity in Iowa County in the late 1700s and early 1800s. With Iowa County’s lead mines providing 75% of our young nation’s lead needs, the mines were seemingly everywhere. While some mines were sophisticated industrial operations, others were simple holes in the ground or on hillsides. Independent miners just removed the lead that appeared on the surface or dug into the side of a hill, often living in the holes they dug. From their digging and living arrangements, people often referred to the miners as “badgers,” who seemed to imitate the actions of this industrious animal. This is why Wisconsin in known as “the badger state,” and from where the University of Wisconsin-Madison gets the name of its mascot “Bucky Badger.”

Miners also began extracting zinc, another important mineral for use in manufacturing, beginning around the time of the American Civil War.

Originally the area was part of the Michigan Territory’s Crawford County. When Wisconsin became a separate territory, Iowa County was born with Dodgeville, named for an early Wisconsin governor, becoming the county seat. The state’s oldest operating courthouse is in Dodgeville.

Fascinating Points of Interest

The center of mining activity in the early days was Mineral Point. This quaint village has hills and winding streets that remind one of a village in Europe. Cornish miners, originally from Cornwall, England, helped populate the area; but they also efficiently procured the valuable lead from the ground, because mining in Iowa County was similar to that in their homeland in England. A number of historical sites in Mineral Point have been restored. These include the Pendarvis State Historical Site, the Depot Museum and the Shake Rag Alley Living Arts Center, named after the wives of Cornish miners who would shake a rag at their mining husbands to let them know lunch was ready!

Other points of interest include the ghost towns of Mineralville, Dirty Hollow and Pendarvis. Dodgeville is the home of Lands’ End, an international clothing company. You can also explore Governor Dodge State Park, Tower Hill State Park and Blue Mound State Park, among the many state and county parks.

Taliesin, architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s home, school and office near Spring Green is open for tours. Participate in the annual Fall Art Tour and take in Shakespeare at the American Players Theatre, also near Spring Green. The House on the Rock, an unusual home and attached museum collection, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States.

The small towns and villages of the county offer a unique blend of art and history. Browse in the unique artists’ shops, antique stores, studios and galleries. Many artists live “on site” and create the pieces they sell, so interaction is often an enjoyable learning experience.

Plan to explore Iowa County, Wisconsin soon to experience for yourself the beauty, history, fun and opportunity it has to offer.