Beetown (community), Wisconsin explained

Official Name:Beetown, Wisconsin
Pushpin Map:Wisconsin#USA
Pushpin Label:Beetown
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Grant
Subdivision Type3:Town
Subdivision Name3:Beetown
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:810
Coordinates:42.795°N -90.8853°W
Area Code:608
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:1561503

Beetown is an unincorporated community in the town of Beetown, Grant County, Wisconsin, United States. Wisconsin Highway 81 passes through the community.

History

The settlement was first surveyed in 1847 or 1848. The community had become prosperous by 1850, boasting three hotels, but a combination of the Gold Rush and an outbreak of cholera nearly depopulated the community.[1]

The community got its name from settler Cyrus Alexander, who discovered a 425lb block of lead under a bee tree in 1827. He named his find bee lead, which eventually became Beetown's name as well.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Wisconsin Historical Society. Wisconsin Local History & Biography Articles; "Village of Beetown Legally Surveyed and Laid Off in 1848"; Wisconsin State Journal; Madison, Wisconsin; Aug. 15, 1926; viewed online at https://www.wisconsinhistory.org on Feb. 19, 2023. Internally inconsistent on year of survey and form of government.
  2. Book: Gard . Robert . The Romance of Wisconsin Place Names . 2015 . Wisconsin Historical Society Press . Madison, WI . 978-0-87020-707-5 . 25 . 2nd.