|
|
 
Dodgeville is the County Seat of Iowa County and proud to have the oldest, active courthouse in the state of Wisconsin. Since 1830, the county seat had been in nearby Mineral Point. A political battle divided Iowa County in the mid-1800s and petitions were circulated demanding the relocation of county government to Dodgeville. Supporters of the move touted Dodgeville's advantage as the geographic center of the county. Dodgeville prevailed, a site was selected, and the cornerstone was laid in 1859. Local lore holds that several Mineral Point residents, upon learning that the county seat was moving, purchased a large cannon and fired on Dodgeville in the middle of the night.
The Iowa County courthouse, built of native limestone by skilled Cornish masons, is an outstanding example of a Greek Revival civic building. It is one of many handsome buildings downtown that date to the 1800s. In 1995, the downtown area was designated a National Historic District and, thanks to a renewed interest in historic preservation, many buildings have been restored.
|
|
|
