River Falls Waterworks

River Falls Waterworks Municipal Water Report Info

History of Racine From a recorded location conveyed by Judge Charles E. Dyer at Burlington, Wis., Feb. 22, 1871

In 1832, only four white men resided in what is now Wisconsin, south of Green Bay and east of Rock River. They were French traders. That year, the Sac war erupted, bringing national attention to this region. The land title belonged to indigenous peoples. Through the 1833 treaty between the Pottawatomie and other tribes, all land in what's now southeastern Wisconsin was ceded to the United States, with indigenous groups retaining possession until 1836 while the government conducted surveys.

Captain Gilbert Knapp arrived at Root River's mouth in November 1834, and historical records suggest he was the first permanent American settler in the area now encompassing Racine, Walworth and Rock counties. Congress established the Wisconsin Territorial Government on April 20, 1836, separating it from Michigan. It included all present Wisconsin territory plus Minnesota, Iowa, and portions of Nebraska and Dakota.

The territory initially comprised six counties: Milwaukee, Brown, Dubuque, Iowa, Des Moines and Crawford. Under Governor Henry Dodge's proclamation, the first election for territorial representatives occurred on October's second Monday, 1836. Gilbert Knapp and Alanson Sweet were elected from Milwaukee county, with Knapp's election celebrated with festivities exceeding modern political celebrations.

The first Territorial legislature session was held in Belmont, Iowa county, on October 25, 1836. The territorial government seat was established in Madison on December 3, 1836, though sessions would be held in Burlington, Des Moines county until March 4, 1839.

Racine county was created on December 7, 1836, during the Belmont session, with the county seat located in Racine. The county then included its current territory plus present-day Kenosha county, with Walworth and Rock territories attached for judicial purposes. In January 1850, Racine county was divided, creating Kenosha county.