Lancaster

History

Lancaster originated as a planned community to serve as the county seat for Grant County. Anticipating the county's establishment in 1836, Major Glendower M. Price, a Cassville merchant and land speculator, purchased the site of Lancaster for its central location in the county. Major Price platted the town on a compass-aligned grid in 1837, reserving a large central square for the new county government. He was persuaded to name the city Lancaster by a relative who migrated from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Maj. Price and Daniel Banfill contracted to construct the first county courthouse, which stood on the square from 1838–1851. A second courthouse was constructed in 1852–1853 and enlarged in 1865. The present, third courthouse was constructed on the site in 1902. Pleasant Ridge, one of the first African-American communities in Wisconsin, was founded just outside Lancaster by the Shepard family in 1849 and settled in the 1850s. Lancaster was the home of the first governor of Wisconsin, Nelson Dewey.

Geography

Lancaster is located at (42.848505, −90.710430). Lancaster is located in the unglaciated "Driftless Area" of southwestern Wisconsin, whose topography is strikingly different from that of the rest of the state. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Winskill Elementary
  Elementary · Lancaster · 472 students · 12.4:1 ratio
• Fennimore Elementary
  Elementary · Fennimore · 384 students · 12.4:1 ratio
• Lancaster High
  High · Lancaster · 287 students · 11.5:1 ratio
• Lancaster Middle
  Middle · Lancaster · 232 students · 16.6:1 ratio