Mineral Point

History

The first European settlement at Mineral Point began in 1827. One of the first settlers to the area was Henry Dodge and his family who settled a few miles away from Mineral Point. During the following year, large quantities of galena, or lead ore, were discovered around the settlement in shallow deposits. Lead had many uses at the time, and settlers began to flock to the region hoping to make a living by extracting the easily accessible mineral. Lead deposits extended throughout an area that also included Dubuque, Iowa and Galena, Illinois, but Mineral Point became the center of lead mining operations within the bounds of present-day Wisconsin (then part of Michigan Territory). By 1829, the region's growing population led to the creation of Iowa County, which included all of the lead mining lands within the territory. Mineral Point was established as the county seat later that year. During the Black Hawk War of 1832, residents of Mineral Point built Fort Jackson to protect the town from a possible attack. The young settlement's importance was further confirmed in 1834 when it was selected as the site of one of two federal land offices responsible for distributing public land to settlers within the area that now encompasses Wisconsin. When the Wisconsin Territory was created in 1836, Mineral Point hosted the inauguration of the first territorial governor, Henry Dodge, and the territorial secretary, John S. Horner. During the ceremony, a design by Horner was officially recognized as the Great Seal of Wisconsin Territory. It displayed an arm holding a pickaxe over a pile of lead ore, demonstrating the importance of Mineral Point's early mining economy to the new territory. A census conducted in the months after the inauguration showed that Iowa County had 5,234…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. Mineral Point lies within the Driftless Area.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Dodgeville Elementary
  Elementary · Dodgeville · 383 students · 10.6:1 ratio
• Dodgeville High
  High · Dodgeville · 374 students · 12.9:1 ratio
• Mineral Point Elementary
  Elementary · Mineral Point · 354 students · 13.6:1 ratio
• Dodgeville Middle
  Middle · Dodgeville · 311 students · 12:1 ratio
• Mineral Point High
  High · Mineral Point · 245 students · 12.9:1 ratio
• Mineral Point Middle
  Middle · Mineral Point · 178 students · 14.8:1 ratio