Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

The natural formation of the Dells was named by Early French explorers as {{lang|fr|dalles}}, a rapids or narrows on a river in {{Lang|fr|voyageur}} French.Goc (1999), p. 5 Wisconsin Dells is located on ancestral Ho-Chunk and Menominee land. The Ho-Chunk name for Wisconsin Dells is {{lang|win|Nįįš hakiisųc}}, meaning "rocks close together".{{Cite book| publisher = SUNY Press| isbn = 978-1-4384-3339-4| last1 = Helmbrecht| first1 = Johannes| last2 = Lehmann| first2 = Christian| title = Hocak Teaching Materials, Volume 1: Elements of Grammar/Learner's Dictionary| date = June 1, 2010| page=160}}

According to Indian agent Joseph Montfort Street, the Sauk leader Black Hawk sought refuge with Ho-Chunks near the Dells of the Wisconsin River at the end of the Black Hawk War of 1832 before surrendering to the United States,{{Cite journal| volume = 6| issue = 3| page = 112| last = Lawson| first = Publius V.| title = The Winnebago Tribe| journal = The Wisconsin Archeologist| date = 1907}}{{cite web |title=Early Tourism and Wisconsin Dells |url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS284 |publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society |access-date=July 21, 2022 |language=en |date=August 3, 2012}} but more recent research has argued that this was a mistranslation of the true location.{{Cite journal| issn = 0043-6534| volume = 71| issue = 3| pages = 162–183| last = Lurie| first = Nancy Oestreich| title = In Search of Chaetar: New Findings on Black Hawk's Surrender| journal = The Wisconsin Magazine of History| accessdate = November 4, 2013| date = April 1, 1988| url = http://www.jstor.org/stable/4636124| jstor = 4636124}}{{sfn|Hoelscher|2008|page=94}} The U.S. acquired the land in treaties with the Ho-Chunk nation in 1837 and with the Menominee in 1848,{{Cite book| publisher = University of Wisconsin Press| isbn = 0-299-15940-X| last = Wisconsin Cartographers' Guild| title = Wisconsin's past and present: a historical atlas| location = Madison, Wis| date = 1998| pages=6–9}} but Ho-Chunk people who resisted the U.S. policy of Indian removal continued to return to the area and eventually acquired small homesteads.{{sfn|Hoelscher|2008|pages=58-61}}

The city of Wisconsin Dells was founded in 1856 by the Wisconsin Hydraulic Company, a dam-building and real estate investment business. The town was originally named Kilbourn City for Byron Kilbourn, the president of the La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad Company, which was then preparing to build a railroad across the Wisconsin River to connect Milwaukee and La Crosse, Wisconsin.{{sfn|Butterfield|1880|page=809}} The railroad's route caused great local controversy. Boosters and speculators had anticipated the river crossing two miles downriver, where they had established the town of Newport, Wisconsin, and attracted around 1,500 residents by 1855.{{sfn|Jones|1914|page=396}} When the railroad instead completed a slightly more northern route in 1857, Newport rapidly turned into a ghost town as its residents relocated to the site of the railroad bridge, bringing many buildings and even a church from the earlier town to reassemble in Kilbourn City.{{sfn|Jones|1914|page=264,396-397}}

In 1859, lumbermen destroyed the Wisconsin Hydraulic Company's new dam at Kilbourn City because it blocked the flow of timber rafts down the river. This led the company's main creditor, Byron Kilbourn, to foreclose on its property and take ownership of most of the city's real estate.{{sfn|Butterfield|1880|pages=809,814}}

File:Wisconsin Dells, Memorial Day Weekend 2014.jpg]]

Kilbourn City quickly became a popular travel destination in the Midwest due to the scenery of the Dells of the Wisconsin River and the ready railroad access. In 1856, entrepreneur Leroy Gates began taking tourists on boat tours of the Wisconsin Dells and promoting the town to railroad travelers. These tours were given using wooden rowboats until 1873 when two excursion steamers, the Modocawanda and the Dell Queen launched.{{sfn|Hoelscher|1997|pages=428-429}} Gates also established a photography studio in the city, which he sold to photographer H. H. Bennett in 1865.{{sfn|Hoelscher|2008|page=36}} Over the following decades, Bennett took many photos of the sandstone formations in the dells, including stereoscopic views, as well as portraits of local Ho-Chunk people in Indian costume. Prints of Bennett's photographs were distributed across the United States and played a large role in promoting Kilbourn City as an exotic destination for sightseers.{{sfn|Temmer|2002|page=15}}{{sfn|Hoelscher|2008|pages=3-7,63-108}} The H. H. Bennett Studio is now a historic site operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://hhbennettstudio.wisconsinhistory.org/explore/#about_us |website=H.H. Bennett Studio |publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society |access-date=July 21, 2022}}

In 1909, the Kilbourn Dam was completed across the Wisconsin River to generate hydroelectricity, over the protests of people such as H. H. Bennett,{{sfn|Hoelscher|2008|pages=136,176}} separating the Dells into the Upper and Lower Dells.{{sfn|Hoelscher|1997|page=444}} It is now owned by Alliant Energy.{{cite news |last1=Newman |first1=Judy |title=AN OLD DAM STILL CHURNIAn Old Dam Still Churning And The 100-Year-Old Kilbourn Dam Does More Than Just Provide Electricity |url=https://madison.com/business/an-old-dam-still-churning-and-the-100-year-old-kilbourn-dam-does-more-than/article_60bc290f-d6b7-5a07-8c1c-ee9b1028d8e5.html |access-date=July 21, 2022 |work=madison.com |date=July 29, 2009 |language=en}}

In 1928 Mr. Clinton Berry established Berry's Dells airport. It occupied sixty acres and was designated on government maps as beacon No. 19. Berry built the airport to carry visitors to the Dells from the surrounding metropolitan areas.Airport at dells. (May 26, 1928). The Daily Northwestern, p. 13.

Kilbourn City shortened its name to "Kilbourn" in 1895 and then changed its name to Wisconsin Dells in 1931, identifying itself with the famous natural landscape of the Dells of the Wisconsin River.{{cite web |title=Wisconsin Dells History |url=https://www.dells.com/info/history/ |website=Wisconsin Dells |access-date=July 21, 2022}}{{cite web |title=Kilbourn City, Wis. |url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM12421 |website=Wisconsin Historical Society |access-date=July 21, 2022 |language=en |date=December 1, 2003}}

In 1952, a new traveling performance from Chicago called "Tommy Bartlett's Thrill Show" came to Lake Delton on its second stop. Following the show's huge success in the city, its owner, Tommy Bartlett, chose to keep the performance permanently in Wisconsin Dells. To promote the show, Bartlett gave away bumper stickers advertising his thrill show and the city, effectively spreading word about the area across the nation. That tourist attraction closed permanently in 2020.Sarah Hauer and Joe Taschler. "[https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2020/09/16/tommy-bartlett-show-wisconsin-dells-closing-permanently/5817069002/ Tommy Bartlett Show in Wisconsin Dells is closing permanently because of business losses]". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, September 16, 2020.

Soon more attractions followed to serve the ever-increasing tourists, along with many hotels, shops, and restaurants. Today, a large number of water parks are central to the local economy.{{cite news |last1=Mentzer |first1=Robert |title=Wisconsin Vacation Area Struggles To Survive During Pandemic |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/08/18/903433776/wisconsin-vacation-area-struggles-to-survive-during-pandemic |access-date=August 18, 2020 |work=NPR's Morning Edition |date=August 18, 2020}}

Lake Delton, Wisconsin Dells's sister city to the south, gradually became popular as the Dells attractions spread out. The Wonder Spot was founded in Lake Delton in 1952 and remained open until 2006.George Hesselberg. "[http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2007/01/12/news/z03spot.txt The Wonder Spot’ to disappear: Old-school Dells tourist attraction closing for good]". La Crosse Tribune. January 12, 2007. Retrieved on June 5, 2009.

File:Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.jpg on the Wisconsin River in the foreground]]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|8.18|sqmi|km2|2}}, of which {{convert|7.84|sqmi|km2|2}} is land and {{convert|0.34|sqmi|km2|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=2020 Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.2020.html |website=census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 21, 2022}} According to the Wisconsin Department of Administration,{{Cite web |url=http://www.doa.state.wi.us/docs_view2.asp?docid=2270 |title=Archived copy |access-date=March 4, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041231221604/http://www.doa.state.wi.us/docs_view2.asp?docid=2270 |archive-date=December 31, 2004 |url-status=dead }} on January 19, 2004, the city annexed land from the Town of Lyndon in Juneau County, thus expanding the city to include area in four counties. It is mostly located in Columbia County.

Wisconsin Dells has a humid continental climate.

On July 13, 1936, the temperature in Wisconsin Dells reached {{convert|114|°F}}, the highest ever recorded in the state of Wisconsin.{{cite web|title=Climatological Extremes for Wisconsin - Highest Temperature by Month|url=http://www.aos.wisc.edu/~sco/clim-history/state/wihitemp.html|publisher=Wisconsin State Climatology Office|access-date=August 26, 2013|date=April 8, 2010}}

{{Weather box

|location = Wisconsin Dells, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1922–present

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 63

|Feb record high F = 68

|Mar record high F = 84

|Apr record high F = 91

|May record high F = 104

|Jun record high F = 102

|Jul record high F = 114

|Aug record high F = 104

|Sep record high F = 101

|Oct record high F = 90

|Nov record high F = 81

|Dec record high F = 67

|Jan avg record high F = 46

|Feb avg record high F = 52

|Mar avg record high F = 66.6

|Apr avg record high F = 78.7

|May avg record high F = 86.4

|Jun avg record high F = 91.5

|Jul avg record high F = 92.7

|Aug avg record high F = 91.1

|Sep avg record high F = 88.3

|Oct avg record high F = 80.3

|Nov avg record high F = 64.5

|Dec avg record high F = 50.9

|year avg record high F = 94.9

|Jan high F = 26.4

|Feb high F = 31.4

|Mar high F = 43.3

|Apr high F = 56.8

|May high F = 69.4

|Jun high F = 78.9

|Jul high F = 82.5

|Aug high F = 80.5

|Sep high F = 73.1

|Oct high F = 59.6

|Nov high F = 44.3

|Dec high F = 31.9

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 17.2

|Feb mean F = 21.2

|Mar mean F = 32.5

|Apr mean F = 45

|May mean F = 57.3

|Jun mean F = 67.2

|Jul mean F = 71

|Aug mean F = 68.9

|Sep mean F = 60.9

|Oct mean F = 48.2

|Nov mean F = 35.1

|Dec mean F = 23.5

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 8

|Feb low F = 10.9

|Mar low F = 21.8

|Apr low F = 33.2

|May low F = 45.2

|Jun low F = 55.6

|Jul low F = 59.6

|Aug low F = 57.2

|Sep low F = 48.6

|Oct low F = 36.8

|Nov low F = 25.9

|Dec low F = 15.2

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -16.2

|Feb avg record low F = -11.4

|Mar avg record low F = -1.9

|Apr avg record low F = 18.1

|May avg record low F = 28.9

|Jun avg record low F = 40.1

|Jul avg record low F = 47.1

|Aug avg record low F = 44.5

|Sep avg record low F = 33.1

|Oct avg record low F = 21.7

|Nov avg record low F = 8.2

|Dec avg record low F = -7.4

|year avg record low F = -20.5

|Jan record low F = -43

|Feb record low F = -38

|Mar record low F = -29

|Apr record low F = 0

|May record low F = 21

|Jun record low F = 31

|Jul record low F = 41

|Aug record low F = 32

|Sep record low F = 24

|Oct record low F = -2

|Nov record low F = -11

|Dec record low F = -27

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 1.32

|Feb precipitation inch = 1.38

|Mar precipitation inch = 2.28

|Apr precipitation inch = 4.08

|May precipitation inch = 4.38

|Jun precipitation inch = 5.11

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.04

|Aug precipitation inch = 4.22

|Sep precipitation inch = 3.84

|Oct precipitation inch = 2.82

|Nov precipitation inch = 2.23

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.77

|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 7.3

|Feb precipitation days = 6.7

|Mar precipitation days = 8

|Apr precipitation days = 10.8

|May precipitation days = 12

|Jun precipitation days = 11.2

|Jul precipitation days = 9.4

|Aug precipitation days = 9.5

|Sep precipitation days = 9.4

|Oct precipitation days = 9.8

|Nov precipitation days = 8.1

|Dec precipitation days = 9

|Jan snow inch = 11.5

|Feb snow inch = 10.2

|Mar snow inch = 5.9

|Apr snow inch = 2

|May snow inch = 0

|Jun snow inch = 0

|Jul snow inch = 0

|Aug snow inch = 0

|Sep snow inch = 0

|Oct snow inch = 0.4

|Nov snow inch = 2

|Dec snow inch = 8.7

|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 6.6

|Feb snow days = 5.8

|Mar snow days = 3.1

|Apr snow days = 1.2

|May snow days = 0

|Jun snow days = 0

|Jul snow days = 0

|Aug snow days = 0

|Sep snow days = 0

|Oct snow days = 0.2

|Nov snow days = 1.8

|Dec snow days = 5.7

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00479319&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Wisconsin Dells, WI

|access-date = May 10, 2023

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=mkx

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Milwaukee

|access-date = May 10, 2023

}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1870= 1114

|1880= 945

|1890= 961

|1900= 1134

|1910= 1170

|1920= 1206

|1930= 1489

|1940= 1762

|1950= 1957

|1960= 2105

|1970= 2401

|1980= 2521

|1990= 2393

|2000= 2418

|2010= 2678

|2020= 2942

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

Because it straddles multiple counties, Wisconsin Dells is part of several core-based statistical areas (CBSAs). The Columbia County portion of the city is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Sauk County portion is part of the Baraboo Micropolitan Statistical Area. The Adams and Juneau county portions are not part of any metropolitan or micropolitan area.

As of the census of 2020,{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Wisconsin Dells city, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US5588150&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 21, 2022}} the population was 2,942. The population density was {{convert|375.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,512 housing units at an average density of {{convert|192.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 85.2% White, 2.9% Black or African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 5.6% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 12.4% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2020 total population of 2,942, the population by county was:

• Adams County: 105
• Columbia County: 2449
• Juneau County: 4
• Sauk County: 384

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 18, 2012}} of 2010, there were 2,678 people, 1,148 households, and 659 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|363.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,485 housing units at an average density of {{convert|201.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.5% White, 0.7% African American, 1.8% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.3% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.4% of the population.

There were 1,148 households, of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.6% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.87.

The median age in the city was 40.3 years. 20.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.4% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

Of the 2010 total population of 2,678, the population by county was:

• Adams County: 61
• Columbia County: 2,440
• Juneau County: 2
• Sauk County: 175

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,418 people, 1,019 households, and 609 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|583.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 1,178 housing units at an average density of {{convert|284.1|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.56% White, 0.37% African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.7% of the population.

There were 1,019 households, out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,699, and the median income for a family was $46,304. Males had a median income of $29,830 versus $22,553 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,447. About 4.0% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 3% of those age 65 or over.

{{multiple image

| direction = vertical

| total_width = 230

| image1 = Wisconsin Dells boat tour.jpg

| caption1 = Amphibious DUKW vehicle in Wisconsin Dells

| image2 = PoseidonsRageSurfPoolMt.OlympusWater&ThemePark.jpg

| caption2 = Poseidons Rage surf pool at Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park

| image3 = Wisconsin_Dells_-_Top_Secret.jpg

| caption3 = "Top Secret", an upside-down White House

}}

Tourism is the major contributor to the economy of Wisconsin Dells. The Dells area has many indoor and outdoor waterparks, proclaiming itself the "Waterpark Capital of the World". Other attractions include boat tours, zip-lining, golf courses, mini golf, go-kart tracks, water sports, horseback riding, a water ski show known as the Tommy Bartlett's Thrill Show (now closed), museums, amusement parks, Wizard Quest,{{cite web | last = Gittings | first = John | title = Evers presents $3.5 million Elm Street grant in Wisconsin Dells | publisher = WISC News | date = February 4, 2022 | url = https://wiscnews.com/community/baraboonewsrepublic/watch-now-evers-presents-3-5-million-elm-street-grant-in-wisconsin-dells/article_3e2bcfc4-0301-58ce-96e8-032f16677a40.html | access-date = June 19, 2023}} and a casino.{{cite web|title=Wisconsin Dells Attractions|url=http://www.dells.com/attractions.html|publisher=Wisconsin Dells Tourism Authority|access-date=July 18, 2013}} Most attractions are located on the Strip, otherwise known as the Wisconsin Dells Parkway. Accommodations range from economical motels to RV parks to chain hotels to themed resorts featuring indoor and outdoor waterparks and other amenities.

Amphibious DUKW vehicles called "ducks" began offering duck tours to tourists in Wisconsin Dells in 1946. The tours visit wilderness trails and enter nearby Lake Delton and the Wisconsin River. One company, Original Wisconsin Ducks, has more than 90 vehicles and is the largest operator of duck tours in the United States. Mayor Brian Landers stated, "Many of our own residents take duck rides. I've taken duck rides myself".{{cite web | last = Severson | first = Gordon | title = City Leaders Confident in Safety of Wisconsin Dells "Duck Rides" After Fatal Accident in Seattle | publisher = WKOW Television | date = October 12, 2015 | url = http://www.wkow.com/story/30127650/2015/09/Sunday/city-leaders-confident-in-safety-of-wisconsin-dells-duck-rides-after-fatal-accident-in-seattle | access-date = November 18, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161119182324/http://www.wkow.com/story/30127650/2015/09/Sunday/city-leaders-confident-in-safety-of-wisconsin-dells-duck-rides-after-fatal-accident-in-seattle | archive-date = November 19, 2016 | url-status = dead }}{{cite magazine | title = Original Wisconsin Ducks Celebrates 70 Years of Operation | magazine = Amusement Today | date = May 8, 2015 | url = http://amusementtoday.com/2015/05/original-wisconsin-ducks-celebrates-70-years-of-operation/}}

Since the late 1970s, the Dells area (Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton) has become a water park mecca. Noah's Ark Waterpark opened in Lake Delton in 1979 and has become the largest and the eighth most visited water park in the U.S.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} Other outdoor amusement and water parks followed, featuring water slides, mini golf, roller coasters, go-karts, and other attractions.

The Polynesian Resort Hotel opened the United States' and the Dells area's first indoor waterpark in 1994. Since then, the number of combination resort/indoor waterparks in the Wisconsin Dells area has swelled, with each new indoor waterpark trying to have the latest innovations in waterslides and to be able to claim the title of America's largest park.

The Big 5 Dells resorts with large indoor waterparks are the Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park, Wilderness Territory, Kalahari Resort, Chula Vista Resort, and Great Wolf Lodge. Other smaller hotels with waterparks include the Atlantis Resort. In 2005, Big Chief Karts and Coasters merged with the former Family Land Waterpark and Treasure Island Hotel to create Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park on the border of Lake Delton and Wisconsin Dells, with a resort called Hotel Rome, an indoor waterpark, outdoor waterpark, theme park, and the area's first indoor theme park.

The Tanger Outlet Center opened in 2006 near the Great Wolf Lodge, replacing the defunct Wisconsin Dells Greyhound Park, which opened in May 1990, but closed in 1996 due to heavy competition from the nearby Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells Bingo/Casino. Since Mt. Olympus opened the Parthenon Indoor Theme Park in 2006, two more indoor theme parks were constructed in the area: Knuckleheads outside the Tanger Complex in 2007, and Kalahari Resort in December 2008. New attractions being constructed include more indoor waterpark resorts, the Grand Cambrian Resort, and the Wedge Resort.

It is in the Wisconsin Dells School District, which operates Wisconsin Dells High School.

Wisconsin Dells is served by a local newspaper, Wisconsin Dells Events, and 2 local radio stations, WNNO and WDLS.{{cite web|title=Wisconsin Dells Media|url=http://www.dells.com/wisconsin-dells-services/wisconsin-dells-media.htm|publisher=Wisconsin Dells Tourism Authority|access-date=July 18, 2013}} The Wisconsin Dells Events is published by Capital Newspapers, which publishes multiple newspapers in south central Wisconsin.{{cite web|title=About Capital Newspapers|date=November 5, 2009 |url=http://host.madison.com/capital_newspapers/about-capital-newspapers/article_c3c761e0-ca23-11de-afdf-001cc4c002e0.html|publisher=Capital Newspapers|access-date=July 18, 2013}} WNNO-FM broadcasts at 106.9 MHz and covers an area 20 miles in radius centered on Wisconsin Dells.{{cite web|title=Mix 106.9 WNNO-FM - Station Info|url=http://www.mix106wnno.com/modules/web/index.php/id/360|publisher=Mix 106.9 WNNO-FM|access-date=July 18, 2013}} WDLS broadcasts on 900 AM.

File:Empire Builder Wisconsin Dells Station.jpg]]

Greyhound Lines provides intrastate and interstate bus service to Wisconsin Dells{{cite web|title=Greyhound - Wisconsin Dells, WI|url=http://www.greyhound.com/en/locations/terminal.aspx?city=502260|publisher=Greyhound Lines, Inc.|access-date=July 19, 2013}} on its Chicago - Milwaukee - Madison - Minneapolis route.{{cite web|title=Chicago - Milwaukee - Madison - Minneapolis: Table 304|url=http://extranet.greyhound.com/revsup/schedules2/pdf/304.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813222944/http://extranet.greyhound.com/revsup/schedules2/pdf/304.pdf |archive-date=August 13, 2014 |url-status=live|publisher=Greyhound Lines, Inc.|access-date=July 19, 2013|date=June 19, 2013}}

The Empire Builder and Borealis, operated by Amtrak, provide daily rail service from the Wisconsin Dells Amtrak station.{{cite web|title=Amtrak - Empire Builder Train|url=http://www.amtrak.com/empire-builder-train|publisher=National Railroad Passenger Corporation|access-date=July 19, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Amtrak - Stations - Wisconsin Dells, WI (WDL)|url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=am/am2Station/Station_Page&code=WDL|publisher=National Railroad Passenger Corporation|access-date=July 19, 2013}} The station was built in the 1980s in the style of the original station. Freight railroad service is provided by the Canadian Pacific Railway under the Soo Line Railroad umbrella.

{{div col}}

• Belle Boyd, Confederate spy{{cite web|url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=9119&keyword=boyd |title=Belle Boyd|publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society |access-date=September 15, 2013}}
• Lynn N. Coapman, Wisconsin state representative'Coapman Services,' Wisconsin State Journal, March 9, 1943, pg. 14
• Jack Flannery, CORR and SODA driver
• Thomas Gillespie, Wisconsin state representative
• Michael Griffin, U.S. representative
• Alanson Holly, Wisconsin state representative and newspaper editor
• Frank Kreyer, NASCAR driver
• G. M. Marshall, Wisconsin state representative
• Jack B. Olson, lieutenant governor of Wisconsin, businessman, and U.S. diplomat
• James H. Quinn, Minnesota Supreme Court justice[http://mn.gov/lawlib/judgebio.html#quinn Minnesota State Law Library-James H. Quinn] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105045051/http://mn.gov/lawlib/judgebio.html |date=January 5, 2014 }}
• Robert Schulz, jazz cornetist
• Yellow Thunder, Ho-Chunk chiefJoan Jensen, Calling this Place Home: Women on the Wisconsin Frontier, 1850-1925 p. 33

{{div col end}}

Wisconsin Dells has one sister city.

• {{Flagicon|Japan}} Iwaizumi-Cho (Japan) since 1990{{cite news|last=Krejci|first=Anna|title=Dells-Iwaizumi mark 20 years of sister city relations|url=http://www.wiscnews.com/lifestyles/announcements/article_5fda8140-de17-11df-b44c-001cc4c03286.html|access-date=July 20, 2013|newspaper=Wisconsin Dells Events|date=October 22, 2010}}

File:Horace_A_J_Upham_House.jpg]]

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wisconsin

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last1=Butterfield |first1=Consul Willshire |title=The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement... |date=1880 |publisher=Western Historical Company |location=Chicago |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofcolumbi00butt}}
• {{cite book|last=Goc|first=Michael J.|title=The Dells: An Illustrated History of Wisconsin Dells|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=olMJAAAACAAJ|year=1999|publisher=Dells County Historical Society|isbn=978-0-938627-45-6}}
• {{cite book| publisher = University of Wisconsin Press| location=Madison| isbn = 978-0-585-08113-7| pages = 424–449| editor1 = Robert Clifford Ostergren| editor2=Thomas R. Vale| last = Hoelscher| first = Steven| title = Wisconsin Land and Life| chapter = A Pretty Strange Place: Nineteenth-Century Scenic Tourism in the Dells| date = 1997}}
• {{cite book |last1=Hoelscher |first1=Steven |title=Picturing Indians : photographic encounters and tourist fantasies in H. H. Bennett's Wisconsin Dells |date=2008 |publisher=University of Wisconsin Press |location=Madison |isbn=978-0-299-22600-8}}
• {{cite book |last1=Jones |first1=James Edwin |title=A history of Columbia County, Wisconsin : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests |date=1914 |publisher=Lewis Publishing Co. |location=Chicago |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofcolumbi00jone}}
• {{cite journal| last=Temmer| first=Jim |url=http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/49250| title=A Compelling Vision: H. H. Bennett and the Wisconsin Dells| journal=Wisconsin Magazine of History| volume=85| issue=4| date=2002| pages=12–19}}

{{refend}}

{{Commons category|Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin}}

{{wikivoyage|Wisconsin Dells}}

• {{Official website}}
• Sanborn fire insurance maps: [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/6414 1885] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/6417 1892] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/6407 1902] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/6411 1909]

{{Portal bar|North America|United States|Wisconsin|Cities}}

{{Adams County, Wisconsin}}

{{Columbia County, Wisconsin}}

{{Juneau County, Wisconsin}}

{{Sauk County, Wisconsin}}

{{Madison}}

{{WD WP Resorts}}

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Category:Cities in Adams County, Wisconsin

Category:Cities in Columbia County, Wisconsin

Category:Cities in Juneau County, Wisconsin

Category:Cities in Sauk County, Wisconsin

Category:Cities in Wisconsin

Category:Madison, Wisconsin, metropolitan statistical area

Category:Populated places established in 1857

Category:1857 establishments in Wisconsin