Near Belmont in Lafayette County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Belmont, Wisconsin Territory, 1836

Photographed by Gordon Govier, July 14, 2010

1. Belmont, Wisconsin Territory, 1836 Marker

Inscription. When Governor Henry Dodge addressed the joint session of the legislature here on October 25, 1836, the Territory of Wisconsin included all of present day Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and parts of the two Dakotas. The population was about equally divided east and west of the Mississippi. There was so much criticism of Governor Dodge's choice of Belmont as the Territorial Capital that he immediately offered to accept any location decided upon by the majority of the representatives. A bitter contest developed with the Dubuque and Burlington (Iowa) delegations finally joining the eastern Wisconsin group to move the capital for one year to Burlington and thence permanently to Madison. The briefly blooming village of Belmont quickly declined. When the railroad bypassed it by two miles to the southeast, many of the residents moved their buildings to the "new" Belmont.

Erected 1957 by Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 75.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Notable Buildings • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the

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Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 25, 1836.

Location. 42° 46.128′ N, 90° 21.709′ W. Marker is near Belmont, Wisconsin, in Lafayette County. It is at the intersection of County Route G and County Route B, on the right on County Route G. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Belmont WI 53510, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: 1998 Wisconsin Assembly (here, next to this marker); Governor Tommy G. Thompson's 1998 Address At Wisconsin's First Capitol (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Land, Lead, and Politics (about 400 feet away); The First Capitol (about 400 feet away); World's Largest M (approx. 2.3 miles

Belmont, Wisconsin Territorial Capitol Buildings image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gordon Govier, July 14, 2010

2. Belmont, Wisconsin Territorial Capitol Buildings

away); Platteville Armory (approx. 6 miles away); Platteville Started Here (approx. 6.2 miles away); First Congregational Church (approx. 6.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Belmont.

Belmont, Wisconsin Territorrial Capitol image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gordon Govier, July 22, 2010

3. Belmont, Wisconsin Territorrial Capitol

Capitol buildings lower left, Belmont Mound on right. (Looking east.)

Photographed by Gordon Govier, July 14, 2010

4. Belmont, Wisconsin Territorial Capitol Buildings

Belmont, Wisconsin Territorial Capitol Signage image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gordon Govier, July 14, 2010

5. Belmont, Wisconsin Territorial Capitol Signage

Photographed by Gordon Govier, July 14, 2010

6. Belmont, Wisconsin Territorial Capitol Signage

Belmont, Wisconsin Territoritorial Capitol Signage image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gordon Govier, July 14, 2010

7. Belmont, Wisconsin Territoritorial Capitol Signage

Photographed by Gordon Govier, July 14, 2010

8. Belmont, Wisconsin Territorial Capitol Signage

Capitol Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Robert L Weber, April 30, 2011

9. Capitol Building

Photographed by Robert L Weber, April 30, 2011

10. Capitol Building

Photographed by Greta Schassler, October 25, 2025

11. Belmont, Wisconsin Territory, 1836 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2010, by Gordon Govier of Fitchburg, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,266 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 16, 2010, by Gordon Govier of Fitchburg, Wisconsin. 3. submitted on July 23, 2010, by Gordon Govier of Fitchburg, Wisconsin. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on July 16, 2010, by Gordon Govier of Fitchburg, Wisconsin. 9, 10. submitted on May 8, 2011, by Bob (peach) Weber of Dewey, Arizona. 11. submitted on October 25, 2025, by Greta Mulder of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.