Fountain City in Buffalo County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Fountain City
Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 5, 2011
1. Fountain City Marker
Inscription.
Fountain City. . Thomas A. Holmes (1804-1888) established the first permanent settlement in Buffalo County in 1839 at the present site of Fountain City. In the fall of that year Holmes and a party of twelve including his wife came up the Mississippi River to barter with the Indians and fur traders using goods he had obtained in Dubuque. He landed on these shores, built a cabin and spent the winter hunting, trading, and cutting cordwood which was sold in the spring as fuel to the passing steamboats. The settlement, which became known as Holmes' Landing, continued to grow and in 1854 the village was platted and the name was changed to Fountain City, which was inspired by the many springs found in the surrounding hills. Although Thomas Holmes remained in this area for only seven years, the enterprising pioneer spirit of this man and others like him founded a lasting community, which was chartered as a city in the year 1889.
Thomas A. Holmes (1804-1888) established the first permanent settlement in Buffalo County in 1839 at the present site of Fountain City. In the fall of that year Holmes and a party of twelve including his wife came up the Mississippi River to barter with the Indians and fur traders using goods he had obtained in Dubuque. He landed on these shores, built a cabin and spent the winter hunting, trading, and cutting cordwood which was sold in the spring as fuel to the passing steamboats. The settlement, which became known as Holmes' Landing, continued to grow and in 1854 the village was platted and the name was changed to Fountain City, which was inspired by the many springs found in the surrounding hills. Although Thomas Holmes remained in this area for only seven years, the enterprising pioneer spirit of this man and others like him founded a lasting community, which was chartered as a city in the year 1889.
Erected 1985.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1839.
Location. 44° 7.459′ N, 91° 42.587′ W. Marker is in Fountain City,
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Wisconsin, in Buffalo County. It is at the intersection of South Main Street (State Highway 35) and Fountain Street, on the right when traveling north on South Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fountain City WI 54629, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Western Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, in the Corn Belt, in the Driftless Area Bluff Country, and in the Great River Road Region. 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.
Also see . . . Fountain City, Wisconsin. Wikipedia entry. "The city is located on a bend in the Mississippi River, where the river flows right at the base of the bluffs on the east side of the valley. Because of this, at some points the city is only two houses wide; one on each side of Wisconsin Highway 35." (Submitted on June 7, 2011.)
Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 5, 2011
3. Fountain City Marker
Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 5, 2011
4. Nearby Bluffs
Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 5, 2011
5. Fountain City
Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,268 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 7, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
