Explanation 1: Named after the Spanish word for lead, which was mined just previous to the Black Hawk War, during which time shanties and log houses were built. Explanation 2: Believed to be a corruption of the Native American name "Potosa," which is believed to have been the name of Julien Dubuque's wife. Explanation 3:  named in 1839, probably by miners from Potosi, Mo. since during the 1830s, many Missouri and Southern Illinois miners moved into Wisconsin's lead region; the original name, Potosí, was attached to a mountain in Bolivia and the word itself is said to mean "great thunderous noise," from potocsí, a word in the Quechuan or Aymarán language.

Learn More

Potosi, Wisconsin

See more images, essays, newspapers and records about Potosi, Wisconsin.

Dictionary of Wisconsin History

Explore more than 1,600 people, places and events in Wisconsin history.

[Source: 1: Capital Times, 10 Oct. 1941. 2: "What's in a Name?" Article in the place name file, from an unknown publisher. 3: (1) Wisconsin Magazine of History, 23 (1939-40): 44-57; (2) Hanke, Lewis. The Imperial City of Potosí (The Hague, 1956).]