Organized by the Territorial Legislature in February 1839, and named Jefferson County "on petition of Patrick Rogan, Peter Rogan, James Rogan, Judge Hyer and others who were from Jefferson County, New York."

Description from John W. Hunt's 1853 Wisconsin Gazetteer: "JEFFERSON, County, is bounded on the north by Dodge, east by Waukesha, south by Walworth and Rock, and west by Dane,. and is four townships square, containing 576 sections. It was set off December 7, 1836... The county seat is at the. village of Jefferson, opposite the forks of the Crawfish with Rock river, and near the centre of the county. Its streams are, Rock, Crawfish, and Bark river, and Johnson's, Scupernong, Whitewater, Waterloo, Duck, and Battle creek. The northeastern portion of the county is covered by the best growth of hard timber in the State, the southeast by prairie, and the remainder by openings. The surface of the western portion of the county is level or gently undulating. The excellent farming land, being well watered and timbered, together with its location and enterprizing inhabitants, entitle it to a position among the best counties in the State. ¿The population in 1838 was 468; 1840, 914; 1842, 1,638; 1846, 8,680; 1847, 11,464:; 1850, 15,339. Dwellings, 2,933; manufactories, 25; farms, 1,042."

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Jefferson County, Wisconsin

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[Source: Newspaper clipping in the card file at the WHS Library reference desk]