Name changed from Kilbourn City February 12, 1895. The plat of the village was placed on record June 10, 1856, under the name Kilbourn City. Named for Hon. Byron Kilbourn of Milwaukee. In honor of Byron Kilbourn, a Wisconsin pioneer and capitalist. Kilbourne was correct "Though none of Milwaukee's historian's have spelled the name Kilbourne with the final e, Mrs. William Thorndike, granddaughter of Byron Kilbourne, said Thursday that the descendents have always spelled the name with the e. She explained that Byron Kilbourn became so tired of correcting those who dropped the e from his name that he finally dropped it himself.

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Kilbourn, Wisconsin

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[Source: P. 251-2 of Jones, History of Columbia County, Wisconsin.Milwaukee Journal, August 22, 1935.]