Territorial and State Roads
Between 1836 and 1848, over 240 territorial roads
were created under the authority of the Wisconsin
Territorial Legislature. Earlier roads may
have been constructed under the authority of the
Michigan Legislature. The 1836 Legislature specifically
directed that no territorial funds should be paid
for laying out, surveying, opening, or constructing
the territorial roads. Instead the expense
had to be assumed by individual towns or local and
private support. Many of the roads constructed
during this period branched off the already-constructed
military roads and ran from various settlements along
Lake Michigan to the Wisconsin River, as well as
to Mineral Point and the lead region in southwestern
Wisconsin.
Three territorial roads were constructed in 1836.
One linked Jane's Ferry (Janesville), Rockport, Centerville,
New Mexico (Monroe), and White Oak Springs with the
Illinois state line. A second connected Southport
(Kenosha) to Jane's Ferry. A heavily traveled
third route connected Milwaukee, Madison, and Blue
Mounds. More than 200 additional roads were constructed
during the next 12 years.
The territorial roads, along with the county roads
opened by local government units and communities,
created a road network clustered in the southeastern
portion of the state. Farmers relied on these
roads to travel into town. Those living and
working in the lead region relied on them to transport
minerals to Lake Michigan shipping centers. Occupants
of the less-settled areas of the state had to rely
on crude trails. During this period, only one
road traveled as far north as Oshkosh, and one road
traveled as far west as Muscoda.
Following statehood in 1848, roads authorized by
the Legislature were designated "State Roads." Commissioners
appointed by the Legislature were authorized to adopt
any part of previously established town, county,
or territorial roads as part of the newly designated
state road system. State roads were established
in the less-populated southwest and western portions
of the state, but only reached as far north as Danbury
in the west and Michigan's Upper Peninsula in the
east. Together with the previously constructed
territorial roads, state roads formed a comprehensive
road network across the southern half of the state.
Between 1848 and 1891, the Legislature enacted 560
separate laws pertaining to the chartering and opening
of "State
Roads." Responsibility and costs for road
care, however, were still delegated to local units
of government — a condition that was to last
until the early 20th century.
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