Term: Fort Atkinson [brief history]
Definition: Fort Atkinson is located along the Rock River in Jefferson County. The city is named for General Henry Atkinson (1782-1842), who built a temporary fort, Fort Koshkonong, here in 1832 during the Black Hawk War.
Dwight Foster became Fort Atkinson's first white settler when he selected the area for his home in 1836. The town saw significant growth throughout the mid-19th century with the arrival of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad and the growth of local industry, particularly the North Western Manufacturing Company.
Today, Fort Atkinson is home to more than 11,000 people. Notable attractions in town include the Hoard Historical Museum, Fireside Dinner Theater, and Aztalan State Park.
[Source: WHS Library-Archives staff, 2009]
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