French phrase meaing "prairie of the dog."  Named for a Sauk Indian chief.  "Dog" refers to the gopher species of marmot.

Description from John W. Hunt's 1853 Wisconsin Gazetteer: "PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, P. V. & C. H., is situated on section 6, town 6 N., of range 6 W., upon an elevated prairie, averaging one mile in width, and is about 8 miles in length, extending from the mouth of the Wisconsin river, northward, along the bank of the Mississippi. It has one of the best landings on the river, is very healthy; and all who have visited the place concur in the opinion that its location gives it a commanding commercial importance."

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Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

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[Source: Wis. Motorist. Jan. 1914., p. 78; Milwaukee Sentinel, Sep. 6, 1948.]