Darlington, Wisconsin
| Darlington | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 Darlington
|
|
| Coordinates: 42°40′59″N 90°07′03″W / 42.68306°N 90.11750°WCoordinates: 42°40′59″N 90°07′03″W / 42.68306°N 90.11750°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Lafayette |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.34 sq mi (3.47 km2) |
| • Land | 1.34 sq mi (3.47 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 869 ft (265 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 2,451 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 2,439 |
| • Density | 1,829.1/sq mi (706.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 53530 |
| Area code(s) | 608 |
| FIPS code | 55-18875 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1563718 |
Darlington is a city in and the county seat of Lafayette County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 2,451 at the 2010 census. The city is surrounded by the Town of Darlington.
The first white man's residence within the city limits of Darlington was a log house owned by Jamison Hamilton in 1836. He laid out the village of Avon, or Centre, in 1847. Darlington was first organized in 1849, but was known for a long time as the town of Centre. The first town meeting was held on April 3, 1849, with 82 votes being cast.
The first store was built in 1848. Two more were started in 1851, a millinery shop run by Miss Graham and a store run by Mr. Driver. The first hardware store was opened in 1852 by the Willett Brothers, and the first drug store was opened by J. Collins and Dr. Blair, who was the first resident physician in the city. The first school was opened in the winter of 1850, with 15 students. The first religious services were held some time in 1851 in the barn of Jamison Hamilton. The Mineral Point Railroad reached the town in the fall of 1856, and the citizens were very pleased that their dream of expanding their "village" was finally coming true.
In 1857, the county seat was moved from Shullsburg to Darlington, and the courthouse was built using county funds (Other reports assert this county court house is the only one in Wisconsin, paid for with a charitable gift. The donor has been described as a successful mineral miner in the county.). The courthouse was also moved to Darlington in 1861, and in 1869 the town of Centre became known as Darlington. The name was changed because Joshua Darling purchased the land in 1850 with the help of J.M. Keep and J.B. Lynde. The survey of the original streets and blocks of the community took place in June 1850 by Josiah Richardson and H. H. Gray, assisted by an Indian named January.
The streets of the town were named after the wives of the planners and prominent men of the town, such as Minerva, Mary, Harriet, Lucy, Louisa, and Cornelia. "Minerva was the wife of James G. Knight, the first president of the village, and Mary was the wife of Josepheus Driver, one of the first businessmen of Darlington. Harriet was the wife of Hamilton Gray, and Lucy was the wife of William K. Jackman. Louisa was the wife of Isaah Stockwell, and Cornelia was the wife of James M. Keep, one of the original founders of the community." He also aided Joshua Darling in the purchase of the land.
...
Wikipedia