Rock County, Wisconsin
Alexander, John, Wheat Warehouse
Allen, Abram, House
Armory, The
Bartlett Memorial Historical Museum
Beloit Power Plant
Beloit Water Tower
Benton Avenue Historic District
Blodgett, Selvy, House
Bluff Street Historic District
Bostwick Avenue Historic District
Brasstown Cottage
Church of St. Thomas the Apostle
Citizens Bank
City of Beloit Waterworks and Pump Station
Clark-Brown House
Clinton Village Hall
Clinton Water Tower
Columbus Circle Historic District
Conrad Cottages Historic District
Cooksville Cheese Factory
Cooksville Historic District
Cooksville Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Cooksville Mill and Mill Pond Site
Cooper-Gillies House
Courier Building
Court Street Methodist Church
Courthouse Hill Historic District
Crist, J. W., House
Crosby Block
Crosby, James B., House
Culton, Charles L., House
De Jean House
Dean, Erastus, Farmstead
DeLong, Homer B., House
Dow, John T., House
Eager Free Public Library
Eager, Almeron, Funerary Monument and Plot
East Milwaukee Street Historic District
Edgerton Depot
Edgerton Post Office
Edgerton Public Grade Schools
Emerson Hall
Evansville Historic District
Evansville Standpipe
Fairbanks Flats
First Congregational Church
Footville Condensery
Footville State Bank
Fredendall Block
Fulton Congregational Church
Fulton Street Historic District
Gempeler Round Barn
Gifford House
Gilley-tofsland Octagonal Barn
Goodrich Blacksmith Shop
Goodrich, Ezra and Elizabeth, House
Goodrich-Buten House
Gray, William H. and Edith, Farmstead
Greenman, Reynolds and Lois, House
Grove Street Historic District
Hanchett Block
Haven-Crandall House
Hilton House Hotel
Hugunin, John and Martha, House
Janesville Cotton Mill
Janesville High School
Janesville Public Library
Janesville Pumping Station
Jefferson Avenue Historic District
Jones, John H., House
Jones, Samuel S., Cobblestone House
Lappin-Hayes Block
LaPrairie Grange Hall No. 79
Lathrop-Munn Cobblestone House
Leonard-Leota Park
Look West Historic District
Look West Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Lovejoy and Merrill-Nowlan Houses
Masonic Temple
McEwan, Peter, Warehouse
Merchant Row Historic District
Merrill Avenue Historic District
Miller House
Milton College Historic District
Milton House
Moran's Saloon
Murray-George House
Myers, Peter, Pork Packing Plant and Willard Coleman Building
Myers-Newhoff House
Near East Side Historic District
Neese, Elbert, House
North Main Street Historic District
North, Sterling, House
Nye, Clark, House
Old Fourth Ward Historic District
Orfordville Depot
Owen, John and Margaret, House
Owen, William J., Store
Pangborn, J. L., House
Parkview Historic District
Payne-Craig House
Pearsons Hall of Science
Pomeroy and Pelton Tobacco Warehouse
Porter, J. K., Farmstead
Prospect Hill Historic District
Randall, Brewster, House
Rasey House
Rau, Charles, House
Richardson Grout House
Richardson, Hamilton, House
Richardson-Brinkman Cobblestone House
Rindfleisch Building
Risum Round Barn
Robinson, John C. and Mary, Farmstead
Seventh Day Baptist Church
Shopiere Congregational Church
Slaymaker, Stephen, House
Smiley, Samuel, House
Smith, John, House
South First Street Residential Historic District
South Main Street Historic District
St. John's Lutheran Church
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Stark-Clint House
Stebbins, Harrison, House
Strang, Soloman J., House
Strong Building
Strong Partridge Mound Group
Strunk, John and Eleanor, House
Tallman House
Taylor, A. E., House
Turtleville Iron Bridge
West Luther Valley Lutheran Church
West Milwaukee Street Historic District
Whiton-Parker House
Willard, Frances, Schoolhouse
Wyman-Rye Farmstead
Yates, Florence, House
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Afton Community Church
Beckman Mill
Beloit College
Black Hawk at Turtle Village / The U.S. Military at Turtle Village
Black Hawk War
Burr Robbins Circus
CCC Veterans Memorial Bridge
First Congregational Church
First State Fair
Home of Governor Harvey
How-Beckman Mill
In the Name of God. Amen.
James E. Croft
Janesville Tank Company
Jefferson Prairie Settlement
La Prairie Grange Hall
Milton College 1844–1982 / Milton College Historic District
Milton House
Rasey House
Rock River Industry
Route of Abraham Lincoln
Roy Chapman Andrews
Soldier of The American Revolution
Storrs Lake Milton
The Black Hawk War / Black Hawk's Grove
The Crossing
The Medal of Honor
The Old Clinton Water Tower
The Skavlem–Williams Log Cabin
Village of Cooksville / Village of Waucoma
Wisconsin's First Aviator
Wisconsin's Tobacco Land
The first European settlement in Rock County was established in 1835 by William Holmes, who built a log cabin near the present-day city of Beloit. The area quickly attracted more settlers, and by 1836, Rock County was formed and named after the Rock River that flows through it. The discovery of lead in the region in the 1820s brought an influx of miners, leading to the growth of towns like Mineral Point and Shullsburg.
The mid-19th century saw the establishment and growth of several towns in Rock County, including Janesville and Evansville. Janesville, in particular, flourished as a trading center and transportation hub, thanks to its location on the Rock River and the construction of a railroad in the 1850s. By the late 1800s, Janesville had become an industrial center with mills, foundries, and factories producing a wide range of goods.
The 20th century brought both challenges and opportunities to Rock County. The Great Depression of the 1930s hit the area hard, but the county rebounded during World War II, when manufacturing industries expanded to support the war effort. After the war, Rock County experienced further industrial growth, especially in the automotive and farm equipment sectors. However, the late 20th century brought challenges as some industries faced decline and job losses.
Today, Rock County continues to evolve and adapt. The county is known for its agricultural heritage and is home to many family farms. It also boasts a diverse economy, including manufacturing, healthcare, education, and tourism. The county's history is preserved and celebrated through various museums, historic sites, and community events, showcasing the resilience and spirit of the people who have called Rock County home throughout its history.
Brief timeline of the history of Rock County, Wisconsin:
- 1836 - Rock County is organized and established as a county in the Wisconsin Territory.
- 1844 - The city of Janesville is incorporated as the county seat of Rock County.
- 1854 - The Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad reaches Janesville, spurring economic growth in the county.
- 1861-1865 - Rock County residents participate in the American Civil War, with many joining Union forces.
- 1873 - The Janesville Electric Company is established, providing electric power to the city.
- 1900 - The automobile industry begins to flourish in Rock County, with several car manufacturers setting up operations.
- 1936 - The Rock County Airport (now Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport) is established near Janesville.
- 1942 - General Motors builds a large manufacturing plant in Janesville, becoming a major employer in the county for decades.
- 1964 - Rock County experiences a devastating tornado outbreak, causing significant damage to several communities.
- 2008 - General Motors announces the closure of its Janesville plant, leading to a significant economic impact on the county.
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Rock County, Wisconsin.