BlockBefore

Richland County, Wisconsin

54 topographic sheets cover 45 settlements here, and 9 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

9 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Wisconsin within the United States
Richland County within Wisconsin

What the record shows

  • 497 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 9 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 5 buildings, 2 districts, 1 site and 1 structure.
  • 1 of the 9 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 45 populated places in this county; 45 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

9

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
A. D. German Warehousebuilding197474000122
Bloyer Mound Groupsite200606000873
Julia B. and Fred P. Bowen Housebuilding199696000729
John Coumbe Farmsteadbuilding199292000827
Court Street Commercial Historic Districtdistrict198989001955
Cunningham Lane Bridgestructure199696000731
Henry Fiedler Housebuilding198686003515
Richland Center City Auditoriumbuilding198080000182
Tippesaukee Farm Rural Historic District (Boundary Increase)district199695001491

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

520 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 520 of them, burning about 1,273 acres. 13 started naturally and 28 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning249
Equipment and vehicle use113
Missing data/not specified/undetermined55
Arson/incendiarism28
Smoking15
Natural13
Power generation/transmission/distribution12
Recreation and ceremony11
Other causes10
Misuse of fire by a minor8
Fireworks5
Railroad operations and maintenance1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
12 April 2003Debris and open burning104 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
9 April 1994Equipment and vehicle use64 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
11 April 1996Equipment and vehicle use53 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
10 April 1996Equipment and vehicle use50 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
6 March 2000Debris and open burning34 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
22 April 1996Missing data/not specified/undetermined33 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
12 March 1994Equipment and vehicle use31 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
11 March 1996Debris and open burning30 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1951 to 2026

60 of 268 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 268 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 9 injuries and about $24,960,850 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind117
Hail88
Flash Flood26
Flood17
Tornado13
Heavy Rain5
Funnel Cloud2

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 2007Flash FloodRichland Center1 killed, $8,800,000Numerous state highways and county roads were closed and impassable due to flood waters. An estimated 75 percent of the county roads were affected including Highway 80 that was impassable with bridges buckled. Highways 56 and 58 were also impacted. At least a dozen boat rescues were needed from homes and cars. The town of Rockbridge was basically underwater. A 51-year old was swept off a bridge on Highway 60 near the intersection of Highway 80 on his way to Muscoda from Mill Creek.
September 1964Tornado (F3)not stated4 hurt, $250,000no account filed
August 2005Tornado (F2)Viola3 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
May 1964Tornado (F2)not stated2 hurt, $250,000no account filed
September 2016Flash FloodViola$2,400,000Flooding along a branch of Camp Creek sent three feet of water into a house east of Viola. Flooding along Fancy and Marshall Creeks caused roads to be closed near Gillingham. State Highway 56 was closed east of Viola due to flooding along Camp Creek and County Highway C was closed near Yuba because of flooding along the Pine River. A total of 3 homes were destroyed by the flooding with another 72 damaged.
June 2008FloodSand Prairie$2,400,000Travel across Richland County was very difficult due to ongoing flooding. Numerous roads were closed, including Highways 131, 56 and 80, as well as County Roads C, F, Q, E, and U.
June 2008FloodViola$2,200,000The Kickapoo river at Viola reached a record crest of 21.25 feet around 5 a.m. on June 9. The previous record crest of 21.0 feet occurred on July 1, 1978. Flood stage is 14.0 feet. Water was over bridge railings on the bridges.
June 2008Flash FloodCazenovia$1,100,000Water was reported over several roads, including County Road I and Highway 58.
August 2007Flash FloodYuba$750,000The fire department building was under water and Highway 80 buckled north of Century Farm Road.
August 2018FloodViola$610,000Flooding along the Kickapoo River prompted some water rescues in Viola. Water was 12 to 18 inches deep in the fire station and was flowing over the upper rail of the State Highway 131 bridge.
June 2000Flash FloodCountywide$400,000no account filed
September 2018Flash FloodCazenovia$336,000Runoff from heavy rains caused numerous streams across Richland County to go out of their banks. The flooding caused several roads to be closed including U.S. Highway 14, State Highways 56, 58, 80 and 131 along with numerous county and township roads.
June 2013Flash FloodLone Rock$291,000Heavy rain produced flash flooding across the southwest half of Richland County. Numerous streams were forced out of their banks with water reported over County Highway JJ between Gotham and Lone Rock, State Highway 56 near Gillingham and the intersection of County Highways O and OO near Richland Center. Mud slides closed County Highway O northwest of Gotham. State Highway 60 between Gotham and the Crawford County line southwest of Westport was closed by a mudslide with other damage reducing the road to one lane at times.
June 1996Flash FloodRockbridge$250,000no account filed
May 1988Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
July 2017FloodViola$211,000After the initial flash flooding across Richland County, the flooding continued to cause problems through July 20th into the 21st. The flooding along the Pine River prompted an apartment complex to be evacuated and a shelter to be opened in Richland Center. Over a dozen roads were closed across the county because of the flooding. Nine homes sustained minor damage during the flooding.
July 2017Flash FloodViola$186,000Heavy rains, with totals of 6 to 8 inches, produced flash flooding across the central and eastern sections of Richland County. The heavy rains caused the Pine River to go out of its banks which prompted sandbagging to occur in Yuba, closed State Highway 80 at County Road D and caused flooding to occur in Richland Center.
August 2007FloodViola$150,000The Kickapoo River at Viola established the second highest all-time crest of record when it reached 18.20 feet on August 19. Flood stage is 14 feet.
April 2025HailRichland Center$135,000The public reported golf ball sized hail 1 mile east of Richland Center.
July 2023Thunderstorm Wind(Lnr)Tri Co Arpt Lon$100,000Extensive damage reported to barns with downed trees. Nearby automated weather observation recorded 77 mph wind gust.
August 2007FloodRichland Center$100,000Flooding continued along many creeks, streams and rivers. Law enforcement officials reported numerous roads and bridges were either washed out or still under water.
August 2005Tornado (F0)Orion$100,000no account filed
August 2018FloodYuba$85,000Runoff from heavy rains caused flooding to occur along the Pine River from Yuba downstream to Rockbridge.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindLone Rock$80,000Numerous trees and powerlines were blown down in Lone Rock. Seven homes sustained roof damage from the high winds.
May 2004Flash FloodCountywide$75,000no account filed
July 2015Thunderstorm WindRichland Center$60,000Numerous trees and powerlines were blown down across Richland Center. Two houses were damaged when trees fell on them.
May 2000Flash FloodCountywide$45,000no account filed
July 2023HailBear Vly$40,000Public reported golf ball sized hail near Sextonville.
June 2015Tornado (EF0)Westport$30,000The tornado traveled across rural portions of southwest Richland County north of Westport and Port Andrews. A few homes along County Roads W and M were damaged along with numerous trees.
May 2004Flash FloodCountywide$30,000no account filed
July 2000Flash FloodNorth Portion$30,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindRichland Center$30,000no account filed
June 2008Flash FloodSand Prairie$28,000Flash flooding led to water over sections of Highway 48 about 4 miles from the intersection with Highway 14, as well as sections of County Roads O and OO. High water also caused problems from the Gotham area to Lone Rock.
June 1999Flash FloodSoutheast Portion$25,000no account filed
September 1997Thunderstorm WindRichland Center$25,000no account filed
June 1972Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
August 1972Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
August 1967Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1951Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
August 2016Flash FloodExcelsior$20,000Runoff from heavy rain caused several streams to go out of their banks across western Richland County. The resulting flood waters caused some roads to be closed including State Highways 56 and 171 along with County Highway F near Excelsior and County Highways E and Q near Boaz.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindBasswood$20,000Farm outbuildings were blown down over a road.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindLoyd$20,000Damage occurred to the roof of a home, as well as to a shed at a homestead along County Road NN. Also, trees and power lines were blown down between Ithaca and Cazenovia.
August 2006HailCazenovia$20,000no account filed
May 1999Thunderstorm WindRichland Center$20,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindYuba$20,000no account filed
June 1997Thunderstorm WindBear Valley$20,000no account filed
July 2024Thunderstorm WindCazenovia$15,000Emergency management reported three trees blown down onto County Highway V in Cazenovia. There was also a report of a power line blown down.
April 2018HailRichland Center$15,000Up to golf ball sized hail was reported in Richland Center.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindLone Rock$15,000Numerous trees were blown down in Lone Rock damaging some cars and homes.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindRichland Center$15,000A tree was blown down onto a house just outside of Richland Center.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindBasswood$15,000Thunderstorm winds blew the roof off of a shed, as well as damaging trees along Town Hall Road, which is just east of the town of Basswood.
October 2006HailRichland Center$15,000no account filed
May 2000HailHub City$15,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindBloom City$15,000no account filed
June 1998Flash FloodRichland Center$15,000no account filed
July 1998Thunderstorm WindRichland Center$12,000no account filed
June 2022Thunderstorm WindTwin Bluffs$10,000Several small sheds and outbuildings were damaged northwest of Sextonville.
September 2021Thunderstorm WindViola$10,000A roof was blown off a shed west of Bloom City.
May 2018FloodYuba$10,000Runoff from heavy rains pushed the Pine River out of its banks across northern Richland County. Several roads were closed because of the flood waters.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindByrds Creek$10,000Trees were blown down and a barn was damaged by wind gusts north of Port Andrew.

Mines and quarries

38 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 38 workings inside this county. 8 still produce and 30 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken33
Stone3
Sand and Gravel, Construction2

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Adams Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
County PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Mcglynn QuarryStoneUnknown
Own CrewsStoneUnknown
Own CrewsStoneUnknown
Akan Township QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Benson QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Bert Ray QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Bethke QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Bosstown QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Brown QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Bunker Hill QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Coumbs QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Dooley QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Dosch QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Ewing QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Excelsior QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Haney QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Hogskin QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Househoulder QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Huth QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Jake Miller QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Jo Templin QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Johnson QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Jones QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Joseph QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Joyce QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Keyesville QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Lawton QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Motts QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Muldowney QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Mullendorf QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Rego QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Shannon QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Snyder QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Spangler QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Thompson QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Tubbs QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

45

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Richland County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.