ROCK COUNTY
County Offices
51 South Main St
Janesville 608-757-5510
www.co.rock.wi.us
Rock County is located in the south-central portion of the State, forming a portion of the State’s southern boundary, approximately equidistant from Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River. The county is home to more than 157,000 residents. The county covers 721 square miles, containing five cities, three Villages, and 20 Towns, and multiple unincorporated hamlets. The County’s Cities include Janesville, Beloit, Edgerton, Milton, and Evansville. The City of Janesville serves as the County seat, is located in the County’s central portion, and is the largest municipality in the County with a population estimated at over 62,000 in 2005. The County’s Villages include Clinton, Orfordville, and Footville.
Lifestyle
Rock County is a wonderful place to visit year round. Driving along the miles of country roads through the rolling hills, residents enjoy the bounty and rich history of Wisconsin. The result is a community and region rich in beautiful views, rolling farmlands, and recreational opportunities. With beautiful rivers for canoeing and fishing, miles of trails for ATVs, snowmobiles, cross country skiing, horse riding, hiking and bicycling, Recreational opportunities abound in this land-rich area. Golfers have the advantage of nearly year-round play on well-maintained courses. Organized sports are available for all age groups through local cities. Soccer, softball, baseball, and volleyball are just a few of the competitive sports that bring friends and neighbors together. Swimming, bicycling, hiking, picnicking, or just enjoying lush parks are all popular leisure activities. Canoe and kayak enthusiasts enjoy peaceful floats down the Rock River. The County’s other waterways offer great water based activities as well.
The County’s many historic and cultural attractions include the City of Evansville historic district, Beloit College (an acclaimed liberal arts institution located in the City of Beloit) and the City of Janesville’s Rotary Botanical Gardens and Tallman House, built in the 1850’s. Additionally, the Cities of Janesville and Beloit have a combined symphony orchestra, as well as individual performing arts centers. The Rock County Fair and Riverfest are regional cultural celebrations held every summer in the Cities of Janesville and Beloit. These Cities both have extensive park and open space networks, including portions of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, a Statewide trail commemorating the State’s geologic history. Additionally, the Rock River runs through these Cities, offering opportunities for recreation and land preservation. Historic and modern neighborhoods, comprising single and multi-family residences, are interspersed throughout the County’s Cities and urban areas.
Services
The regional economy of Rock County is reliant on a diverse mix of businesses from small service companies to larger manufacturers. Residents will find a broad range of opportunities for employment in many fields. The County is one of the leading agricultural counties in the state; agriculture is one of the leading enterprises of the County. The County’s Cities and urban areas are home to diverse and unique commercial and industrial sectors, historic and cultural attractions, natural resources, and public and residential areas. The Cities of Janesville and Beloit both house substantial industrial sectors. Health care service entities, including Mercy Health System Corporation of Janesville and Beloit Memorial Hospital Incorporated, also employ a large segment of the County’s labor force, as do various forms of government, including the County and the City of Janesville and Beloit school districts.
Rock County affords outstanding educational opportunities at all levels. Public and private schools offer strong college preparatory, vocational and technical programs. Lafayette County Schools offer a variety of enrichment programs which take students beyond the normal curriculum. Academic enrichment in music, drama and art broaden the cultural awareness of local students and community. Accredited private schools that offer classes in kindergarten through grade twelve are also available. For higher education, there are numerous colleges and universities nearby, including: Blackhawk Technical College, Madison Area Technical College, University of Wisconsin Madison, Beloit College and the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.
Health care is a priority in the county and is well represented by an excellent full-service hospital, healthcare facilities and human service agencies that offer a continuum of care, resources and support to meet the physical, mental and developmental needs of the community. There are more than 100 physicians practicing in the area. Nursing care and assisted living for long and short-term patients, as well as postoperative, elderly, ambulatory/bedfast and chronically ill patients, and Alzheimer’s care is available. The county is home to a variety of medical specialty facilities as well.
The lack of traffic and urban bustle, the friendly people, and a slower living pace combine with low property taxes and high property values for a superb quality of life. Historic sites, museums, restaurants, and libraries add to the quality of life.
Beloit
City Hall
100 State St.
Beloit 608-364-6600
http://www.beloitwi.gov
Chamber of Commerce
500 Public Ave
Beloit 608-365-8835
http://greaterbeloitchamber.org
The city of Beloit is home to more than 37,000 residents. The greater Beloit area is home to more than 91,000 residents. Located just minutes from the Illinois border, the town of Beloit is a place where yesterday and tomorrow merge. The City of Beloit is located along Interstate 39/90, just north of the Wisconsin border. The City Center is located along the Rock River. Situated between four major metropolitan areas, the city of Beloit has easy access to urban amenities. Beloit is conveniently located near the City of Chicago to the southeast along Interstate 90, while Madison, Wisconsin is less than an hour’s drive to the north. The City is directly connected to Milwaukee via Interstate Highway 43, which merges with Interstate 39/90 in Beloit.
Historic homes and an old stone water tower share space with the revitalized Beloit Riverfront and Riverside Park. Residents find plenty to keep them busy, with a vibrant blend of easy-to-get-to attractions, art, music, dining and shopping set among 720 acres of riverside beauty along the banks of the Rock River. The Riverfront art scene is embraced by the community which can be seen in Beloit’s public art and the events that are held at Riverside Park. This community gathering spot is known for its events, music and dancing, festivals, fireworks or movies.
The people of Beloit enjoy a large variety of recreational activities. Beloit is home to a professional minor league baseball team, the Beloit Snappers, as well as a lively riverfront popular with many of the city’s dwellers. The downtown is home to many small shops and boutiques. One of the most visible landmarks in town is Beloit College, known as the “Yale of the Midwest”. This private, four-year college was founded in 1846 and has the distinction of being Wisconsin’s oldest college in continuous service. The campus area is rich in history, as Indian burial grounds and colonial-style buildings can be found throughout.
Beloit is rich with breathtaking scenery, exciting attractions, convenient recreational facilities, and year-round events. Whether you’re interested in fishing and boating on the Rock River, watching the Snappers play exciting Class-A minor league baseball at Telfer Park, ice skating at Edwards Ice Arena, or partaking in the world horseshoe championship, Beloit has a facility to fit the needs of any sports enthusiast. The Beloit Snappers minor league baseball team is a Class A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The City is also a center for the arts and includes many cultural assets. The Wright Museum of Art and the internationally acclaimed Logan Museum of Anthropology are located at Beloit College. The Industrial Arts Museum and the popular Angel Museum, along with the City’s Historical Society and the Hanchett-Bartlett Homestead celebrate the City’s proud heritage. Many beautiful pieces of public art adorn the riverfront, downtown and the Beloit College Campus. The City shares a world-class symphony orchestra with its neighbors in Janesville. All of this combines to make Beloit a great place to settle and call home.
Edgerton
City Hall
12 Albion St
Edgerton 608-884-3341
www.cityofedgerton.com
Chamber of Commerce
20 S Main Street
Edgerton 608-884-4408
www.edgertonchamber.com
Edgerton is located in both Dane and Rock counties. It is home to more than 4,900 residents. Known locally as “Tobacco City U.S.A.,” because of the importance of tobacco growing in the region, Edgerton continues to be a center for the tobacco industry in the area. Located 20 minutes from Janesville, 30 minutes from Beloit and 35 minutes from Madison, Edgerton enjoys a small-town atmosphere while still being close to big city life. Rockford is only an hour away, Milwaukee 1.75 hours, and Chicago 2.25 hours away. State Highways 51 and 59 pass through the city and connect with Interstate 90 two miles away. Rivers, streams, lakes and two city parks provide excellent recreation areas for the picnicker, hiker, hunter or fisherman. Camping and cross country skiing are popular seasonal pastimes. Tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and two golf courses greet the sports enthusiast. The region is rich in cultural opportunities ranging from community and professional theater to concerts and art galleries. Many area antique shops attract both browsers and collectors.
The Edgerton Community school district services the needs, interests and abilities of more than 1800 students through a wealth of special programs. Classroom enrichment, special studies, Advance Placement courses, math and reading promotions, outdoor education, and summer school are among the many important extras that add to traditional offerings. In addition there are numerous colleges and universities nearby, including: Blackhawk Technical College, Madison Area Technical College, University of Wisconsin Madison, Beloit College and the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.
Edgerton offers its residents a great opportunity to enjoy the small town feel of the community while having easy access to everything that they need. This is a great place to call home.
Evansville
City Hall
31 S Madison St
Evansville 608-882-2266
www.ci.evansville.wi.gov
Chamber of Commerce
8 West Main St
Evansville 608-882-5131
http://evansvillechamber.org
Evansville is home to more than 5,000 residents. The city’s population has increased over 21% in the last 10 years. It is currently the fastest growing community in Rock County. Evansville is known as the “Soybean Capital of Wisconsin” due to its location in the largest soybean growing area in the state. Only 23 miles south of Madison and 18 miles west of Janesville on state highway 14, Evansville offers the best of both worlds. With a small dedicated population, safe neighborhoods, and quiet tree-lined streets, small town values abound. Residents take pride in the excellent schools, parks and historic library. And minutes away are shopping malls, theaters, music venues and museums. The Evansville Historic District, which surrounds Main Street and stretches to the side streets of Garfield Avenue and Liberty Street, includes dozens of historic homes and other structures. The Wisconsin Historical Society called Evansville home to “the finest collection of 1840s to 1915 architecture of any small town in Wisconsin”. Over the last two decades, many of the downtown buildings have been renovated in the style in which they were originally built and three blocks of Main Street that had been covered with asphalt in the 1960s were re-paved with 1900-era paving bricks, adding to the “old time” feel of Main Street.
The community has a large central park, Leonard Park, on the shore of Lake Leota. Amenities include a baseball diamond with night lighting, a softball diamond, two tennis courts, a skate park, a basketball court, a swimming pool, picnic shelters, and playgrounds. In addition, there are several smaller community parks, Countryside, Franklin and Brzenski. Gibbs Lake, just a few miles from Evansville’s eastern edge has an abundance of fishing available. The lake is home to Bluegills, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Magnolia Bluff County Park, located less than ten miles from Evansville, has breathtaking views from it’s bluff and is home to Rock County’s only naturally occurring birch stand. There are hiking, X-Country Skiing and Equestrian trails at the park. Evansville Golf Course and Country Club offers a beautiful par 72, 18-hole golf course just outside Evansville.
The city has four schools: Levi Leonard Elementary, Theodore Robinson Intermediate School, J.C. McKenna Middle School, and Evansville High School. In 2005, Evansville High School earned a Blue Ribbon award from the United States Department of Education. The Blue Ribbons Schools program honors public and private K-12 schools that are academically superior in their states or that dramatically demonstrate superior gains in students’ achievements.
The city offers newcomers a chance to settle into a community that is dedicated to the preservation of its past while creating a modern city for its residents.
Janesville
City Hall
18 N Jackson St
Janesville 608-755-3000
www.ci.janesville.wi.us
Chamber of Commerce
14 S Jackson St
Janesville 608-757-3160
www.forwardjanesville.com
Janesville is home to more than 60,000 residents and is the county seat of Rock County and the principal municipality of the Janesville, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. Janesville is known as “Wisconsin’s Park Place” or “City of Parks”. Its 2,015-acre park system includes 53 improved parks, as well as boat launches, golf courses, and nature trails. This is one of the highest acreages per capita in Wisconsin. Janesville has a public, internationally-themed botanical garden, Rotary Gardens that was created from an abandoned sand pit. Traxler Park is home to the Rock Aqua Jays, a water ski team which has been U.S. national champion 15 times. The team originated and regularly hosts the National Show Ski championships. Traxler Park is also home to the Fourth of July festivities. Other major parks include Riverside Park, a recreational park along the Rock River including a golf course and a segment of the Ice Age Trail; Rockport Park, largely undeveloped, including the municipal swimming pool and Peace Park; Monterey Park, including the Big Rock, an early natural landmark signaling a good ford of the Rock River (and the namesake of the county, but not the river), as well as a sports stadium used by the school system; Lustig Park, used for a disc golf course; and Palmer Park, which includes a 9-hole golf course and Camden Park (an accessible play area). Most of the parks in the city are linked by a paved bike trail, which will eventually connect to the city of Beloit. Janesville also features a nearly 500-acre greenbelt system to provide areas for surface water runoff, and to provide habitat for a diversity of plants and animals.
For families with children the Janesville School District has twelve elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools and five charter schools. The Janesville Academy for International Studies, a charter high school that focuses on teaching global perspectives, and the Guide Language Center, which offers over 10 foreign languages, are both located downtown. TAGOS Leadership Academy is a project-based charter school that is located in Arrow Park. In addition, there are a number of parochial schools throughout the city. The Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired has been located in Janesville since 1850. A two-year community college, the University of Wisconsin–Rock County, located on the southwest side of Janesville, is part of the University of Wisconsin System. A two-year technical college, Blackhawk Technical College, is located midway between Janesville and Beloit; Blackhawk also offers degree programs through Upper Iowa University.
Residents can enjoy shopping, dining and much more in this small city. With its numerous parks and recreation sites, opportunities for employment and close proximity to major metro areas, Janesville is a wonderful city to call home.
Milton
City Hall
430 E high St
Milton 608-868-6900
www.ci.milton.wi.us
Chamber of Commerce
508 Campus St
Milton 608-868-6222
www.maccit.com
Milton is a small city of a little more than 5,000 residents. Milton is only three miles from I-39 / I-90 and has immediate access to State Highways 26 and 59. Milton is only 1.5 hours from Chicago, 30 minutes from Madison and 1 hour from Milwaukee. Small town charm is what brings people to Milton. Passion for the community and genuine affection for life in Milton can be seen in long time residents and the community in general. Campgrounds, lakes, unique locally owned shops, historic attractions and beautiful farmland surround the community. A good balance of business, shopping, and family recreation provide the quality of life that most only dream of having. Year-round recreational opportunities are plentiful in Milton, from hiking and biking through the Storrs Lake Nature preserve, utilizing several miles of the Ice Age Trail for biking, hiking or cross-country skiing, or checking out one of Milton’s five nearby lakes. For the golfer in the family, Oak Ridge Golf Course boasts 18 holes of golf and Bonny Mead is home to a challenging 9-hole Scottish style course.
For history buffs, the area is home the Milton House Museum, which is a National Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1844, the Milton House is part of the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
The city is increasingly tied to Janesville, its larger neighbor to the south, and parts of Janesville are now within the Milton School District as that city expands to the north and east. Students that go to Milton may live in several other districts surrounding Milton such as Janesville and Harmony district. Milton Schools include Milton High School, Milton Middle School, Northside Intermediate School, Milton East Elementary, Milton West Elementary, Consolidated Elementary, Harmony School, and MECAS (Milton Edgerton Clinton Alternative School). Higher educational opportunities are served by nearby colleges and universities.
Milton as a community is proud of its heritage, something that can be seen in the preserved historic structures. Residents have access to high quality services close to home with big city amenities close by.
