SAUK COUNTY
County Offices
505 Broadway
Baraboo 608-356-5581
www.co.sauk.wi.us
Chamber of Commerce
109 Phillips Boulevard
Sauk City 608-643-4168
http://www.saukprairie.com
Sauk County is home to more than 55,000 residents. Its county seat and largest city is Baraboo. The county is most famous for the Wisconsin Dells area and its many water park and resort attractions.
Lifestyle
Sauk County is a wonderful place to visit with all of the diversity that is offered. From the glacial bluffs to the endless fields of plenty, there is much natural beauty to see. Sauk County enjoys one of the most beautiful locations in all of Wisconsin. The County is crowned by the Baraboo Bluffs, designated as a “National Natural Landmark” by the U.S. Department of Interior. Sauk County has three state parks, Devil’s Lake, Mirror Lake and Natural Bridge and is bordered by Lake Wisconsin and the Wisconsin River. People come from all over to camp, hike, fish, boat, ski and golf in Sauk County. The three state parks in Sauk County attract over 1.5 million visitors per year and more than 3 million visitors go to the Wisconsin Dells each year.
Shoppers can find all that they need from a variety of local and national shopping outlets, including supermarkets, general merchandise/department stores, discount stores, clothing stores, and more, offering residents an unlimited variety of products and services. The historic buildings which form the town square in Baraboo’s downtown house a diverse mix of art galleries, gift shops, specialty stores, and restaurants. Many of the small towns and villages in the county offer this same experience in their downtown areas.
History of the region can be found at the Sauk County Historical Society Museum with artifacts relating to the pioneer, Native American, military, textile, and architectural history of Sauk County are on display. The museum also supports a research library with an extensive collection of pictures, documents, and memorabilia relating to Sauk County and its inhabitants. The Mid-Continent Railway Museum located in nearby North Freedom, recreates life during the glory days of the steam engine. Children and adults alike are sure to love the museum’s educational exhibits, displays of rolling stock, and original, operating rolling stock. Residents take advantage of the finest housing options available in Sauk County.
The county’s ideal location and picturesque beauty, along with the diverse choice of housing options, contribute to its reputation as an ideal place to live. Residents stroll through neighborhoods revealing the best in quality housing, ranging from spacious rentals to 120-year-old, stately Victorians. Everything from immaculate homes, nestled along quiet, tree-lined streets, to 100 year old farmhouses on an open pastures are available. Contemporary housing options are also available for area residents, who can choose from custom homes built by area developers and a variety of community living options such as townhomes and apartments. Sauk County is the perfect place to raise a family and enjoy the exceptional lifestyle the area has to offer.
Services
Although heavily influenced by the tourism industry, Sauk County has been able to maintain a robust and diversified economy. The most recent estimates from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (WDWD) indicate that while the leisure and hospitality sector accounts for a quarter of the total employment in the County it is followed closely by trade businesses at and manufacturing. The county is also home to many farms and farm based businesses.
Sauk County affords outstanding educational opportunities at all levels. Public and private schools offer strong college preparatory, vocational and technical programs. A variety of higher education opportunities are available within a short driving distance, these include one of the leading academic institutions in the nation the University of Wisconsin, a regional university UW Baraboo, and a vocational technical schools Madison Area technical College. Sauk 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. There is close coordination between the public and private schools. Sauk County K-12 public and private schools enjoy an excellent reputation throughout the state. The County is served by six school districts: Baraboo School District, Reedsburg School District, River Valley School District, Sauk Prairie School District, Wisconsin Dells School District and the Weston School District
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. 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. Nearby in Madison residents can find a variety of medical specialty facilities as well.
Sauk County offers a relaxed quality of life, driven by a strong economy and residents dedicated to their communities.
Baraboo
City Hall
134 4th St
Baraboo 608-355-2700
http://cityofbaraboo.com/
Chamber of Commerce
600 W Chestnut St.
Baraboo 608-356-8333
www.baraboo.com
Baraboo is the largest city in, and the county seat of Sauk County. It is situated on the Baraboo River and is home to more than 12,000 residents. The Baraboo area lies at the heart of the Baraboo River Valley in south central Wisconsin, 40 miles northwest of Madison and approximately halfway between Milwaukee and LaCrosse. The Baraboo area is served by US Highway 12 and State Trunk Highways 113, 33, and 123. The city serves as a business and farm service center for the surrounding area with retail outlets that include supermarkets, general merchandise/department stores, hardware stores, service stations, automobile dealers, gift shops, drugstores, lumber yards, and specialty shops. Several restaurants and other dining opportunities are all available to residents. Baraboo is home to the Circus World Museum, the former headquarters and winter home of the Ringling Brothers circus and now the largest library of circus information in the United States. This living museum has a collection of circus wagons, and occasionally hosts the Great Circus Parade of these artifacts through the streets of Baraboo. The Al. Ringling Theatre is an active landmark in the city. Other cultural events include several productions by the local theatre guild, art fairs, and city tours. A local arts and humanities consortium organizes and promotes a variety of other cultural programs and events throughout the year. The School District of Baraboo has four elementary schools serving students in grades 1 through 5, one kindergarten center, one middle school and one high school. There are also two parochial schools: St. Joseph’s Catholic School, which serves Pre-K through fifth grade, and St. John’s Lutheran School, serving Pre-K through eighth grade. A campus of the University of Wisconsin–Baraboo/Sauk County is also located in Baraboo. It is one of 13 campuses in the University of Wisconsin Colleges. Residents of this small city will find everything that they need on their doorstep or they can choose to take the short drive to Madison for all of its urban adventures; ether way the Baraboo area offers it residents a high quality of life.
Sauk Prairie
(Prairie du Sac, Sauk City)
Prairie du Sac Village Hall
335 Galena St
Prairie du Sac 608-643-2421
www.prairiedusac.net
Sauk City Village Hall
726 Water St
Sauk City 608-643-3932
www.saukcity.net
Chamber of Commerce
421 Water Street
Prairie du Sac 608-643-4168
www.saukprairie.com
Sauk Prairie is made up of the towns of Prairie du Sac and Sauk city. The area has a population of more than 6,500 residents. While the two communities are separate, locally they are treated as once community. Situated at the entrance of Sauk County, these twin river villages serve as a gateway to the lower Wisconsin River Valley and Baraboo Bluffs. These communities are located only 20 minutes away from Madison, the Wisconsin Dells, Devil’s Lake State Park and major highway systems. While in Sauk Prairie, you can encounter nature or enjoy hiking trails in one of four state parks or enjoy a canoe trip down the river. During the winter months, you can enjoy a day of skiing at a local resort. Residents will find spending a shopping easy to accomplish with specialty stores featuring unique gifts, antiques, sporting equipment, apparel and extraordinary wine, cheese and meats. The local historical society maintains an active collection of regional memorabilia and information showcasing the regions history. For theater lovers the River Arts Center, the community’s 500-seat performing arts theatre and gallery exhibit space offers a wide array of options throughout the calendar year. Sauk Prairie is a community that treasurers its past. It offers residents the small tow feel and sense of community that so many are looking for. Quality education is available for families with children in one of the local schools. Sauk Prairie Schools currently enrolls 2,800 K-12 students residing within its 240 square mile service area, which includes the three villages of Merrimac, Prairie du Sac and Sauk City and all or part of 13 other towns and villages. Healthcare is locally available at the Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital & Clinic.
Residents can enjoy all that the region has to offer and know that the services that they need are close to home. They also know that in a short drive they can enjoy all of the urban lifestly that Madison has to offer.
Reedsburg
City Hall
134 S Locust St.
Reedsburg 608-524-6404
www.reedsburgwi.gov
Chamber of Commerce
240 railroad St
Reedsburg 608-524-2850
www.reedsburg.org
Reedsburg is a community of more than 9,000 residents. It is located 15 miles south west of the Wisconsin Dells along the Baraboo River with scenic views of the Baraboo Range to the south. Residents enjoy a high quality of life in this scenic region. Visitors to downtown Reedsburg will find evidence of community pride in the strong retail sector and the beautifully maintained historic buildings. The City of Reedsburg has 15 different parks and nature areas. For those looking to cool off in summer, The Reedsburg Municipal Pool is available to residents and their families; it offers diving boards and a water slide. The schools consist of six elementary buildings, one middle school and one high school. Our school forests, the Hartje Outdoor Learning Center and the Romorren School Forest, represent a combined total of 208 acres of open space. Both are open to the public as well as used for educational purposes. A network of hiking trails is maintained at the Hartje Center, which has proven to be a popular area for walkers, hikers and nature lovers. For healthcare, Reedsburg Area Medical Center (RAMC) has been serving the people of Reedsburg and surrounding areas, offering the best possible healthcare. RAMC is an independent, nonprofit organization that is locally controlled. It facilities consist of 25 acute care beds, 17 one day surgery beds, and the Reedsburg Area Senior Life Center (RASLC), a long term care and assisted living facility. Outdoor living, scenic country side and a high quality of life make living in Reedsburg a excellent choice.
Wisconsin Dells/Lake Delton
City Hall
300 LaCrosse St
Wisconsin Dells 608-254-2012
www.citywd.govoffice2.com
Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 5
Wisconsin 866-505-2907
http://dellschamber.com/
These communities are located in south central Wisconsin adjacent to Interstate 90/94 and US12 in the northeast corner of Sauk County. It is 55 miles northwest of Madison and approximately midway between Minneapolis and Chicago. Lake Delton is located next to the City of Wisconsin Dells. The Village of Lake Delton is home to many attractions, motels, hotels, restaurants, retail and other businesses that help make up the area known as Wisconsin Dells. The Wisconsin Dells area is 19.5 square miles in size, with just over 5,500 permanent residents. Wisconsin Dells is located partially within four counties: Adams, Columbia, Juneau, and Sauk. The city takes its name from the dells of the Wisconsin River, a scenic glacially-formed gorge that features striking sandstone formations along the banks of the Wisconsin River. Together with nearby Lake Delton, the city forms an area known as “the Dells”, a popular Midwestern tourist destination. The Dells area has an estimated five million annual visitors. With numerous indoor water parks and outdoor water parks in the Dells area, it proclaims itself the Waterpark Capital of the World”. It is home to the largest outdoor water park in the U.S., Noah’s Ark; the largest indoor waterpark resort, Wilderness Territory; and America’s largest water and theme park resort, Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park. Some other attractions in the Dells include the Dells Boat Tours, numerous golf courses, mini golf, go-kart tracks, water sports, horseback riding, Tommy Bartlett’s Thrill Show, Exploratory, Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum, Timber Falls Amusement the Ho-Chunk Casino and many other places of interest. Most attractions are located on the Strip, otherwise known as the Wisconsin Dells Parkway. Accommodations range from economical motels to RV parks, to chain hotels, to themed resorts featuring indoor and outdoor water parks and other amenities. Wisconsin Dells attracts more than 2.5 million visitors annually, making it the Midwest’s number one family vacation destination. Some guests are attracted to the area’s natural beauty, others to the many adventures the area offers. In 2000, the World Waterpark Association recognized Wisconsin Dells as the nation’s leader in indoor/outdoor water recreation because of the area’s quality, quantity and sophistication of water entertainment. Local residents enjoy all the benefits of living in such a popular area while still enjoying small town life.
