Every submission is protected by the Digital Millenium Copyright Act of 1998.

Clark County, Wisconsin's Early Township Boundaries

Source: Clark County Press; August, 1875

The numerous changes that have been made in the map of Clark County by orders of the County Board has created new townships and changed others. This has probably confused many in knowing the real size and location of the towns as they now are. We therefore present before our readers a map which will enable them to see the changes at a glance.

In this connection we deem it not inappropriate to give a brief synopsis of the record, showing the transition of the county from its organization up to the present time, in relation to the formation of townships and the various changes of their boundaries.

The territory of this county was originally set off from La Crosse County by an act of the Legislature of 1854 and was all the town of Pine Valley. The subsequent divisions of this territory into other towns, appear in the following abstract of the record kindly furnished us by County Clerk Ira B. Pope:

Levis - Formed on Nov. 20, 1856, and comprised its present territory together with that of Washburn and Perkins.

Weston - Also formed on Nov. 20, 1856, consisted of all the territory north of Pine Valley, which by this division extended from east to west across the county, taking in part of what is now Mentor, all of Grant and the south half of Lynn.

Dec. 8, 1860, a half- mile strip on the north side of township 24, 1 west, now Grant, was taken off from Pine Valley and annexed to Weston. Townships 25, 3 and 4 west, now parts of Weston and Mentor, were taken from Weston and attached to Pine Valley.

Lynn - On March 21, 1862, this town was formed by the territory contained within its present limits and what is now the town of Grant, excepting the half-mile strip referred to above.

Loyal - This township was organized on Feb. 28, 1865, and contained three tiers of townships on the east side of the county and running from its present south line to the northern boundary line of the county.  This included the present townships of Sherman, Eaton, Beaver, Unity, Colby, Maysville and part of Hixon.

Mentor - It was formed on March 1, 1867, and has held its own ever since.

Grant - No order or date of the township appears in the journal. It comprised its present territory with the exception of the afore mentioned half-mile strip. 

Eaton - Formed on July 20, 1869. it consisted of 15 townships, its limits extending to the north line of the county taking in part of Maysville and Hixon. Its shape very much resembled the shape of a letter "T". 

Beaver - Established on Nov. 15, 1870, it comprised in addition to its present limits what is now Maysville, Colby and Unity.

York - Designated as such on Feb. 24, 1878, and consisting of its present limits, along with that confounded half-mile strip.

Sherman - Also formed on Feb. 24, 1873 and with same outlay as it is now.

Washburn - The third township also formed on Feb. 24, 1873, and included the Perkins area.

Hixon - A fourth township to be formed on Feb. 24, 1873 and its limits remain unchanged. Perkins - Established on Jan. 7, 1874, and was composed of its present territory.

At the, last meeting of the County Board, that troublesome "half-mile strip" was annexed to Grant. The north tier of sections of 24, 2 west was attached to Pine Valley. Township 25, 3 west annexed to Weston and 27, 3 west taken from the latter township and put on the Eaton.