- JANESVILLE, City, is located
on section 1, of town of same name, in Rock
- county. It is pleasantly situated on
both sides of Rock river, 14 miles north of the State line, and
about midway between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi river;
40 miles southeast of Madison, and 90 from Chicago, Ill. It was
organized into a city government in April, 1853. It is the county
seat of Rock county, has two extensive water powers which are
but partially developed, and is surrounded by a fertile and farming
dairy country, with which it has an extensive trade. Its steady
and rapid increase in population and wealth will appear from
the following statistics: The first families settled upon the
spot where the city now stands in the year 1836. A village was
laid out in 1839. In 1843, the population was 333; in 1845, 857;
in 1847, 1,458; in 1849, 1,812; in 1850, 3,100; in 1853, about
5,000. Rail roads from Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Chicago, Beloit,
Dubuque, Madison, and Fond du Lac, are projected to this city;
the first already completed, and the others are under contract
to be finished in one or two years. There are 4 flouring mills,
within the limits of the corporation, having 10 run of stones;
3 saw mills, 1 woolen factory, 1 mill for manufacturing water
lime, and grinding coarse feed for cattle, swine &c., to
which is to be added an oil mill, two foundries, a mill for sawing
stone and turning wood, with a large number of mechanic shops
of all descriptions; 12 dry good, 17 grocery, 2 hardware, 2 book,
3 drug, several clothing, show and variety stores; 2 banks (Badger
State and Central Wisconsin); 5 hotels, and a sixth being erected,
of very large dimensions, on the ruins of one recently burnt
down; 4 printing presses, 3 weekly and 1 monthly newspaper, and
1 book bindery. The State Institution for the Blind is located
at Janesville, a portion of the buildings are completed in which
several children are receiving instruction. Besides the public
schools, Janesville has an academy and a female seminary, both
excellent institutions; also 6 large churches erected, built
of brick or stone.
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