General Info
The first settlement in Buffalo County was in Fountain City in 1939. Before white settlers arrived, the area was inhabited by Dakota and Sioux Indians. Many early settlers were attracted to the abundance of trees for timber. The lumber industry became very prosperous in the county and aided the arrival of railroads and steamboat traffic on the Mississippi River. With the decline of the lumber industry towards the end of the 1800s agriculture became very prominent and was the largest industry in the county. Wheat was the main crop, making Buffalo County one of the largest exporters of wheat in Wisconsin. By 1900 Buffalo County had a population of 16,765 people. Today Buffalo County is home to approximately 13,425 residents.
