Evert's 1873 Atlas

History of Rock County

Geographical & Topographical

Rock County lies in latitude 40º 40' north, in longitude 12º west. locating it in the southern tier of counties in the State, being bounded on the north by Jefferson and Dane, on the west by Greene, south by the State of Illinois, and east by Walworth County. The County is in area twenty-four miles north and south, by thirty miles east and west, containing twenty congressional townships, 720 square miles or 460,800 acres. To the eye of the traveller the surface of the country presents a varied landscape, being somewhat regularly divided into broken and smooth surfaces, timber, prairie groves, etc.

It is perhaps useless for us to state that Rock County is one of the richest and most productive agricultural districts in the State, containing but very little untillable land, and the character of the soil being such as to yield the richest returns to the cultivator for his labor. The County is very evenly divided between timber and prairie; the most beautiful hard wood groves, generally a few hundred acres in extent, breaking the usual monotony of the prairie landscape at very frequent intervals, and furnishing fuel, fencing, and building material in great abundance. The prairie is as rich and fertile as the great American Bottom, and the soil, like that, is a rich black loam, in places several feet in depth and inexhaustible in fertility. There cannot be found in the State a more productive grain-growing region, or a more healthful and delightful climate. Fruits of all kinds are easily and successfully grown, while the famous blue grass, so common to a more southern climate, is indigenous to the soil, crowding itself into almost every fence corner and thriving luxuriantly, constituting Rock one of the best grazing counties in the State. We are often asked by strangers, what kind of a country is it? To answer that question in general terms we would say, it is a beautiful country and its fertility is notorious. It is asked, what is produced? We reply, all of the cereals: corn, wheat, oats, rye, and barley do well; but corn and oats seem to be especially adapted to this climate and soil, and are produced in almost fabulous quantities. In short, there is no better grain-growing country in the Western States. In addition to the productions mentioned, tobacco is produced in large quantities. The country is a high, rolling prairie, with very few exceptions, and the fertility of the soil nowhere surpassed.

Along the line of Rock River, which passes nearly centrally through the County, are belts of timber, supplying many varieties of wood for manufacturing and other purposes. This is a beautiful stream, and at several points in the County furnishes good water-power for the propelling of grist- and saw-mills. In fact, an unlimited number of manufactories could be propelled. Aside from this, there are several smaller streams in the County that furnish power for the propelling of smaller mills.

Last updated July 28, 2002 -- Copyright 2002 Lori Niemuth