Iowa

Formed January 1, 1830 (3^rd county)

Iowa County (23,709), Dodgeville (4,984)

The tan stone and masonry Greek Revival courthouse was erected in 1859 and enlarged in 1894 and 1927.  Mineral Point had an 1842 courthouse earlier.  The current courthouse is sited on Iowa Street between Merrimac and Chapel streets.  Wisconsin State Highway 23 is Iowa Street in the town.  The building was restored in 1937 and 1969.  Ernest Wiesen provided the designs.  The structure features columns and a dome.  Veteran memorials are on the grounds.  Iowa County was organized on January 1, 1830 as an original county (3^rd county.)  The county is named for the Native American tribe.  The county seat was named Governor Hugh Dodge.  He is also the namesake for Dodge County. 

Iowa County government consists of a sheriff and 21 Supervisors.  One Circuit Court Judge and One Municipal Court Judge serve Iowa County.  The county is located in the southwest part of the state.  Madison, Wisconsin is northeast and Rockford, Illinois is southeast of the county.  The Wisconsin River forms its northern border.  The county center is 2 miles East-Northeast of Dodgeville.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Sauk, Dane, Green, Lafayette, Grant, and Richland counties. 

The area of the county is 762.6 square miles.  It is 35 out of 72 in the state.  It ranks 48 out of 72 in population in the state.  It has a density of 31.1 persons per square mile making it 51 out of 72 in the state.  Iowa County has 57.7% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 18 crosses through the county from east to west from Dane County to Grant County.  United States Highway 151 is joined with United States Highway 18 from Dane County, splits and continues southwest into Lafayette County.  The county is a rectangle with a scoop taken out of the north.  Dodgeville is located in the southern third of the county.  Dodgeville is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 21.0% of the county population.  This county is in the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.