Marquette

Formed January 1, 1836 (10^th county)

Marquette County (15,404), Montello (1,495)

The tan brick and stone Beaux Arts courthouse was constructed in 1916.  The facility is at the intersection of Park and West streets.  Wisconsin State Highway 23 is one block to the west of the site.  Albert Parkinson is the designer.  The building was enlarged in 2002.  The facility sits on a hill and features columns.  Veteran memorials are on the grounds.  The county was established on January 1, 1836 as the 10^th county.  Marquette was the first county seat until 1859 when Montello took over.  The county is named for French explorer Jacque Marquette.  The county seat is named for the river. 

Marquette County government consists of a sheriff and 17 Supervisors.  One Circuit Court Judge serves Marquette County.  The county is located in southern Wisconsin.  Madison, Wisconsin is south and Green Bay, Wisconsin is northeast of the county.  The county center is 4.6 miles North-Northwest of Montello nearer Harrisville.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Waushara, Green Lake, Columbia, and Adams counties. 

The area of the county is 464 square miles.  It is 67 out of 72 in the state.  It ranks 63 out of 72 in population in the state.  It has a density of 33.20 persons per square mile making it 41 out of 72 in the state.  Marquette County has 27.6% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 39 passes north to south from Waushara County to Columbia County.  United States Highway 51 is joined with Interstate Highway 39 from Waushara to Columbia counties.  The county looks like a block head man.  Montello is located in the southeast quarter of the county.  Montello is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 9.7% of the county population.