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History · Downsville

Downsville dates to 1855, and 26% of its homes were built before 1940

1 place in town is on the National Register. Below: maps from 1940 on.

1855founded
1on the National Register
26%homes built before 1940
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Quick answers

How Downsville began

When was Downsville founded?

1855

Downsville dates its founding to 1855 (Wikipedia’s history). Its post office opened in 1865.

2020 census: 188171 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1865.

What stands out about Downsville’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Downsville are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Downsville’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Downsville’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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The story so far

Downsville, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Downsville yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

Downsville is an unincorporated census-designated place in the town of Dunn, located within Dunn County, Wisconsin, United States, where Highway 25 crosses the Red Cedar River. As of the 2020 census, its population was 188, up from 146 at the 2010 census. The community was founded in 1855. Around that time, Ebenezer Thompson tried to dam the Red Cedar, but his half-built dam was destroyed by a flood. In 1857 Captain Downs tried again and succeeded in building a dam which powered a sawmill. The village was platted in 1859, and named for Downs. He sold the mill to Knapp, Stout & Co., who expanded it and added planing and shingle mills which employed about 100 men by 1891. By that year the tow…

Downsville was established in 1855. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 146 to 188 (+29%).

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

By decade

Downsville, decade by decade

Today5 recent
Downsville, Wisconsin2024Downsville, WisconsinDownsville Lodge No 1961 IOOF2023Downsville Lodge No 1961 IOOFWIS 25 and CTH C in2011WIS 25 and CTH C inWIS 25 WIS 72 CTH C2011WIS 25 WIS 72 CTH CLooking south at Downsville on WIS 252011Looking south at Downsville on WIS 25
On the map

Downsville on the map, 1940 to 1972

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Downsville. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Downsville on the 1940 USGS mapDownsville on the 1972 USGS map1940Menomonie sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Downsville.

On the National Register

1 historic place in Downsville

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

place listed
1
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
1
each building in a district counts

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Famous people

Famous people close to Downsville

Nobody well known was born in Downsville itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Helen ParkhurstAmerican educator, author, and lecturer · b. 1887
E
Ethan IversonAmerican pianist · b. 1973
Harry MillerRacecar driver · b. 1875
M
Marvin PanchAmerican racing driver · b. 1926
T
Thomas DreierAmerican editor, writer, advertising executive,… · b. 1884
B
Bill BakkeOlympic ski jumper · b. 1946

Questions about Downsville’s history

What year was Downsville founded?

In 1855, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Downsville’s post office opened in 1865.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (5) and U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.