The story so far
Newport, in brief
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Newport yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 586 to 607 (+4%).
–Not graded
History · Newport
15% of Newport’s homes were built before 1940
Below: maps from 1902 on and old-book passages.
0on the National Register
15%homes built before 1940
What stands out about Newport’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
★ What stands out · Help out
Start Newport’s collection
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Newport’s history is told.
Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.On the map
Newport on the map, 1902 to 1975
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Newport. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1902Briggsville sheet · 1:62,500U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Newport.
From the old history books
What they wrote about Newport in 1880
Passages that mention Newport, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement ..1880 · page 605Read the page →
Read the text
In November, 1852, the Board of Commissioners granted the prayer of P. K. Gill and others to organize the town of Newport, all that portion of Town 13, Range 6, lying on the east side of the Wisconsin River, and the west half of Range 7 in the same town, being duly incorporated in such town, and the house of James Cristie, in the village of Newport, being named as the place for holding the first election.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement ..1880 · page 810Read the page →
Read the text
The first year's growth of Kilbourn City cannot be said to have been very rapid, notwithstanding a large number of lots were sold. Still quite a number of houses were built, and its population gradually increased. Many who doubtless desired to locate here were deterred from the fear that its future might be similar to that of the village of Newport. Still the fact of its being backed by the President of the railroad company, and that the owners of the land here were identified with the railroad was much in its favor. According to the Mirror of this place, considerable jealousy was entertained against it bv citizens of neighboring cities and villages. Savs the Mirror, under date of December 9, 1856 : " Of all the bumpers that ever were invent' <1.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
By decade
No old photos in the archives yet
Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
Add from your albumFamous people
See all →Famous people close to Newport
Nobody well known was born in Newport itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
A
Alexander WetmoreAmerican ornithologist and avian paleontologist · b. 1886
Places that used to be
Old corners, places now gone and burying grounds
Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.
Hamlets and corners on the map
Moe Settlement
Gone or out of use
Stearns SchoolschoolTofson Schoolschool
1cemetery inside Newport
Newport Lutheran
Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Stories next door
History across the town line
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
Questions about Newport’s history
Memory lane
What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.
Start a conversation
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 U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.