Potosi’s average trip to work is 34 minutes, above both the Wisconsin town median (22 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Of the 363 Wisconsin towns we compare, none has a lower share of working residents who work in town than Potosi. 14% of the land in Potosi is conserved, above both the Wisconsin town median (3.8%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). The biggest park or preserve is Grant River Recreation Area, at 21 acres. Potosi has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

817 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns

Potosi · 1 mi Tennyson · 2 mi Harrison · 6 mi Waterloo · 6 mi Paris · 6 mi Sherrill · 8 mi

WaterlooSouth LancasterParisHarrisonJamestownPotosi

Badger-hut, 2014

Potosi’s story

Potosi in pictures

Census counts: 466 in 1880, 646 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1852 and 4 maps from 1900 on.

Explore the history →

Getting set up

Moving to Potosi: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Potosi, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerScenic Rivers Energy Coop15.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterTennyson Waterworks1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet4 providers90% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Potosi’s trash rules yet

SchoolsPotosi School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Wisconsin you can register online until 20 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 20 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereTown of Potosi ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025

ZIP codes53820, 53813, 5380753820 84% · 53813 14% · 53807 2%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Potosi.

Work & commute

Potosi has 0.0 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out

For residents in Potosi, the share who live below the poverty line is 12%. Half commute less than 16 miles. The top destinations are Platteville (16%), Dubuque (12%) and Lancaster (8%).

0%work in town

	Potosi	Wisconsin towns	U.S. towns
Below the poverty line	12%	6.4%	9.6%
Work from home	9.8%	12%	11%

Where working residents work

In Potosi0%

Platteville16%

Dubuque12%

Lancaster8%

Madison5%

16 mi

median commute distance

jobs based in Potosi

A commuter town

jobs vs. working residents

Full pagePotosi’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here17 jobs based here · A commuter town Where people work0% work in Potosi Commute times34 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 16 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Natural hazards

Potosi faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

Expected losses in Potosi break down as 41% from inland flooding and 17% from cold waves. On expected storm and flood damage, Potosi sits below 70% of U.S. communities. Federal aid has come to Potosi households in 6 declared disasters; the latest was in 2017.

30risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes

federal disasters paid out here

Full pagePotosi’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesLow risk Flood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on record Past disasters6 federal disasters · Paid out in Potosi Get ready2.6 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

The climate in Potosi brings four seasons and pleasant summers

Summer afternoons peak near 83° in July, and January nights bottom out around 11°; snowfall runs to about 36 inches a winter. Winters in Potosi are cold, snowy and summers pleasant.

36″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter15–30°

Spring37–58°

Summer60–81°

Fall40–60°

Oct 21

typical first frost

Apr 19

typical last frost

+0.8°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pagePotosi’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 83°, January lows 11°Rain & snow36″ of snow a winter · 38 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+0.8° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Outdoors

Conservation land takes up 14.1% of Potosi

In 2 parks and preserves, walkers have 7.7 miles of trail. Potosi’s trail network density comes in at 0.1 miles per square mile. Parks and preserves here: 2, covering 32 acres.

14.1%conserved

14.1%

conserved · 5,071 of 36,004 acres

7.7 mi

of trails · 0.1 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Grant River Recreation Area	—	21
2. Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge	—	11

Full pagePotosi’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map7.7 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk21 acres · Grant River Recreation Area Conserved land14.1% conserved · 5,071 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Potosi?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Who lives here

Potosi skews older than Wisconsin

In Potosi, 24% of residents are 65 or older. A bachelor’s degree or higher: 28% of adults 25 and older, vs 33% across Wisconsin. The age of the median resident here is 46.9 years.

46.9median age · WI 40.2

	Potosi	Wisconsin towns	U.S. towns
Median age	46.9 years	42.1 years	40.5 years
Aged 65 or older	24%	20%	18%
Under 18	22%	21%	22%
Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+	28%	32%	29%

PotosiWisconsinUnited States

WIU.S.

Ages · share of residents

18%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma6%

High school33%

Some college18%

Associate’s15%

Bachelor’s17%

Graduate11%

Women and men · all residents

45% women, 55% men

About 121 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±4.5 points). Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Potosi
	Potosi	WI	U.S.
Under 10	14.9%	11.2%	11.6%
10 to 17	7.4%	10.2%	10.3%
18 to 24	5.4%	9.3%	9.1%
25 to 34	12.2%	12.6%	13.7%
35 to 44	6.9%	12.7%	13.2%
45 to 54	13.8%	11.8%	12.2%
55 to 64	15.6%	13.8%	12.7%
65 to 74	17.5%	11.2%	10.2%
75 and older	6.3%	7.3%	7%
No diploma	6.3%	6.4%	10.4%
High school	33.1%	29.4%	26%
Some college	18.1%	19.5%	19.1%
Associate’s	14.7%	11.3%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	17.1%	22%	21.6%
Graduate	10.7%	11.4%	14.1%