The Wheatland post office opened in 1843, the earliest record of the town by name. Another post office, Slade's Corners (1878), opened inside today’s town and later closed.
First census: 3,292 in 20002020 census: 3,391183 years
How did Wheatland get its name?
Wheatland’s name is derived from the wheat which was said to grow well in the rich soil in the area.
More on the name
The first constable was James B. Powers, for whom Powers Lake is named.
How historic is Wheatland?
A−
More historic than 79% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Wheatland is more historic than 79% of U.S. towns, #90 of 362 in Wisconsin. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.
A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Wheatland’s overall grade.
Wisconsin towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Wisconsin town has 3.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Wheatland’s 3.0 sits near the middle of its state (61% of Wisconsin towns have fewer) while its 1 listings outnumber those of 51% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B+ to A−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±8.6 points). The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date.
Founding year: the first post office (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Wheatland’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The first settlers in Wheatland were Schuyler Bonday in August 1837 and Adolph Reitbrook in September 1837. Wheatland was formed on May 7, 1842. Its name is derived from the wheat which was said to grow well in the rich soil in the area. The first constable was James B. Powers, for whom Powers Lake is named.
When the Town of Wheatland was formed, it was originally in Racine County. On January 30, 1850, the town was transferred to Kenosha County, where it remains today.
The Wheatland post office opened in 1843, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
How does Wheatland rank for history?
Wheatland is more historic than 79% of U.S. towns, #90 of 362 in Wisconsin. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Wheatland?
One place: the John P. and Mary Runkel House (listed 2020).
How old are the homes in Wheatland?
20% of Wheatland’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±8.6 points), against a typical 12% for a Wisconsin town; the median home was built in 1971.
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).
From the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
