Dunnville, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dunnville, Wisconsin
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 Dunnville, Wisconsin
Location in Wisconsin
Dunnville, Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Dunn |
| Town | Dunn |
| Elevation | 250 m (810 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 715 & 534 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1564188 |
Dunnville is a small, unincorporated community in Dunn County, Wisconsin, United States. It is found within the larger town of Dunn. Dunnville is located along the Red Cedar River. This is about 11 miles (18 km) south of a city called Menomonie.
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What is an Unincorporated Community?
An unincorporated community is a place that does not have its own local government. It is not officially a city or a village. Instead, it is part of a larger county or town. People live there, but they share services with the bigger area around them.
Dunnville's Past: A Look Back
Dunnville has a very interesting history. It was once a much more important place than it is today. Two big fires changed its story forever.
The First County Seat
For a time, Dunnville was the county seat of Dunn County. A county seat is like the main town or city for a county. It is where the county government offices are located. This means important decisions for the whole county were made in Dunnville.
However, in 1857, a fire destroyed the courthouse in Dunnville. After this fire, the county seat was moved. It went to Menomonie, which is still the county seat today.
A Busy River Town
Before the fires, Dunnville was a very busy place. It was the furthest point up the Red Cedar River that large river steamers could reach. These steamers traveled up the Chippewa River and then into the Red Cedar River.
Many people used these steamers to travel. They would come to Dunnville, get off the boat, and then take a stagecoach. A stagecoach was like an old-fashioned bus pulled by horses. It would take them to Menomonie and other places that the steamers could not reach. This made Dunnville an important travel hub.
The 1928 Fire
In 1928, another big fire struck Dunnville. This fire destroyed many of the remaining buildings in the community. One important building lost was the historic Tainter Hotel. This fire greatly changed the look and feel of Dunnville.
Today, Dunnville is a quiet community. It is a reminder of a time when rivers were major highways and small towns played big roles in travel and government.
