Morrisonville, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Morrisonville, Wisconsin
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Former unincorporated community
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Morrisonville post office
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 Morrisonville, Wisconsin
Location in Wisconsin
Morrisonville, Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Dane County |
| Elevation | 293 m (961 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
53571
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| Area code(s) | 608 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1569760 |
Morrisonville is a small community in Wisconsin, United States. It's located in Dane County, about 18 miles (29 km) north of Madison. The Yahara River flows right through the community.
A main road, County Trunk DM, runs through Morrisonville. It connects to State Highway 51 and goes all the way to the village of Dane, Wisconsin. When you enter Morrisonville on this road, you'll see welcome signs calling it "Frogtown U.S.A."
Contents
Morrisonville's Early Days
Morrisonville is named after James Morrison. He was an immigrant from Scotland who settled here by June 6, 1843. He bought about 290 acres of land from the U.S. government.
James and his family first lived in a simple shelter near the Yahara River. Later, they moved into a log house. This house was made bigger and became a permanent home by 1851.
The Old Train Depot
In the 1860s, work began on the Milwaukee Road railroad. James Morrison sold 43 acres of his land to a railroad company in 1862. He made sure they promised to build a train station near his family's home.
We don't know exactly when the Morrisonville depot was built. It was designed by J. U. Nettenstrom. The design was the same as the depots in Summit and Pierpont.
The Madison and Portage Railroad Company started on August 9, 1870. Their goal was to build a part of the railroad from Madison to Portage. Towns like Madison and Portage helped them.
The first depot was made of wood. It was 20 feet by 48 feet long. It stood on the east side of the railroad tracks. It also had a freight room, which was 20 feet by 27 feet long.
After passenger trains stopped running, the depot was sold and moved. Today, the Morrisonville Depot Preservation Society owns it. They are working to restore it and move it one block north. They bought new land for it. The plan was to move it in the spring of 2013.
How the Post Office Got Its Name
The local post office opened on May 10, 1871. There was already another town in Wisconsin named Morrison. So, the government added "ville" to the name. This helped tell the two towns apart. That's how Morrisonville got its name!
Growth and Changes
The railroad started running sometime in August 1871. The railway was later sold in 1878 to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad.
In its early years, the railroad brought a lot of business to Morrisonville. Many homes and businesses, like a hotel and stable, were built. Lots of goods, including tobacco, passed through the town. This made Morrisonville an important local trading center.
By the mid-1900s, fewer people were traveling by train. Passenger service for the Madison to Portage railroad ended in 1952. A local feed company bought the depot. They moved the building to where it stands today.
Morrisonville Today
The railroad, now part of the Soo Line, still runs through Morrisonville almost every day. The post office is still in its original spot. It has an addition that holds local county equipment, like a snowplow. The old hotel is now a home and has been updated. The train depot sits in an empty lot and can be seen from all sides.
