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 The History of the Iowa County Fair
From the beginning of the Iowa County Fair, the
primary focus of holding a fair was as a social element to the
community, which to some degree still holds true today.
1851- Iowa County Agricultural Society held first fair
in Dodgeville at the Town Hall Lawn.
1856- Fair resumed after laps of 5 years. The Fair was
held in Dodgeville on the Town Hall Lawn. This is the date we are
celebrating due to the consistency of having an annual event held in
either Dodgeville, Mineral Point or both locations . In an newspaper
article, "October, 1864 ; "NINTH ANNUAL FAIR", The Iowa
County Agricultural Society started their calculation of anniversaries
with the 1856 fair.
1858- The Industrial Arts Union was held for the first
time in Mineral Point. Iowa County Agricultural Society purchased land
and moved their fair location to what is currently behind the Dodgeville
School Forest. Dodgeville and Mineral Point both held dueling fairs a
week apart from this point forward until approx. 1914.
1861- Industrial Art Union of Mineral Point did not
hold a fair in respects for the community members that were fighting in
the Civil War. The Iowa County Agricultural Society continue to hold
their fair.
 1870- The Industrial Arts Union of Mineral Point,
changed it's name to, "Southwestern Wisconsin Industrial
Association" . Ÿ In August 4, 1870, John Toay, President, wrote a
letter to the editor stating, "The First Annual Fair of this
Association will be held on the grounds of the Association in the city
of Mineral Point, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, September 8th, 9th
and 10th, 1870." The location was, "The executive committee
have rented the grounds owned by John J. Ross, Esq., situated on the
Galena Road, adjoining the Catholic Cemetery. It is their intention to
fit these grounds up with every convenience for the use of the exhibitor
during the fair."
1875- The Southwestern Wisconsin Industrial
Association purchases 30 acres of land and moves the grounds to a
"Riding Park" west of Graceland Cemetery in Mineral Point.
1894- It has been state that the Southwestern
Wisconsin Industrial Association changed their mane to,
"Southwestern Wisconsin Fair" in order to receive state aid.
(This has not been found in newspaper articles as of yet)
1914- (approximately) Dodgeville held their last Fair.
1989- The Iowa County fair transitioned from a share
holders organization to a non profit organization with a board of
directors and bi-laws. The name was changed to, "Iowa County Fair
Society Inc."
The above information is a summary of what has been
discovered to this point (April 2006) and taken place in the history of
the Iowa County Fair. If you are interested in history and would like to
help discover more interesting facts about the Iowa county Fair, please
volunteer by contacting Susan Judd at iowacountyfair@yahoo.com
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