Nature and neighborly spirit define life in New Lisbon
New Lisbon is a small city in the center of Wisconsin, where residents are close-knit, streets are quiet and nature is never far. The community has little more than a school, employers and parks — it's the people who live there that make it shine. "It's a small town where people look out for one another," says Jen Pedersen, New Lisbon city clerk and a resident for 15 years. "In winter, a group of students shovels the driveways or sidewalks of our older residents' homes." The city's population is slowly shrinking, but residents do what they can to encourage community ties. "As part of her Girl Scouts project, a student raised money to replace the old playground equipment at Heritage Park," Pedersen says. "That's the kind of involvement we see a lot of," Pedersen says. The Lemonweir River flows through the area, and with close access to some of Wisconsin's largest lakes, New Lisbon is also a quiet retreat close to extensive outdoor recreation.
Most homes are near schools and parks, others are closer to nature
Some houses are along county roads, backed by farms, fields and forests. However, most are in manufactured home communities or New Lisbon's center, with its gridded streets near the school and downtown area. Manufactured homes, Cape Cods, bungalows and other small early-1900s homes range between $80,000 and $210,000. American Foursquares, simple Victorians, ranch-style homes and Colonial Revivals, including those on the outskirts of town, sell for $140,000 to $390,000.
Lakes and rivers offer boating, fishing and camping nearby
Castle Rock Lake and Petenwell Lake have a combined area of over 37,000 acres for boating, swimming and fishing, just 9 miles northeast of New Lisbon. State parks and wildlife areas surround the lakes, offering trapping and hunting close to home. Heritage Park has a new playground, courtesy of the local Girl Scout, and Little Free Library cubbies are around the community, thanks to a Boy Scout's fundraising project. The Lemonweir River widens in New Lisbon, and locals enjoy Riverside Park & Campground along its banks.
Wa Du Shuda is the anglicized version of New Lisbon's original name, meaning "boat launch" or "where canoes are placed" in the language of Ho-Chunk Native Americans. The community celebrates the Wa Du Shuda Days Festival at Riverside Park with a parade, live music, canoe races, vendors and kids' activities. "On Saturday, there's a fireworks show that we are well known for," Pedersen says. "Each year it gets bigger and better."
A shared school space creates opportunities for mentorship programs
The School District of New Lisbon's one consolidated school takes up a large part of the city's center. New Lisbon Elementary, for prekindergarten through sixth grade, is rated C by Niche. New Lisbon Junior and High schools teach students from seventh grade through graduation and are rated a C-plus. "Having all of the grades in one building allows our students to participate in ways they wouldn't have otherwise," Pedersen says. "We've had programs where the high school students go to the elementary classrooms and teach the younger students reading programs." Pedersen adds that, at graduation time, seniors will dress in their caps and gowns to walk through the whole school and visit their old classrooms. Wisconsin has a Statewide Public School Open Enrollment Program, and children can apply to attend public schools in a different district.
Employers and institutions shape the area’s population and economy
Despite its small size, New Lisbon has a few prominent employers, including the school district, Mill Haven Foods, manufacturers and trucking companies. New Lisbon Correctional Facility accounts for much of the area's total population. "The city currently has about 2,600 residents. Though over 1,000 of those are through the correctional institution," Pedersen says. Interstate 90 passes through the area, heading about 7 miles to Mauston and 80 miles to Madison . Dane County Regional Airport in Madison has domestic flights, and the nearest hospital is Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston.
Most errands require a short drive to Mauston or Tomah
Near the city buildings and locally owned shops are a few restaurants well-loved by the community. Opera House Bar & Grill and Micki's Body Shop Bar & Grill are similar, but with their own standout items. "Opera House is known for their pizzas, and Body Shop is known for their burgers," Pedersen says. Dollar General and a hardware store are in town, but grocery and retail shopping are limited. "For groceries, I go to the Festival Foods in Mauston or to Walmart and Aldi in Tomah , which is only a 20-minute drive away," Pedersen says.
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Written By
Heather Haggerty
