Richland Center blends natural beauty with local pride
Upon driving into Richland Center, people are greeted with a sign and a motto that perfectly sums up the area's draws: Hometown Charm. Natural Beauty. "We're in the heart of the driftless area of Wisconsin," says Jasen Glasbrenner, economic development director for Richland Center. "So, rolling hills, trout streams and the Pine River are all elements of living here." The county seat of Richland County is quiet, remote and far from any major city, bringing its small group of residents close together. "We're a community with only about 5,000 people," Glasbrenner says. "We're very rural, so it's about as secluded as you can get in southwest Wisconsin." Despite the city's size, it's the birthplace of significant people and major movements, including Frank Lloyd Wright and Wisconsin's largest women's suffrage group. It’s the little details like those and the beauty around them that make Richland Center’s residents proud of their hometown.
Older homes dominate, but new housing options are in progress
Gridded residential streets fan out from the downtown center, lined with sidewalks and old homes. Cape Cods, bungalows, early 1900s cottages and manufactured homes sell for $80,000 to $180,000. American Foursquares, simple Victorians, bi-levels and ranch-style homes range from $180,000 to $300,000. New Traditional homes and farmhouses, while less common, are in subdivisions away from the area's center. They sell for $320,000 to $730,000. New development has slowed significantly in the past few decades, but the city is working to increase availability. "We're trying to expand housing so that the people who want to relocate here find it easier to do so," Glasbrenner says. "We're supposed to be receiving 90 new apartment units here in the next year and a half, and we're in the middle of a negotiation process to develop an area with eight duplexes." According to First Street, homes are at major risk from flooding, and additional insurance may be required.
Athletic courts and green spaces surround the Pine River
Hiking and biking trails wind around the county, passing through steep hills and deep river valleys that the driftless region is known for. Campgrounds, public rifle ranges and fishing spots along the Pine River are nearby, and Richland Center has ample space for recreation. "We are way over the national average for park space and public property for our size," Glasbrenner says. North Park and Krouskop Park are the biggest parks, connected by a walking bridge over the river. Between the two, there's a fishing dock, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, a disc golf course and athletic courts for tennis, basketball, pickleball and volleyball. At Krouskop Park, residents can check out the historical marker for the birthplace of Ada James, a suffragette who helped lead Wisconsin to be the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment in 1919. Woodman Aquatic Center was built in 2020, further expanding the area's recreation options. "Many people come to our community to use it because it has a lazy river and a waterslide," Glasbrenner says.
Students can mix virtual and in-person classes
Richland Center Primary School teaches kindergarten through second grade and is rated C by Niche. Richland Center Intermediate School and Richland Center High School each earn a C-plus and share one building. The district offers an online learning curriculum called H.I.V.E., which stands for home-based, instructor-facilitated, virtual education. Students can attend school entirely online or incorporate some virtual classes with in-person traditional learning. Wisconsin's Statewide Public School Open Enrollment Program allows children to apply to public schools outside their designated district.
Downtown has restaurants, shops and a long-running farmers market
Main Street and Court Street intersect, creating a downtown area with office buildings, restaurants and local shops. The Richland Area Farmer's Market has been running downtown for over 50 years, with vendors selling fresh food, flowers, baked goods and herbs on Wednesday afternoons. Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant is a laid-back spot with classic menu items, like fajitas, tacos and enchiladas. Around the community are hardware stores, auto dealers, dollar stores and Walmart. "If you didn't want to leave Richland Center, I don't believe you'd have to, Glasbrenner says. "When you have a Walmart Supercenter in town, you've pretty much got everything."
Most people work locally due to limited transit and far cities
Wisconsin State Highway 80 and U.S. Route 14 are the city's two main roads. Madison is about 60 miles east. Because Richland Center is far from other communities and has no fixed-route public transportation, most residents live and work in town. "Our hospital [Richland Hospital] is a major employer. As are our school district and the Walmart," Glasbrenner says. Dane County Regional Airport in Madison has domestic flights, and Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is about 144 miles away.
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Heather Haggerty
