Ripon has academics, attractions and local industry
Ripon is a small Wisconsin community of about 7,800 people, home to Ripon College and a historic and walkable downtown. “We’re a college town. I think that has a lot to offer, along with a revitalized downtown area with great shopping experiences and dining venues,” says Joan Karsten, a Ripon-based broker with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Special Properties. “Our school system here is excellent. We also have a lot of people who live near where they work, and we have a very strong industrial base.” Ripon is also less than 10 miles from Green Lake, where many here go to fish, sail and try out other water sports.
Homes span different styles and generations
The City of Ripon lies within the surrounding Town of Ripon, most of which consists of quiet farmland with a few barns and silos. Ripon was founded in the late 1800s, and city homes are located along streets lined by mature trees and include "beautiful old Victorians," Karsten says. “We also have a lot of new buildings on the outskirts of town with different developments, so it’s a nice mixture of old and new neighborhoods with all different styles.” Housing here includes Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, ranch-style, Cape Cod and Gable and Wing homes. There are also contemporary homes and condos. Depending on size, homes mostly run between $150,000 and $460,000. Condos go from $200,000 to $350,000.
City has shops, diverse restaurants and brewery
Downtown’s restaurants and shops are in several brick Italianate-style buildings that are well over a century old. Downtown stores include Patina Vie, a high-end boutique in a building resembling a far smaller version of New York’s Flatiron Building. Dining staples include J’s BBQ, which has items like slow-cooked pork and brisket on pretzel rolls. Fox and Crow Bistro has cocktails and upscale comfort foods, while Knuth Brewing Company has locally made craft beers. Grocery shoppers may go to Hy-Vee. “Ripon has a lot of things you’ll find in big cities, but it’s here in a nice, small town,” says Mayor Ted Grant.
Ripon has parks, bike trails and fishing holes
Elizabeth Murray Park has several baseball and softball fields and a few tennis courts. Selfridge Park has a skate park and playground and borders Gothic Millpond, a popular fishing spot. During winter, many come to the pond to ice skate and ice fish. The city also plans to make upgrades to Selfridge Park, including the addition of a kayak launch. Barlow Park has horseshoe pits and several sand volleyball and basketball courts. Local cyclists and avid joggers may also get on the roughly 2-mile Northwestern Trail.
Students may attend Ripon schools
Ripon Area School District serves the city and receives an A from Niche. Barlow Park Elementary School, which doesn’t have a Niche grade, enrolls students from kindergarten to second grade. Murray Park and Quest elementary schools both enroll third to fifth graders. Murray Park receives an A-minus, while Quest gets an A. Students may then go to Ripon Middle and Ripon High schools. The middle school gets an A-minus, and the high school receives a B-plus. Ripon High’s facilities include a pool, which hosts swim lessons during the summer. The district also offers a remote learning option, Odyssey Academy of Virtual Learning, which serves all grades and gets a B. Ripon College’s academics include visual art, music and theater programs.
Downtown hosts concerts and the Memorial Day celebration
During the summer, Village Green hosts a Friday night concert series. The weekly shows typically draw a few hundred people to downtown Ripon and bring in local bands and other acts known outside the region. Other major events include the annual Memorial Day celebration, which kicks off at Village Green with activities like a reading of the Gettysburg Address. The event also involves a parade through downtown Ripon.
Wisconsin Highway 23 connects Ripon City to Fond du Lac
Wisconsin Highway 23 passes through Ripon and goes to Fond du Lac, about 20 miles east. SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital provides various medical services for the area, and its facilities include an emergency department. Located 40 miles north, Appleton International Airport is the nearest facility for commercial flights. However, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, about 90 miles south, handles much more traffic.
Winters bring frigid days and snowfall
Ripon averages a winter low of 10 degrees. The city also typically receives about 40 inches of snow annually, a similar amount to nearby places like Fond du Lac.
