From a name misspelling to an established city
Waupun’s name comes from a clerical mistake. During the city commissioning in 1840, the name was supposed to be Waubun, meaning ‘dawn of the day’ in Ojibwe. Instead, a misspelling meant the city officially became Waupun. Since then, the city has grown, known for its various sculptures around town and the prisons that serve as a major employer. The small-town atmosphere created by longstanding local restaurants and events offers a community where people will get to know their neighbors. “People look out for each other here,” says real estate agent Keith Navis with VandeZande Real Estate and lifelong Waupun resident. “We just had a young child who was injured, and the community raised money for his recovery.”
From Historic Nationals and American Foursquares to split levels
The occasional tree hangs over the sidewalks along Waupun’s residential streets. Historic Nationals and American Foursquares sit closer to the center of town, with bungalows, split levels and ranch-style homes lining streets farther from downtown. The Nationals and older bungalows and ranch-style homes typically range from $80,000 to $350,000, while the split levels and newer construction built in the past 20 to 30 years sell between $400,000 and $570,000.
Public, private and charter education options in Waupun
For kindergarten and first grade, students head to Meadow View Primary School. Second through sixth graders attend Rock River Intermediate School. Both schools receive C-plus ratings. Waupun Junior High School receives a C. B-minus-rated Waupun Senior High School offers apprenticeship programs for juniors and seniors, so they can get real-world experience in fields they’re interested in.
Waupun also offers alternatives to the public schools. “A lot of clients tell me they move to Waupun to go to the Christian school,” Navis says. “You get to know your neighbors through the churches here.” Central Wisconsin Christian School is a kindergarten through twelfth grade school and receives a B rating. B-minus-rated School for Agricultural and Environmental Studies (SAGES) is technically part of the public school system, but its charter status means students have to apply to attend. Focusing on grades fourth through sixth, the school’s motto is ‘little kids can do big things’, and encourages hands-on science education, from managing gardens to forest field studies and caring for chickens.
County parks and wildlife refuges with hiking opportunities
Waupun County Park is the largest park in the county, locking in at 103 acres. People can come here to camp on the public campgrounds, play a round of disc golf or hike and ski through the trails at Waupun Park Maple Forest. Shaler Memorial Park’s location along the Rock River allows shoreline fishing and canoeing. Walking paths wind along the river and go through the park’s gardens and memorials, including the End of the Trail — a famous statue depicting a Native American on a horse carrying a spear. Horicon National Wildlife Refuge stretches across 33,000 acres just outside of Waupun, offering one of the largest freshwater marshes in the U.S. Here, people can hike, ski, fish and hunt.
Local restaurants and grocery options in and around Waupun
Mateo’s Café and Restaurant offers a good mix of breakfast favorites like omelets and pancakes and American staples like burgers and sandwiches. The Other Bar in Waupun’s appetizer menu offers five types of cheese curds. The sandwiches and burgers come with homemade kettle chips. Guth’s Candy originally opened in 1921, and today offers candy, popcorn, ice cream and coffee. Convenience stores line Main Street, but Piggly Wiggly is the city’s only grocery store. More options like Aldi and Walmart are available south in Beaver Dam.
Taking U.S. Highway 151 to other towns in the region
U.S. Highway 151 runs alongside Waupun, linking it with bigger towns in the county like Beaver Dam, about 16 miles south. People can also use it to head north to the Lake Winnebago region, where Appleton International Airport is about 48 miles away. SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital is located in the city, close to home.
Waupun's longstanding traditions and celebrations
Waupun Truck-N-Show is a 32-year tradition, occurring every mid-August. The event lines the streets with semi-trucks and other vehicles. There’s also live music and food vendors available. Celebrate Waupun every late June includes a carnival, car show and live music.
Written By
Caroline Ernst
