FOND DU LAC COUNTY
County Offices
160 South Macy Street
Fond du Lac
920-929-3165
www.fdlco.wi.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
207 North Main Street
Fond du Lac
920-921-9500
www.fdlac.com
Services
Residents of panoramic Fond du Lac County enjoy an unrivaled quality of life in an area that combines picturesque farms with impressive urban amenities. The county boasts an educational system that consistently ranks among the top performers in Wisconsin, the Midwest, and the nation. Post-secondary educational opportunities are outstanding, serving students of all ages and providing valuable resources for regional businesses. Three respected institutions of higher education maintain campuses in the leading city of Fond du Lac: Marian College, the University of Wisconsin at Fond du Lac, and Moraine Park Technical College. On the forefront of innovation, the private liberal arts college of Marian offers the state-of-the-art Stayer Center for New Technology and Executive Learning.
Providing a two-year campus within the University of Wisconsin system, UW-Fond du Lac provides courses that are a foundation for more than 250 majors and the opportunity to earn select bachelor’s degrees. Moraine Park Technical College maintains campuses in Fond du Lac, Beaver Dam, and West Bend that are complemented by other instructional centers throughout the district. The small city of Ripon is home to the private institution of Ripon College, and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is a short commute from Fond du Lac.
Advanced healthcare services and facilities are strategically located throughout the county, ensuring skilled medical and professional attention for every need. Agnesian HealthCare and the Aurora Health Center are comprehensive networks that provide a comprehensive array of quality inpatient and outpatient services throughout the region. Major hospitals combine with regional clinics, state-of-the-art imaging and laboratories, urgent and long-term care, home health, hospice, and a wide range of specialty units. Pediatrics, geriatrics, women’s health services, family care, and cancer care are just a few of the available resources. Aurora Health Center provides direct access to St. Luke’s Medical Center-Milwaukee, a nationally recognized leader in heart care. Throughout the area, the dedication to wellness education and fitness is evident in innovative programs and community education.
Lifestyle
The natural recreational attraction of Wisconsin’s largest inland lake serves as a focal point of outdoor activity in Fond du Lac County, encouraging boating and water sports from the serene to the extreme. The 400-acre Lakeside Park in the city of Fond du Lac offers an urban oasis where families, friends, and couples can relax against a picturesque backdrop of boats, marinas, and fishing areas. Hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, golfing, tennis, league sports, and participation in supervised recreation programs are all common pastimes.
Those who appreciate the arts will find abundant opportunities to enjoy performing and visual arts in elegant venues or intimate theaters. Even in the area’s smaller cities and towns, active organizations promote and encourage creative expression. Throughout the county, newcomers will find entertainment centers, family-oriented attractions, fine dining experiences, and wonderful malls or districts for first-rate shopping. From suburban shopping plazas to the boutiques and antique shops that line charming historic districts in communities like Ripon, Fond du Lac County offers a retail paradise.
The housing selection is attractive and diverse, showcasing spacious homes along the shores of Lake Winnebago and nearby Lake Deneveu or luxurious residences that command fairway views. Sparking new subdivisions contrast with historic districts filled with well-maintained properties from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Victorian, Italianate, and Federal masterpieces have been masterfully renovated to their former glory to offer an updated and comfortable home graced by mature greenery. Quaint farm houses, horse properties, and country manors with generous acreage are all possibilities in this land-rich county. Whether you choose to settle in the picturesque countryside, a welcoming small town or a bustling urban neighborhood, Fond du Lac County supports every imaginable lifestyle.
Campbellsport
Village Hall
920-533-8321
www.campbellsport.govoffice.com
Chamber of Commerce
920-979-0080
www.campbellsportchamber.org/
The growing community of Campbellsport recently added the billing of “Home of the World’s Largest Bratwurst” to honor the 2004 Guinness World Record, a fitting tribute to the area’s German ancestors. This friendly village has developed an array of convenient services, cozy restaurants, and retail shops that serve the needs of local residents as well as those in surrounding rural areas. Newcomers to the village will want to explore the breathtaking Kettle Moraine State Forest, a regional recreational jewel. Hiking, biking, camping, fishing, horseback riding, golfing, exploring historic sites, skating in a new indoor park, and swimming at Mauthe Lake and Long Lake beaches are just a few of the popular activities available close to home. Homes range from well-kept older properties to newer construction on generous lots.
Empire
Town Hall
920-923-5551
http://www.townofempire.org
Chamber of Commerce
920-921-9500
www.fdlac.com
Situated in east-central Fond du Lac County, the sprawling town of Empire lies just east of the bustling city of Fond du Lac. The town’s rustic, rural atmosphere has attracted the attention of developers who are dotting the countryside with beautiful new homes. Empire has experienced rapid growth since the 1950s, reaching a peak in the ’60s but continuing through the advent of the new millennium. Abundant open space promises to increase the town census in the coming decades. The majority of Empire residents are employed within the county and many are commuters to the city of Fond du Lac. Easy access to first-rate urban amenities and Lake Winnebago recreation enhance the quality of life in this rural paradise. Only 12 percent of the town is developed, although much of the land is currently zoned for agriculture. Vacant open space includes some lushly wooded areas.
Fond du Lac, North Fond du Lac
Fond du Lac City Hall
920 322-3400
https://www.fdl.wi.gov
North Fond du Lac Village Hall
920-929-3765
www.nfdl.org
Chamber of Commerce
920-921-9500
www.fdlac.com
The growing city of Fond du Lac serves as the gateway to the panoramic Fox River Valley, offering close proximity to some of Wisconsin’s most scenic and popular lakes. Just an hour’s drive from Green Bay, Milwaukee, and Madison, Fond du Lac has nevertheless developed its own unique identity and amenities. Great shopping, first-rate services, performing arts centers, entertainment centers, and tranquil parks ensure a rich quality of life. The city provides an attractive and comfortable home to a thriving community at the foot of Lake Winnebago in east-central Wisconsin. Its flourishing local economy has created a viable economy in this distribution and transportation center. The Village of North Fond du Lac lies on the Canadian National main-line rail corridor and is the home of the state’s largest and most active rail yard. The fully developed Northgate Business Park is another village point of pride. The city and village both offer lovely residential neighborhoods and diverse housing options.
Ripon
City Hall
920-748-4914
www.cityofripon.com
Chamber of Commerce
920-748-6764
www.ripon-wi.com
Proud of its rich heritage in architecture, education and politics, Ripon remains one of the most historically significant cities in Wisconsin and the entire nation. Celebrated as the birthplace of the Republican Party at the premier historic site of “The Little White Schoolhouse, the city of Ripon features a wonderful Historic Downtown District. The community has such a tradition of gracious hospitality through decades of welcoming a steady stream of tourist and souvenir hunters that it has developed a distinctive appeal. Ripon College gives the city the intellectual sophistication of a college town, enriching the community on every level. Acclaimed historic sites, wonderful shopping, and friendly residents add to the quality of life. The city is served by highways 23 and 49 and is minutes away from state highway 41.
Rosendale, Brandon
Rosendale Village Hall
920-872-2740
Brandon Village Hall
920-346-5415
Chamber of Commerce
920-748-6764
www.ripon-wi.com
Situated in the panoramic area between the historically significant and charming city of Ripon and the bustling urban center of Fond du Lac, the tranquil small communities of Brandon and Rosendale offer a quiet setting and relaxed pace. Church and school, friends and family tend to dominate the daily scene and neighbors still wave hello or stop to chat. The two communities are united under the same school district, which further strengthens their ties of geography and size. Sufficient commercial development is available in the Brandon-Rosendale area to offer a convenient lifestyle at a distance from crowds or traffic.
Waupun
City Hall
920-324-7900
www.cityofwaupun.org
Chamber of Commerce
920-324-3491
www.waupunchamber.com
Known as the “City of Sculpture,” Waupun has earned a national reputation for its excellence in hospitality. In fact, this small city has been voted as the “Best Overnight City” for the last few years by Wisconsin Bicycle Tour groups. A progressive community that has managed to preserve its small-town charm in spite of brisk economic development, Waupun features an outdoor gallery of original sculptures including Earl Fraser’s world-renowned “End of the Trail.” The city features nearly a dozen lush parks that provide more than 120 acres of recreational possibilities and breathtaking settings. Camping, swimming, hiking, biking, and exploring the 40-acre naturalist area are popular activities in this area that straddles Dodge and Fond du Lac counties. Students of history will enjoy the outstanding architecture and the authentic Dutch Windmill. Antique shops, delightful eateries, and lively annual events add to the quality of life.
