Lafayette County
Around Lafayette County
Photo: Downspec · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Countryside and towns · Wisconsin · 17k people
Lafayette County
Locals say the Driftless Area
Where the hills are green and the cheese is fresh.
Harvest GoldPasture Green
Welcome to Lafayette County, where the rolling hills of the Driftless Area meet small-town charm. Whether you're here for the cheese, the fishing, or the friendly faces, you'll find a place that feels like home.
Clubs for Lafayette County
No clubs for Lafayette County yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Lafayette County. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Lafayette County. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- First Capitol Historic Site Site of Wisconsin's first territorial capitol in Belmont.
- Yellowstone Lake State Park Lake for fishing, camping, and hiking.
- Belmont Mound State Park Scenic overlook of the Driftless Area.
- Badger Mine and Museum Historic lead mine in Shullsburg.
- Lafayette County Courthouse Historic courthouse in Darlington.
- Cheese Country Trail Rail trail for biking and hiking.
- Outdoors Hiking at Belmont Mound
- Outdoors Fishing at Yellowstone Lake
- With kids Touring the Badger Mine
- With kids Exploring the First Capitol
- Evenings Supper clubs
- Evenings Local taverns
- Locals love Dairy farms
- Locals love Supper clubs
Through the year
- Lafayette County Fair July The county fair in Darlington with rides, livestock, and local food.
- Shullsburg Badger Days Summer Celebration of the area's lead mining history with parades and music.
- Belmont First Capitol Days Summer Festival commemorating Wisconsin's first territorial capitol in Belmont.
- Argyle Apple Festival Fall Fall celebration with apple picking, baked goods, and crafts.
The Driftless Area has a continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. The best time to be out is late spring through early fall. Best: Late spring through early fall
Talk like a local
- “driftless”
- The unglaciated region of southwestern Wisconsin.
- “the Lead Region”
- Historical name for the area's lead mining district.
- “supper club”
- A type of restaurant serving steak and fish.
- “cheesehead”
- A term for a Green Bay Packers fan.
Getaways
- Platteville Home of UW-Platteville and the Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums.
- Dubuque Mississippi River town with the National Mississippi River Museum.
- Galena Historic town with 19th-century architecture and shopping.
- Madison State capital with lakes, the UW campus, and the farmers' market.
Local flavour
Rooting for Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers, UW-Platteville Pioneers
Eat and drink
- Cheese curds Fresh, squeaky curds from local dairies, often fried or eaten straight.
- Bratwurst A Wisconsin staple, often grilled and served with sauerkraut and mustard.
- Friday fish fry A weekly tradition at supper clubs and taverns, featuring beer-battered cod or perch.
Where people go
- Dairy farms Family-run dairy farms dot the landscape, producing milk and cheese.
- Supper clubs Classic Wisconsin supper clubs with relish trays, prime rib, and brandy old fashioneds.
- County fairs Annual fairs with livestock shows, 4-H exhibits, and cream puffs.
- Historic lead mines Remnants of the 19th-century lead rush, including mine shafts and heritage sites in Shullsburg and Benton.
- Small-town main streets Charming downtowns with brick storefronts, cafes, and local shops.
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaPlattevilleWisconsinWhere the bluffs meet the prairieDubuqueIowaLocal rooms for Dubuque.FreeportIllinoisPretzel pride in the heart of the MidwestGalenaIllinoisWhere the river meets the bluffsMadisonWisconsinLakes, bikes, and Badgers — welcome to the isthmus.MaquoketaIowaWhere the river meets the bluffsJanesville–BeloitWisconsinDairyland charm on the Rock RiverBarabooWisconsinBluffs, river, and a little circus.
Lafayette County, WI. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.