Baraboo, a community as unique as its name, had the same beginnings as many other southern Wisconsin cities�but its development throughout the 19th century set it apart. Starting in 1839, several dams were built along the Baraboo River rapids and a typical mill town formed. Baraboo�s population began to rise when it became the county seat in 1846. With the arrival of the railroad in 1871, the village doubled in size within a decade. The railroad also brought exposure to the nearby natural beauty of Devil�s Lake, increasing tourism significantly. Baraboo�s greatest claim to fame began when the Ringling Brothers established a circus there in 1884. America�s largest circus enterprise, Ringling Brothers made Baraboo their winter home every year until 1918.
