The Vernon County courthouse on November 22, 2015
Bad Ax County was formed in 1851 from portions of Richland County and Crawford County. For one reason or another, Bad Ax County was renamed in 1862 to Vernon County. The name “Vernon” was chosen to evoke President Washington’s estate Mount Vernon. The name Bad Ax had come from the river of the same name that flows though the county until it reaches the Mississippi River. The Battle of Bad Ax (or the Bad Ax Massacre) was the final engagement of the Blackhawk War of 1832, so I guess it was not a bad idea to rename the county.
Vernon County is one of five Wisconsin counties that have been renamed.
The Vernon County seat is Viroqua. Viroqua was founded by Moses Decker in 1847. He donated 40 acres of land to the county in 1852 for the county seat. Naturally the offer was contingent on selecting Viroqua as the county seat instead of its rival Springville! It’s not clear where the name “Viroqua” came from; it may have been the name of the paddlewheel steamer that brought early settlers to the area on the Mississippi River.
The Vernon County courthouse is located at 400 Courthouse Square in Viroqua, at the intersection of North Dunlap Avenue and West Court Street. The building was built in 1880 and an annex was added on during the 20th century. I visited Viroqua on Sunday November 22, 2015 around noon. Highway 14 runs though the center of town (it is Main Street) and the courthouse square is located a few blocks to the west near a large park complex. I also visited one of the Vernon County Historical sites which has the old St. Marys Catholic church and the Foreaker schoolhouse. On my way out of town I stopped for a few pictures of the Vernon County Museum.
As is true for some of the counties, I have no real ties to Vernon County at all. As far as I remember, my trip to see the courthouse is the only time I’ve ever been in Vernon County. It is a very scenic area and I enjoyed the drive from Richland Center to Viroqua on Highway 14.