Baraboo, Wisconsin
Baraboo is a city of 12,769 people in Sauk County, Wisconsin, founded in 1838.
Why visit Baraboo
Townapedia lists 32 museums and landmarks, 24 parks and trails, 44 places to eat, 10 places to stay and 8 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Al. Ringling Theatre, Manchester Street Bridge, Circus World Museum and A. G. Tuttle Estate.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 10°F, and about 43 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Baraboo
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Baraboo
Baraboo is the county seat of Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States, located along the Baraboo River. The population was 12,556 at the 2020 census. The most populous city in the county, Baraboo is the principal city of the Baraboo micropolitan statistical area, which comprises a portion of the Madison combined statistical area.
From the Wikipedia article Baraboo, Wisconsin (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do8
Al. Ringling Theatre
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places
Theater and former movie theater in Baraboo, Wisconsin, United States
Manchester Street Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Camelback steel truss bridge in Baraboo Wisconsin in Sauk County
Museums and landmarks32
Circus World Museum
Museum · National Register of Historic Places
Circus museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin, United States
550 Water Street, Baraboo
A. G. Tuttle Estate
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic house in Baraboo, Wisconsin, US
Albrecht C. Ringling House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic house in Baraboo, Wisconsin, United States
Baraboo station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic railway station in Wisconsin, U.S
Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Public library in Baraboo, Wisconsin, USA
Charles and Anna Ruhland House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Baraboo, Wisconsin
Charles Ringling House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
House in Baraboo, Wisconsin
Devil's Lake State Park
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.9 mi
State park in Wisconsin, United States
Downtown Baraboo Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic district in Baraboo, Wisconsin
Gust Brothers' Store
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Commercial building in Baraboo, Wisconsin, United States
Island Woolen Company Office Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Office building located in Baraboo, Wisconsin, United States, along the Baraboo River
Jacob Van Orden House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
House in Baraboo, Wisconsin
20 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds24
12 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes44
Baraboo Burger Company
Restaurant · Burger, Regional
116 4th Avenue, Baraboo
Mo-Tu, Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-24:00; Su 11:00-22:00
Coffee Bean Connection
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.4 mi
701 Oak Street, Baraboo
Mo-Sa 06:00-14:00; Su 08:00-14:00
Driftless Glen Distillery
Restaurant · American, Burger
300 Water Street, Baraboo
Mo-Tu,Su 11:00-20:00;We-Th 11:00-21:00;Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00;PH closed
Little Village Cafe
Cafe · American · 0.4 mi
146 4th Avenue, Baraboo
Mo-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00
AL. Ringling Brewing Company
Bar and pub · 0.4 mi
623 Broadway Street, Baraboo
Fr-Sa 11:00-20:00; Su,Th 11:00-19:00
Little Tokyo Japanese Restaurant
Restaurant · Japanese
111 4th Street, Baraboo
Mo-Fr 11:00-21:00; Sa-Su 11:00-22:00
32 more on the map.
History
The area around Baraboo was the site of a Kickapoo village as early as 1665. The current community was established by Abe Wood in 1838, and was originally known as the village of Adams. In 1839 several settlers arrived and started building cabins, and a saw mill. In 1846 it became the county seat of Sauk County after a fierce fight with the nearby village of Reedsburg. In 1852, the village was renamed "Baraboo", after the nearby river. It was incorporated as a village in 1866 and as a city in 1882.
In the 1860s, the city had surpassed a population of 2,000, and many businesses started to form, including grocery stores, banks, and hotels. In 1872, the Chicago and North Western Railway (C&NW) was built. Baraboo became home to several saw mills during this time, because of its location near the Baraboo and Wisconsin Rivers.
In 1884, the Ringling Brothers Circus was established in Baraboo by circus performers and tourers the Ringling brothers, after they settled in the city in 1875 and performed their first show in Mazomanie, Wisconsin in 1882. Several other circuses then came to the city, which earned Baraboo the nickname "Circus City".
From the History section of Baraboo, Wisconsin on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay10
Churches and places of worship4
Shopping7
Gas and EV charging9
Schools, colleges and libraries21
Healthcare4
Map of Baraboo
163 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 10°F | 1.4 in | 11.3 in |
| Feb | 32°F | 12°F | 1.4 in | 10.1 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 23°F | 2.2 in | 5.9 in |
| Apr | 57°F | 34°F | 4.2 in | 2.6 in |
| May | 70°F | 46°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 56°F | 5.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 60°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 58°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 50°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 60°F | 38°F | 2.9 in | 0.4 in |
| Nov | 46°F | 28°F | 2.2 in | 2.1 in |
| Dec | 33°F | 17°F | 1.7 in | 10.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Baraboo (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Sauk County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-06-30: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-10-18: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (Flood)
- 2008-06-14: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2007-08-26: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Tri-County Regional Airport (LNR) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 29 miles away.
- West Baraboo 2 mi west, about 3 min by car
- North Freedom 6 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Bluffview 8 mi south, about 12 min by car
- Merrimac 8 mi southeast, about 14 min by car
- Lake Delton 9 mi north, about 14 min by car
- Rock Springs 9 mi west, about 15 min by car
- Lake Wisconsin 10 mi southeast, about 16 min by car
- Prairie du Sac 12 mi south, about 19 min by car
- Wisconsin Dells 12 mi north, about 19 min by car
- Madison 31 mi southeast, about 49 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Baraboo downtown, Wikideas1, CC0
- St. Joseph's Catholic Church Baraboo, WI - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- St. Joseph Catholic Church Baraboo, WI - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Old Baraboo High School-Baraboo Civic Center - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Baraboo Tent and Awning Building - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- H^R Block® Baraboo - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- 2015 Baraboo Holiday Light Parade - panoramio (5), Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- 2015 Baraboo Holiday Light Parade - panoramio (4), Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- 2015 Baraboo Holiday Light Parade - panoramio (7), Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- CircusWorldWaterStreet, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- Baraboo Public Library - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Manchester Street Bridge - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Island Woolen Company Office Building, Tgkrause, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Devils Lake State Park, CrispAir at en.wikipedia, CC BY 3.0
- William Clark House, Tgkrause, CC BY-SA 3.0
- A G Tuttle Estate, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- Baraboo depot, Znns, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Charles and Anna Ruhland House, TheCatalyst31, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gust Brothers Store Building - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Baraboo-1005-sevengables, Freekee, Public domain
- CharlesRinglingHouse, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- PorterDuplexBaraboo, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- Sauk County Courthouse, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- Albrecht C Ringling House, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- Point of Rocks, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- Jacob van Orden House, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- East Oak Street, Baraboo Downtown HD, TheCatalyst31, CC0
- RinglingTheatre, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- UW Baraboo far, JackFromWisconsin, CC0
- Man Mound, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- Driftless Glen Distillery - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Winter Quarters Shops, Ringlings Bros. Circus - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Baggade Horse Barn - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- St. Joseph Catholic School - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Ringling Brothers Circus Headquarters (Winter Office) - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Thompson House Hotel, Tgkrause, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fullmer Warehouse-Wardrobe Department - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Ringling Brothers Circus, Lions and Tigers House - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Ringling Brothers Circus, Giraffe and Hippo House - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Circus World Museum Concrete Entrance Tent - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
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