Rock Elm
There will be a public test of the Direct Record Electronic Voting Equipment to be used at the Spring Election for the Town of Rock Elm on Sunday, March 26, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. at the Rock Elm Town Hall, located at N5412 170th Street, Elmwood, WI. This is done before each election. The Spring Election will be Tuesday April 4, 2023 at the Rock Elm Town Hall. The polls will be open from 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.
The Town of Rock Elm is offering 0% Deferred CDBG Housing Loans, click here to see if you qualify.
THE TOWN OF ROCK ELM
POPULATION
2022 estimate 442
EQUALIZATION
2021 value $47,897,800
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Elmwood, Plum City & Spring Valley
In 1866 Otis Churchill, Willard Rider and Oscar Fowler were hired by a group of potential settlers in Milwaukee to explore the Rock Elm area of Pierce County for possible settlement. Upon their return, Willard Rider went to Dodge County to Charles A. Hawn and David L. White, who ran a sawmill there and persuaded them to move their mill to Pierce County with the promise of 25 families from Milwaukee settling there. A horse tramway to Maiden Rock, a shipyard to build boats and barges to ship lumber down river from there were all promised.
The plan was approved of by Hawn and White and they relocated along with S. J. Fox to Rock Elm. Mr. Fox opened a store, Hawn and White shipped their mill to La Crosse by railway, then by boat to Maiden Rock and lastly by ox team to Rock Elm and in six weeks they were sawing lumber.
The only one of the promised 25 settlers to arrive was the family of Otis Churchill. Other early settlers included William Craig and family in 1865, the James C. Miles family in 1863 and William H. Miles in 1865. The James Collett and Alexander family arrived in 1863 as well.
Hawn and his sons, Ed, Jay and Cassius continued to run the mill for many years and also dabbled in land speculation, buying property in Rock Elm and adjoining townships. In partnership with George H. Nichols, they were successful in finding some gold and diamonds in the area, but not enough to mine. Mr. Hawn was prominent in local politics and later was elected assemblyman from Pierce County.
TOWN MEETINGS
The regular town board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 8:00 PM at the town hall. There is a portion of this meeting set aside for public input. If you wish to have an item put on the agenda please call the Town Clerk. Notices for the meetings are published in the Shopper, and will also be posted on this website.
The Annual Town meeting is held every Spring on the third Tuesday in April. At the town meeting the voting residents of the Town of Rock Elm can inspect the Financial Report of the previous year and raise concerns regarding the town.
The Budget Hearing is held in October of each year. Town residents are encouraged to attend for input and information.