Beaver Dam is a small Midwestern city on the shores of Beaver Dam Lake, in the heart of south central Wisconsin. The urban setting of the city blends into the suburban neighborhoods in adjacent townships and then seamlessly transitions to century old farms in outlying Dodge County. This city is a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.
Quality of life has always been one of the chief themes of city officials, civic leaders and the business community in Beaver Dam. This has included stewardship of Beaver Dam Lake, one of the state’s largest lakes with 41 miles of shoreline. Over the past century, the community has established several parks on the lake and along the Beaver Dam River, in addition to more than 10 municipal parks located throughout the city. Plus, the Beaver Dam Arts Center offers classes, retail and something for everyone. Golfers have two beautiful country clubs to choose from; Beaver Dam Country Club and Old Hickory Country Club. Both offer gorgeous greens and wonderful dining atmospheres.
The City of Beaver Dam has been active in revitalizing the downtown area. Several older buildings were razed along the river for safety and there will now be a Rotary Park in their place. In the next coming months, a River Market will be established where vendors can show off their wares including a farmer’s market, arts, crafts, bakery, etc.
Neighborhood elementary schools and a centrally located Middle School and High School enable most students to walk to school, and provide easy access for parents and families to participate in school activities and programs. In addition, the community is served by excellent private grade schools and Wayland Academy, the oldest co-educational college preparatory high school in the nation.
Manufacturing, service and retail business has grown with the community. Manufacturing and service businesses account for a substantial amount of local employment. Retail includes everything from mom and pop owned small businesses, to big box national retailers.
Beaver Dam is located along U.S. Highway 151 and provides direct access to Madison (45 minutes to the Capitol from downtown Beaver Dam) to the southwest, and to Fond du Lac (35 minutes, downtown to downtown) to the northeast. Beaver Dam is also only 90 minutes northwest of downtown Milwaukee, the largest city in the state, and only one hour east from Wisconsin Dells, consistently one of the Midwest’s most popular family recreational destinations.
Beaver Dam provides all the necessities of life and some of life’s luxuries. Its proximity to the largest cities in Wisconsin provides easy access to the most metropolitan attractions, an international airport and collegiate and professional sporting events. The friendly, welcoming, small town atmosphere of Beaver Dam endears itself to new residents, and makes it a comfortable place to live for generations of families that call the community home.
Kelly Hoffman, Branch Manager, First Weber Beaver Dam
Bridge photo courtesy of Kelly Hoffman