Early settlement Early settlers came to this area due to the abundance of natural resources, especially lumber. In 1844, the first
copper mine was established in this area, but it was soon abandoned. James W. Babb and his wife Rebecca Scarff Babb are the earliest recorded settlers, having brought their family to Wisconsin from Ohio in 1845. In June 1848 a sawmill followed. By 1850, "Shanty Row" comprised five tamarack shanties. Reedsburg was platted in 1852, and four years later the community had grown to 50 buildings housing 27 families and 122 people. The first bridge across the Baraboo River was built in 1853, located where the Main Street bridge would later be built. In 1854 the Mackey brothers purchased Reed's saw mill, and brought economic security to the area. As the town was growing, more farms continued to be developed around the area, cultivating a variety of crops.
Late 1800s The community continued under town government until 1868, when Reedsburg was incorporated as a village; it became a city in May 1887. As the city continued to grow, more industries came to Reedsburg. On December 1, 1883, the Webb and Schweke department store opened, known as the "Big Store". The store would go on to be the largest department store in Sauk County. The
City Hotel opened in 1886, owned by William Roper. Among the most important was the
Reedsburg Woolen Mill. Construction was completed in 1882, and by 1899, 32 broad looms produced mainly "fancy cassimeres" for Chicago markets.
1900s In 1902 the facility was purchased by
Appleton Woolen Mills, and began producing clothing for east coast outlets. Sears and Montgomery Wards became two major clients. In 1910, the Central Wisconsin Creamery opened, making Reedsburg famous for its butter production. The Reedsburg Woolen Mill, long one of the area's largest employers, endured until 1967; most of the mill complex burned in April 1968, leaving only the mill office. In 1928, the
Reedsburg Municipal Airport was first established on an farm east of the city. It would be later purchased by the city and continues to be used today as a
general aviation airport. In 1951, Herbert Webb left Reedsburg a $300,000 trust fund, which is equivalent to over 4 million dollars, adjusted for inflation. He also set aside funding for Webb Park and Webb High School on the northeast side of Reedsburg, before his death in 1954. Another important business has been the Hankscraft Company. Incorporated in Madison in 1920, Hankscraft—makers of baby bottle warmers, sterilizers and other products—thrived during the post-war baby boom, and in 1949 opened a plant in Reedsburg. In 1961, Hankscraft purchased Nursmatic Corporation, expanding their line to include bassinets, safety harnesses, baby toiletries and other products; a year later, the acquisition of Ruzicka Laboratories allowed the firm to expand once more, adding vaporizer fluids,
baby oil, shampoo and lotions. In 1970, Hankscraft was purchased by Gerber Products Company, and began producing baby food. It was the town's second largest employer, exceeded only by the Reedsburg Woolen Mill. In the 1980s, the
Wisconsin and Southern Railroad came to Reedsburg, having purchased the old C&NW railroad track. In 1996, Gerber Products Company sold Hankscraft Motors, which continues to operate in Reedsburg. Other important industries have included Grede Foundry, Seats, Inc., and the Columbia Par Car Corporation. In 1971, the first Butter Festival, now known as Butterfest, was held in Webb Park. It was a celebration of the farming and dairy industry. In 1984, together the
Main Street Commercial Historic District and the
Park Street Historic District were added to the National Register of Historic Places.
2000s Fermentation Fest, an annual celebration of Reedsburg's agricultural heritage, was established in 2010. As part of the movement in 2014, Harvest Park was created as a downtown park featuring "Ruminant", a decorated piece of farm equipment, as a permanent installation. The
Baraboo River flooded in both 2008 and 2018, destroying several homes and businesses. As a result of the flooding, two new parks were created – Mackey Park and the Community Market. == Geography ==