Located on the banks of the Rock River, Fort Atkinson has a legacy built into its name. The community was founded just north of General Henry Atkinson’s Lake Koshkonong fort, a prominent encampment during the Black Hawk War of the 19th century. Today, Fort Atkinson is home to over 12,000 residents keen on the lake’s waterfront recreation. “Between Lake Koshkonong and the Rock River, we have a lot of fishing and water activities,” says Logan McHone, tourism and marketing manager with the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce. “The lake is only seven feet deep, so there aren’t a lot of crazy fast speed boats. But people like to go out and float on the water, and that’s all around Fort Atkinson.” Between its thriving industries, historic neighborhoods and convenient commutes to nearby Madison and Milwaukee, modern Fort Atkinson is expanding its history.
Fort Atkinson residential areas are intertwined with schools, parks and churches.
Chief Black Hawk lights the way across the Rock River in downtown Fort Atkinson.
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Merchants Avenue Historic District is a neighborhood spectacle
The leafy residential streets of Fort Atkinson weave north and south of the Rock River. While notable neighborhoods like the Merchants Avenue Historic District offer Colonial, Tudor and Mediterranean Revivals, most of the city’s market comprises midcentury ranch-style homes and bilevels. That said, Fort Atkinson is partially known for its array of historic bungalows and cottages dating back to the 1920s. On the outskirts, modern homes built as recently as 2024 occupy large lots bordering the region’s farmland and natural areas. Altogether, the median home price is around $285,000 – below the national median.
According to FBI data, Fort Atkinson's property crime rates have declined greatly since 2020. The yearly violent crime rate more than doubled in 2022 but has declined since then.
Fort Atkinson has many mid-century ranch style homes.
You can find the occasional Tudor style home in Fort Atkinson.
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Jones Dairy Farm has a 135-year legacy in Fort Atkinson
The agricultural industry has played a large role in Fort Atkinson’s economy for over a century. Through decades of growth and expansion, Jones Dairy Farm remains an active family-owned business that's become a local staple. “Jones ‘Dairy’ Farm is a bit of a misnomer because they’re known for their pork products,” McHone says. “They ship worldwide, but that farm you see on their logo is actually in Fort Atkinson.”
According to the Madison Region Economic Partnership, two of Jefferson County’s leading employers are also located in Fort Atkinson: Nasco Education and Spacesaver Corporation, an international storage manufacturer. “Nasco sends out those frog dissection kits we all did in high school,” McHone says. Additionally, the Fort HealthCare system employs residents throughout the region.
Fort Healthcare is one of many local companies creating jobs in the Fort Atkinson area.
Jones Dairy Farm has been in business for 7 generations supporting Fort Atkinson families.
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Main Street’s small businesses rely on Fort Atkinson’s industries
Seven of Jefferson County's major thoroughfares intersect at the heart of Fort Atkinson. Most notable are Routes 12 and 26, which connect the city to Interstate 94. From there, commuters can expect a 33-mile trip west to Madison and a 58-mile trip east to Milwaukee. Additionally, each thoroughfare offers its own amenities, from Festival Foods on Route 12 to Walmart Supercenter off Route 26. But most popular is the Main Street Historic District, which highlights the city's small businesses and restaurants. "There's an Irish pub down there called Paddy Coughlin's. They use a lot of local ingredients, like Jones Dairy Farm's sausages," McHone says. Though the walkable strip of shops and bars is divided by the Rock River, sidewalks on the Main Street bridge allow consistent foot traffic.
Fort Atkinson residents can get all their grocery needs at Festival Foods near downtown.
For more variety Fort Atkinson residents can head up to the Walmart Supercenter on Route 26.
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Lake Koshkonong has waterfront recreation & historical effigy mounds
Fort Atkinson offers outdoor recreation both within the city and along its outskirts. Rock River Park’s tennis courts and community pool overlook the waterfront, while Bark River Nature Park offers river access year-round, alongside a wintertime ice rink for skating and hockey. Just north of the city, Dorothy Carnes County Park surrounds the 514-acre Rose Lake State Natural Area, a prime spot for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing. But many head to Koshkonong Lake for its waterfront recreation and deep-rooted history. “They have boat launches and a couple of bars and restaurants that are really popular in the summer,” McHone says. The Koshkonong Effigy Mounds date back to the region’s earliest Native American tribes. Today, a portion of the land is occupied by the Koshkonong Mounds Country Club, a semi-private 18-hole golf course.
Barks River Nature Park is the perfect place for Fort Atkinson residents to take a scenic walk.
Fort Atkinson residents can enjoy golfing along the lake at the Koshkonong Mounds Country Club.
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The Fort Atkinson Generals host games at Jones Park
Jones Park is home to the Fort Atkinson Generals, the local baseball team behind many of the city’s annual events and festivities. “People here joke that everything in Fort Atkinson happens at Jones Park,” McHone says. “It’s one of our largest parks, and each June, they host Baseball Fest, which is a big one.” For over 20 years, the Generals have expanded their championship games to include youth tournaments, carnival rides and food trucks. Each winter, local sponsors create floats for the annual Fort Atkinson Holiday Parade, stretching from Main Street to Madison Avenue. “We get a lot of nonprofits and businesses that participate,” McHone continues. “Festival Foods always has this gigantic shopping cart they wrap up with lights. People get pretty excited about it. We’ve been doing it for almost 30 years.”
Jones Park has a well-maintained baseball field used by the Fort Atkinson Generals and schools.
Jones Park is home to the Fort Atkinson Generals baseball team.
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The School District of Fort Atkinson
The School District of Fort Atkinson earns a B on Niche, encompassing the greater Fort Atkinson and Lake Koshkonong regions. With four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school, the district enrolls around 2,500 students each year. Fort Atkinson’s private, spiritual options include Crown of Life Christian Academy and St. Paul’s Lutheran School, each enrolling kindergarten through eighth-grade students. The city is also home to Madison Area Technical College’s Fort Atkinson campus, which offers degree programs in nursing and welding.
Barrie Elementary School is a top rated public grade school in Fort Atkinson.
Fort Atkinson High School has a variety of athletic facilities available to students.
A lifelong resident of the Madison area, Michael was raised on a Dairy farm just east of Sun Prairie. His incredible work ethic, strong guidance and desire to help people with their real estate needs have made Michael one of the top producers for RE/MAX Preferred. Michael has over 27 years of sales and marketing experience in Dane County. Michael's list of accomplishments include: 100% Club, Platinum Club, RE/MAX Hall of Fame Award and # 3 top Real Estate Team for RE/MAX in Wisconsin plus recently awarded the prestigious Life Time Achievement Award as well as the . Michael is a graduate from UW Madison, and has degrees in agricultural engineering and economics. In his free time, Michael enjoys, outdoors, fishing and traveling with his family to interesting historic places.
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