The Badger State is full of wonderful small towns that are all unique in their own special ways. Some are known for something made there, others have a fascinating history or are home to an attraction or natural wonder, and still others are simply charming. There's one small town in Wisconsin, though, that has a little bit of everything, and we think you should spend some time exploring it. Come along with us, as we take a look at the sweet little town of Ellsworth, Wisconsin.
Ellsworth is a village of around 3,300 people and the seat of Pierce County, Wisconsin, which is in the extreme western part of the state, near the Minnesota border. Named for Colonel Elmer Ellsworth - the first Union officer to die in the Civil War - the town is home to several historic buildings, including the Pierce County Courthouse. The main business district also exudes the kind of small-town charm you'd expect to find in a tidy, Midwestern county seat.
And in a state that's renowned for - and takes fierce pride in - its cheese, Ellsworth makes the bold claim of being "The Cheese Curd Capital," and, frankly, few would dispute it. The cheese curds from Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery are known far and wide and sold at retail outlets throughout the Midwest.
As far as natural beauty goes, Ellsworth is located on Isabelle Creek, atop a high ridge in western Wisconsin's Driftless Area. Just half an hour west of the village, you'll find Kinnickinnic State Park, on the wild and scenic St. Croix River at its confluence with the park's eponymous river. With more than nine miles of hiking trails tracing the bluffs and the park's rivers, this is a spot you could easily spend a day exploring from your Ellsworth base camp. Bring along AllTrails Plus for downloadable trail maps and other resources.
We absolutely think you'll enjoy exploring this charming small town in Wisconsin. It's a perfect destination for a day trip or even a weekend adventure. You could even spend some time exploring the area with a side trip down to nearby Stockholm. It's about 30 minutes from Ellsworth, on the Mississippi River, and it's renowned for its eateries, including its famous pie. Or head 20 minutes west of Ellsworth to Prescott, at the confluence of the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, to learn more about the Great River Road, which passes through Pierce County on its way to the Gulf of Mexico, at the Great River Road Visitor and Learning Center.
Have you visited Ellsworth, WI, "The Cheese Curd Capital?" Let us know in the comments, and tell us about some of your favorite small towns - and cheese curds - in Wisconsin.
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