10 Wisconsin Towns That Still Feel Like the 1970s

Why do some Wisconsin small towns still feel like the 1970s? The answer starts with the industries that built them—and what happened when the money stopped. In this Wisconsin history documentary, we count down ten towns shaped by railroads, lead and iron mining, lumber, and life along the Mississippi River. Behind their quiet main streets are stories of boom years, devastating fires, fading railway hubs and buildings that outlasted the jobs they were built for. Discover old depots, historic storefronts, mining landmarks, riverfront communities and the people who chose to preserve what remained. These are living towns with layered histories, where a drive down the main street can feel like a wrong turn into 1975. Watch the countdown to see which town takes the final spot. If you enjoy Wisconsin history, Wisconsin travel and stories behind old main streets, subscribe for more. Which town should we cover next? Leave its name and a local story below. CHAPTERS 00:00 When the boom years ended 01:04 Spooner 03:42 Mellen 06:32 Fountain City 09:39 Elroy 12:37 Cassville 15:39 Alma 18:35 Shullsburg 20:58 Mineral Point 23:48 Montreal 26:44 Hurley RESEARCH SOURCES Alma https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alma,_W... Atlas Obscura, The Rock in the House https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/t... Cassville https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassvil... Elroy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elroy,_... Elroy-Sparta State Trail https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elroy-S... Fountain City https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountai... Fountain City history https://www.fountaincitywi.gov/about-... Gogebic Range https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gogebic... Great River Road: Alma National Historic District https://wigrr.com/listing/alma-nation... Great River Road: Buena Vista Overlook https://www.wigrr.com/buena-vista-ove... Hurley https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurley,... Kendall, Monroe County https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendall... Lafayette County: Shullsburg Badger Mine and Museum https://www.lafayettecountywi.org/exp... Mellen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mellen,... Mineral Point https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral... Montreal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montrea... Montreal Company Location Historic District https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montrea... Rockhounding.org, Montreal Mine https://rockhounding.org/us/wi/montre... Shullsburg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shullsb... Spooner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spooner... Travel Wisconsin: Railroad Memories Museum https://travelwisconsin.com/museums-h... WHS: 207 Silver St, Hurley https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/reco... WHS: Alma Historic District https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Reco... WHS: Foster family of lumbermen https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Reco... WHS: Iron Mining in Wisconsin https://wisconsinhistory.org/Records/... WHS: Mellen City Hall https://wisconsinhistory.org/Records/... Population figures: historical U.S. Census counts reproduced in the town histories above. ESSENTIAL CREDITS General stock footage: Storyblocks. Archival segment: Wisconsin Historical Society. Photo attributions: Copper Falls State Park — Corey Coyle (CC BY 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... Hurley Silver Street — Bobak Ha'Eri (CC BY 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... Hurley courthouse — Bobak Ha'Eri (CC BY 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... Mellen City Hall — Corey Coyle (CC BY 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... Mineral Point, WI - 001 — dwhartwig (CC BY 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... Mineral Point, WI - 009 — dwhartwig (CC BY 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... Montreal historic district — Bobak Ha'Eri (CC BY 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... Spooner, Wisconsin — David Wilson (CC BY 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... CC BY 2.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... CC BY 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... #Wisconsin #WisconsinHistory #SmallTowns