Changing Boundaries
The boundaries of Mountain that we know today, like all boundaries, weren’t always. They’ve changed significantly over the years. Originally, while there was a town of Mountain, the township was called Armstrong, so let’s take a quick look at how the borders of the Town of Mountain, Wisconsin we know and love today came to be.
Establishing Oconto County
In 1851 Oconto County was formed from 5,000 square miles of wilderness. When it was split off of the northern part of Brown County it was the largest county in the state of Wisconsin, extending the entire western length of Green Bay and Lake Michigan to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula border. [1]
Between 1853 and 1886 the land was further divided and Oconto County took the shape we know today.
1853 - Shawano County created from sections of Oconto, Waupaca, and Winnebago Counties.
1879 - Langlade and Marinette Counties created out of Oconto County.
1882 - Florence County created from sections of Marinette and Oconto Counties.
1886 - Oconto County lost land to Forest County.
1919 - Oconto County lost land to Brown County.
1961 - Oconto County lost land to form Menominee County. [2]
Creating the Town of Armstrong
1877
Thomas McAllen and his wife, Alice, built the first permanent home in Mountain, on the banks of the North Branch of the Oconto River.
Mountain was one of several places used as a stopping point for logging teams in the early history of Oconto County.
1891
The Town of Armstrong was created from several sections of the Towns of How and Maple Valley, comprising approximately the northern third of Oconto County. [3]
1905
Wheeler was created from the northern third of Armstrong. [3]
1921
Riverview was split off from Armstrong. [3]
1922
Some land was moved to Townsend, and Doty was split off from Armstrong. [3]
1997
The Town of Armstrong changed its name to the Town of Mountain. [3]
Sources:
Oconto County Timeline. Oconto County Historical Society. https://ocontohistory.org/oconto-county-time-line Retrieved 16 Sep 2024.
Atlas of Historical County Borders. The Newberry Library. http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp Retrieved 16 Sep 2024.
Municipal Data System. Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Intergovernmental Relations. State of Wisconsin. https://mds.wi.gov/View/MunicipalRecords Retrieved 16 Sep 2024.
