Taylor, WI

Taylor is a small town located in Dane County, Wisconsin. The population was 1,539 at the 2010 census. Taylor is home to the Taylor Historic District and the Taylor Train Depot Museum.

The first settlers arrived in what is now Taylor in 1837. The town was named for General Zachary Taylor, who had just been elected president of the United States. In 1848, a post office was established and it became an important stop on the route between Milwaukee and Chicago. By 1850, there were enough people living in Taylor to form a village government.

In 1892, the railroad came to town and changed everything. Suddenly, farmers could sell their crops not only in Milwaukee but also all over northern Wisconsin and southern Illinois. The growth of the railroad led to even more growth in Taylor; by 1910, there were 2,000 people living here.

Today, much of what makes Taylor unique remains unchanged: its small-town feel; its historic district; and its train depot museum (which houses one of only two remaining steam locomotives from the early days of railroading). But like so many other towns across America, Taylor has seen its share of change over the years – most notably with the arrival of technology and globalization – which has led to new opportunities and challenges for residents and businesses alike.