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371 Dane County

[The county of Dane] Is bounded on the north by Sauk and Portage counties; on the east by Dodge and Jefferson; on the south by Rock and Green; and on the west by Iowa; or on the north by the north line of township nine; east by the east line of range twelve; south by the south line of township five and west by the west line of range six. It is forty two miles long from east to west and thirty miles wide from north to south, with an area of twelve hundred and thirty five square miles or sections; thirty five of which are covered by the water of the Lakes. This county was set off from the west part of Milwaukee, and east part of Iowa counties in 1836; but was not organized as a separate county until 1839. Its population in 1838 was 172; in 1840 it was 314 and [in 1842] at the last enumeration in 1842, its population was 776 [it may now be estimated at about one thousand].

The county seat is at Madison the capital of the Territory. The face of the country in this large and important central county is much diversidied by hills and valleys; the hills however are always

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