RIPON, Wis., city in Fond du Lac County, on Silver Creek, an inlet of Green Bay, and on the Chicago and Northwestern and the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul railoads, about 85 miles northwest of Milwaukee and 18 miles west by north of Fond du Lac.
Ripon was settled in 1844 by the Phalanx," an organization of 19 members, founded at. Southport, Wis., based upon Fourier's principles. The city was named Ripon by John Homer, whose ancestors had lived in Ripon, England. The pros pered and held together as an organization for six years. The reports of gold in California was one of the causes of unrest which led to the voluntary and peaceable disbanding of the organization in 1850. The city was incorporated in 1849 and chartered in 1858. Ripon claims to be the birthplace of the Republican party, and one of the historic buildings is pointed out as the place where the first meetings were held and where the party received its name. The chief industrial wealth of the city is connected with the products of the rich farms of the valley. Grain, fruit and vegetables are abun
dant, and the dairy products are of consider able value. The chief manufacturing establish ments are knitting works, glove factory, grain elevators, washing-machine works, veneer works, carriage works, machine shops, and pickling works, creameries, box and crate fac tories and flour and feed mills. There are sev eral churches and a number of fine business blocks. The educational institutions are Ripon College, organized in 1851; a high school. graded elementary schools, a parochial school and a free public library. The three banks have a combined capital of over $2,000,000. The gov ernment is vested in a mayor and a council of eight members, who hold office two years, four of whom are elected each year. Ripon is a favorite summer resort on account of its climate, beautiful scenery and the attractive drives to nearby points of interest. Pop. 4,090.