FORT ATKINSON, a thriving post-village of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, on Rock river, just below the mouth of the Bark river, about 40 miles E.S.E. from Madison. It is situated in a rich farming district. It has (1853) 2 churches. 8 stores, and about 500 inhabitants. (Baldwin's New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States..., 1854)
FORT ATKINSON, P. V., on section 3, town 5 N., of range 14 E., Jefferson county, being in the town of Koskonong, at the junction of Bark with Rock river. It is 6 miles south of Jefferson, and 32 miles southeast from Madison. It derives its name from General Atkinson, who built a temporary fort at this place during the Black Hawk war—hence its name. Population 350, with 70 dwellings, 8 stores, 3 hotels, 1 steam saw mill, 3 tailors, 2 shoe, 3 blacksmith, 2 cooper, and 1 cabinet shops. 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist church. (John Warren Hunt, Wisconsin Gazetteer..., Madison, 1853)