Sun Prairie (town), Wisconsin

Sun Prairie is a town in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,308 at the 2000 census. The City of Sun Prairie is located partially within the town. The unincorporated communities of Pierceville and Schey Acres are also located in the town.HistoryPresident Martin Van Buren commissioned a party of 45 men, including Augustus A. Bird, to build a territory capitol in Madison. The group of men left Milwaukee on May 26, 1837 and traveled for days in the rain. On June 9, the group emerged at the edge of the prairie and with the sun shining for the first time in days, carved the words "Sun Prairie" into a tree. Charles Bird returned to the area two years later and became the first settler. The town of Sun Prairie was created on February 2, 1846.GeographyAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.4 square miles (81.2 km²), all of it land.DemographicsAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,308 people, 806 households, and 653 families residing in the town. The population density was 73.6 people per square mile (28.4/km²). There were 830 housing units at an average density of 26.5 per square mile (10.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.36% White, 0.69% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 1.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.