Belmont

Belmont, village, Lafayette county, southwestern Wisconsin, U.S. It lies about 60 miles (100 km) southwest of Madison. The original village was the first seat of the Territory of Wisconsin (created 1836), and the first legislature met there for 46 days in one of several hastily constructed frame buildings (including a Council House, Supreme Court building, and boarding house for the legislators). The old village of Belmont (now called Leslie) was abandoned after it was bypassed by the Platteville branch of the Mineral Point Railroad, and the legislature moved to Burlington, Iowa (then in the Territory of Wisconsin), and later (1838) to Madison.

The present village of Belmont was established on the railroad line and was incorporated in 1894. It is heavily agricultural (dairying, livestock, corn [maize], and soybeans); cheese is also produced. At First Capitol Historic Site, 3 miles (5 km) northwest on the old village site, are the restored Council House and Supreme Court building. Mineral Point—a centre of lead-mining activities in the early to mid-19th century and the location of Pendarvis, a historical site preserving the homes of Cornish lead miners—is about 15 miles (25 km) northeast. Pop. (2000) 871; (2010) 986.