Delhi, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Delhi, Wisconsin is a ghost town
in the town of Rushford
, Winnebago County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. It is located on County Highway E between Omro
and Eureka
at the junction of the Fox River
and Waukau Creek. Delhi was also known as La Borde's Landing. 1980 census records identify Delhi as Island Park. Delhi had an established post office between 1850-1893.
platbook dated 1889.
The site was used by regional Indians as a burial ground. The settlers of Delhi often found the Indian burials while spring plowing. Their findings included pottery, beads, guns, copper, and other objects. Oshkosh Public Museum
owns many of the relics.
Delhi was a preferred trading post for the local Indians and residents of Eureka and Omro. La Borde built a float bridge for the use of Poygan
, Winneconne
, and Rushford
settlers on their way to the gristmills at Waukau. In addition to being a trading post, Delhi had 3 stores, 2 grain mills, 3 hop mills and hop press, and a saw mill. Boats and furniture were crafted in Delhi. It had a livery, a schoolhouse, a 22 room hotel, and a bar. The hops were grown and pressed in Delhi then shipped to Oshkosh
and Milwaukee
. Years later, a dock was built. Steamboats made regular stops in Delhi. A small stagecoach from Oshkosh to Omro, Eureka, and other locations stopped daily in Delhi delivering passengers and mail.
Delhi was slowly abandoned and then deteriorated. It had considered itself to be a strong contender for county seat over Omro and Eureka. Trade shifted to Omro and Eureka when those villages built better bridges than Delhi could afford. The railroad came to Omro causing further diversion of trade. Delhi's residents moved to the neighboring villages and beyond.
Today, only one deteriorated house stands from that era. Luke La Borde and his wife, Louisa, are buried on the property.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
in the town of Rushford
Rushford, Wisconsin
Rushford is a town in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,471 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Eureka, and Waukau are located in the town...
, Winnebago County
Winnebago County, Wisconsin
Winnebago County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2009, the population estimate was 163,370. Its county seat is Oshkosh. Winnebago County is included in the Oshkosh, Wisconsin-Neenah, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located on County Highway E between Omro
Omro, Wisconsin
Omro is a city in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,177 at the 2000 census. The city is located along the Fox River, approximately 10 miles west of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.-1853 description:OMRO, P...
and Eureka
Eureka, Winnebago County, Wisconsin
Eureka is an unincorporated census-designated place in the town of Rushford, in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located on the Fox River at the intersection of county highways K & E southwest of Omro...
at the junction of the Fox River
Fox River (Wisconsin)
The Fox River is a river in eastern and central Wisconsin in the United States. Along the banks is a chain of cities, including Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Appleton, Little Chute, Kimberly, Combined Locks, and Kaukauna. Except for Oshkosh, these cities refer to themselves as the Fox Cities...
and Waukau Creek. Delhi was also known as La Borde's Landing. 1980 census records identify Delhi as Island Park. Delhi had an established post office between 1850-1893.
History
Delhi was founded by Luke La Borde, a French Canadian trader. La Borde patented the site of 145 acres on March 1, 1848. The site was expanded after the sale of initial lots. A land survey was made on July 17, 1849. The lots were uniform in measurement, 66 feet wide by 132 feet deep. The main street of Broadway measured 82 1/2 feet wide. All other streets were 66 feet wide. Water, Union, Washington, Liberty, Grand, Ann, Broad, Harrison, Howard, Pearl, Main, and Menominee streets are listed in a Winnebago CountyWinnebago County, Wisconsin
Winnebago County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2009, the population estimate was 163,370. Its county seat is Oshkosh. Winnebago County is included in the Oshkosh, Wisconsin-Neenah, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
platbook dated 1889.
The site was used by regional Indians as a burial ground. The settlers of Delhi often found the Indian burials while spring plowing. Their findings included pottery, beads, guns, copper, and other objects. Oshkosh Public Museum
Oshkosh Public Museum
The Oshkosh Public Museum is museum located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States. It is housed in the Edgar and Mary Jewell Sawyer House, which is part of the Algoma Boulevard Historic District, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
owns many of the relics.
Delhi was a preferred trading post for the local Indians and residents of Eureka and Omro. La Borde built a float bridge for the use of Poygan
Poygan, Wisconsin
Poygan is a town in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,037 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.7 square miles , of which, 23.3 square miles of it is land and 18.3 square miles of...
, Winneconne
Winneconne, Wisconsin
Winneconne is a village in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,401 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Winneconne...
, and Rushford
Rushford, Wisconsin
Rushford is a town in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,471 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Eureka, and Waukau are located in the town...
settlers on their way to the gristmills at Waukau. In addition to being a trading post, Delhi had 3 stores, 2 grain mills, 3 hop mills and hop press, and a saw mill. Boats and furniture were crafted in Delhi. It had a livery, a schoolhouse, a 22 room hotel, and a bar. The hops were grown and pressed in Delhi then shipped to Oshkosh
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...
and Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
. Years later, a dock was built. Steamboats made regular stops in Delhi. A small stagecoach from Oshkosh to Omro, Eureka, and other locations stopped daily in Delhi delivering passengers and mail.
Delhi was slowly abandoned and then deteriorated. It had considered itself to be a strong contender for county seat over Omro and Eureka. Trade shifted to Omro and Eureka when those villages built better bridges than Delhi could afford. The railroad came to Omro causing further diversion of trade. Delhi's residents moved to the neighboring villages and beyond.
Today, only one deteriorated house stands from that era. Luke La Borde and his wife, Louisa, are buried on the property.