Fort Atkinson Map
Fort Atkinson is a city in Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 389 at the 2000 census. It is home to the historic Fort Atkinson State Preserve and hosts a large annual fur-trapper rendezvous each September. Fort Atkinson holds the largest regional hay auction every Wednesday.
Fort Atkinson was built to protect the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) during their removal from Wisconsin. The name honors Henry Atkinson, the commanding officer in charge of the effort. Construction began in May 1840 and was complete by the summer of 1842. The regular army turned the fort over to Iowa volunteers as the troops stationed there were needed for the Mexican-American War. After the Ho-Chunk were removed from Iowa the post was abandoned on February 14, 1849.
Fort Atkinson is located at 43°8?39?N 91°56?5?W / 43.14417°N 91.93472°W / 43.14417; -91.93472 (43.144034, -91.934839).
Nearby cities include Ridgeway, Lawler, Decorah, West Union, Hawkeye.