BARABOO

city, seat (1840) of Sauk county, south-central Wisconsin, U.S. It lies on small hills 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Madison. Baraboo originated in the early 19th century as a trading post established by the French trapper Jean Baribault, who lived along the river that was named (somewhat phonetically) for him. Incorporated in 1882, the community developed as a distribution centre for dairy products produced in the surrounding area. Baraboo is best known, however, as the original home of the five Ringling (Rngeling) brothers (Charles, Albert, Alfred, Otto, and John) and the birthplace in 1883 of the Ringling Circus, which wintered there until 1918. The city's Circus World Museum, owned by the State Historical Society and occupying 50 acres (20 hectares), displays more than 170 circus wagons, an animated miniature circus, and other relics; in the summer it holds circus parades and live circus performances under the big top. Baraboo was also the home of the smaller Gollmar Brothers and the Burlington and Seils Sterling circuses. The Mid-Continent Railway Museum features operating steam locomotives, train rides, and a restored 1894 depot. The city has acquired some light manufacturing. A University of Wisconsin centre opened in Baraboo in 1968. Devil's Lake State Park with historic Indian mounds and the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve is 3 miles (5 km) south. Pop. (1990) 9,203; (1994 est.) 10,261.