Dane County

Major landmarks include the Wisconsin State Capitol building, the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, and numerous parks within the 18,000-acre Dane County Parks system. Dane County is characterized by rolling hills, glacial lakes, and productive agricultural land. Dane County Courthouse is located at 215 South Hamilton Street in Madison.

Boulevard in Madison. Dane County Clerk's office, which handles vital records, elections, and various licenses, is also located at 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Room 106.

Dane Municipal Assessor's office manages property assessment and taxation records. What makes Dane County unique is its blend of state government, a major research university, thriving technology and biotechnology sectors, and productive farmland, creating a diverse economy and progressive civic culture.

Dane County Jail, operated by the Sheriff's Office at the same address, maintains an online inmate lookup system accessible through the Sheriff's website, allowing the public to search for current inmates by name, booking number, or date of birth. Within Dane County, major municipal police departments include the Madison Police Department (the largest), Middleton Police Department, Fitchburg Police Department, Sun Prairie Police Department, Monona Police Department, McFarland Police Department, Verona Police Department, Oregon Police Department, and Stoughton Police Department, each serving their respective municipalities. Arrest records and incident reports in Dane County are subject to Wisconsin's public records law, specifically Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 19, Subchapter II (§19.31-19.39), which presumes public access to government records unless specifically exempted.

Mugshots and booking photos are generally considered public records in Wisconsin and are accessible through Dane County Jail's online inmate information system or by requesting records directly from the Sheriff's Office. Some arrest information may also be available through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) system when charges are filed.

The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) system provides free online access to circuit court case records at wcca.wicourts.gov, allowing the public to search by name, case number, or other criteria for cases filed in Dane County and throughout Wisconsin. The WCCA system displays case information including parties, attorneys, charges or claims, hearing dates, judgments, and case dispositions, though certain sensitive cases such as patrolments, adoptions, and juvenile matters are sealed or restricted. Municipal courts in Dane County cities and villages handle ordinance violations, traffic citations, and other local matters; these include Madison Municipal Court and similar courts in other municipalities.

Dane County Clerk of Circuit Court, located at the courthouse, maintains the official court record and provides certified copies of court documents for a statutory fee of $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page, plus applicable copy fees. Public access to Wisconsin court records is governed by Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Chapter 70 and Wisconsin Statutes §§19.31-19.39 (public records law). Online case payment and filing systems are available through the Wisconsin Court System's eFiling and ePayment portals.

Dane County provides free online access to land records through their Property Records Access portal, which allows users to search by grantor/grantee name, document type, legal description, parcel number, or document number for records dating back to the early 1900s. Property tax records and assessment information are maintained by Dane County Treasurer and can be accessed through Dane County Property and Land Records portal at Dane Countydocs.countyofDane County.com, which includes an interactive GIS parcel viewer showing property boundaries, tax information, assessment values, ownership history, and sales data. Property tax bills, assessment values, and payment history are searchable by address, parcel number, or owner name.

Dane County has records dating back to the early 1900s, though older records may be limited. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Vital Records Office, located at 1 West Wilson Street in Madison, is the centralized state repository for vital records statewide and can provide certified copies of any Wisconsin birth or death certificate for $20.00 per copy; their phone number is and website is www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/vitalrecords. Marriage licenses must be obtained in person from Dane County Clerk's office prior to the ceremony, with both parties present, presenting valid photo identification and social security numbers; the marriage license fee is $110.00 and there is a six-day waiting period after application before the ceremony can occur.

Marriage records after the ceremony is performed are maintained by the County Clerk. Divorce records are court records maintained by Dane County Clerk of Circuit Court and are accessible through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access system. Requestors must provide valid photo identification and proof of direct and tangible interest under Wisconsin Statutes §69.20-69.24, which govern vital records access and restrict availability to family members and others with legal standing.

This free online database allows users to search by business name, registered agent, or filing number to view business status, registration date, principal office address, registered agent information, and annual report compliance. Professional licenses including those for healthcare providers, contractors, real estate agents, cosmetologists, and numerous other professions are issued by various Wisconsin state licensing boards and departments, searchable through the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services at dsps.wi.gov. Building permits, zoning approvals, and land use permits in unincorporated Dane County are handled by Dane County Planning and Development Department at 210 Martin Luther King Jr.

Boulevard, Room 116, Madison Individual municipalities within Dane County maintain their own business licensing and permitting systems. Contractors working in Dane County must hold appropriate state licenses and may need additional local permits depending on the county and scope of work.

Wisconsin offers same-day voter registration, but online and mail registration must be received by the Wednesday before Election Day (20 days prior). Citizens, at least 18 years old, residents of Wisconsin for at least 28 consecutive days, and not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction. Voters can find their polling place, view their sample ballot, check registration status, and track absentee ballots through the MyVote Wisconsin portal at myvote.wi.gov by entering their name and date of birth.

Election records that are public in Wisconsin include voter registration lists, poll books, campaign finance reports (filed with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission and accessible at ethics.wi.gov), candidate nomination papers and declarations, precinct-by-precinct election results, and canvass reports. Dane County publishes detailed election results on the County Clerk's website after each election. In the November 2024 general election, Dane County recorded approximately 79% voter turnout, significantly higher than the statewide average, reflecting Dane County's high civic engagement.

The next major election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, and will include U.S. House of Representatives races, potential U.S. Senate races, Wisconsin state constitutional officers including Governor (depending on the cycle), Wisconsin State Assembly seats, half of the Wisconsin State Senate, county offices, and judicial positions.

Absentee ballots in Dane County can be requested online through MyVote Wisconsin, by mail, email, fax, or in person at the municipal clerk's office; absentee ballot applications must be received by 5:00 PM on the Thursday before the election, and completed ballots must be returned by 8:00 PM on Election Day. Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat.

§§6.86-6.87) governs absentee voting procedures. Dane County and Wisconsin maintain transparent election systems with public observation permitted at polling places and canvassing sessions, and most election records available for public inspection under Wisconsin's public records law (Wis. Stat.

§§19.31-19.39).

Key economic sectors include information technology and software development, biotechnology and life sciences, advanced manufacturing, healthcare and medical services, education and research, insurance and financial services, agriculture (particularly dairy farming), and tourism. Dane County's agricultural economy remains significant with over 1,500 farms producing dairy products, corn, soybeans, and specialty crops. Unemployment in Dane County has historically remained below both state and national averages, typically ranging between 2-3% in recent years, reflecting a tight labor market and strong job growth.

Notable economic development projects include continued expansion of the University Research Park, development of biotechnology incubators, downtown Madison redevelopment initiatives, and infrastructure improvements supporting business growth. The Madison Metropolitan Area has been repeatedly recognized in national rankings for quality of life, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity. The presence of a major research university creates a pipeline of talent and fosters innovation and startup activity in technology and life sciences sectors.