BECOMING A TOWNSHIP
Cottage Grove Township was first established as town 7 north range 11 east when the Northwest Territory survey was completed in 1834. It took the name "Cottage Grove" when it established its own town government in 1849. The name was bestowed by the first post master who opened the third post office in Dane County in the first house to be built in the township which was in a grove of oak trees.

The first two parcels of land in the township were purchased for a young, eastern, millionaire soldier who never lived on it. By 1842 there were 10 households with 42 people settled in the township. More came rapidly. Farming was the main occupation in the township until the mid 1900's. Today less than 1% of the residents in the township gave their sole occupation as farming.

Cottage Grove is an easy commute to a wide variety of government and other employment opportunities in Dane County. In 2000 almost two-fifths held managerial or professional positions and almost a third had sales or office jobs according to the census. With many home business and farmsteads the townships has become a diverse community that continues to thrive.