As the birthplace of the Republican Party, Ripon's Little White Schoolhouse remembers that "Republican" stands for "Res publica," or the common weal, the common good and equality.
Nestled among the natural wonders of Fond du Lac County in Wisconsin, Ripon is surrounded by rich farmland, Silver Creek and beautiful wetlands. Ripon thrives as it strives for a high quality of life, maintaining a vibrant community that hosts the National Forensics League and the Ripon Commonwealth Press. Ripon makes the best of both worlds, with city-style residential options and rural residential developments available.
Moving to Ripon
Just 20 miles west of the Fox Valley, Ripon combines the peaceful security of a small town with the convenience of connecting to Madison, Green Bay and Milwaukee. It's like a triangle, and Ripon's at the center of the base! Ripon provides a range of rental options, including studio apartments, efficiencies, and rental units located within historic sites. You're sure to find apartments and homes for rent that will meet your needs. Notable for its affordable housing, Ripon offers a variety of cost-effective choices whether you're looking for a home for rent or rental apartments. There's plenty of room and lots to do in Ripon!
City or Town?
When preparing to move to Ripon, keep in mind that you can either live in the City of Ripon or the Town of Ripon. Both are right there, but they offer minor differences in services and housing arrangements. Do you want the convenience of city living? Do you want the wider spaces available to rural residents? With everything Ripon has to offer, it's only a slight difference, but it can be an important decision if you prefer to walk where you're going. There are also tax, utility and other implications when you choose between the City and the Town of Ripon.
Winter Warning
Winter is coming! Ripon isn't so far north that you'll wonder if you stumbled onto the Canadian tundra, but it can still be a shock for anyone who isn't used to a "real" Wisconsin winter. This is a place where winter usually lasts from mid-fall through mid-spring, sometimes lingering one way or the other, and occasionally coming in early and leaving late to give you an extra blast of winter weather. Icy roads, snow piles, plow leavings and extreme cold can make a winter move a bad move.
Complex or Simple?
Ripon has a wide selection of apartment complexes scattered throughout the city, each with features and benefits that attract renters. Renters can also choose to rent in less traditional environments, with both houses and businesses offering rental property opportunities. Be sure to give yourself time to check out your wide variety of choices before narrowing your opportunities. Lots of places have one-bedroom apartments for rent, but each provides its own unique set of accommodations and attractions. Some rental charges may include utilities, but it's not necessarily common. Different providers have different requirements, but you should be prepared for a background check, an application fee and a security deposit, just to be safe.
Ripon Neighborhoods
Like many small towns, Ripon doesn't break down into traditional neighborhoods. People from both the city and town of Ripon gather to dine, shop and play throughout the community. That's what makes the vibrant community of Ripon such an excellent choice!
City of Ripon: The City of Ripon offers the closest proximity to the full range of living, shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities, including Campus Cinema and Downhill Coffee.
Town of Ripon: The Town of Ripon offers the closest proximity to The Southwoods Nature Preserve, Riggs County Park and Ripon's featured trails for walking, cycling and horse-riding enthusiasts.
Downtown Ripon: Downtown Ripon boasts of its carefully revitalized Italianate buildings with their eclectic mix of dining and shopping opportunities, but also offers rental options for those who want to get an upfront and personal taste of all that's going on in Ripon. These options will most likely be of the non-traditional variety and may have rather unique procedures for renters. Watson Street Sub Shop is your ticket to an A+ sandwich.
Living in Ripon
Ripon provides a vital selection of rental property mixed with opportunities for entertaining, shopping and working. Combine this with the beautiful, natural attractions of the wetlands, parks and trails, and you can make your home in an attractive community for work and play, without losing touch with the greater metropolitan areas.
Be sure to visit the Treasury, a historic landmark restaurant, and Alibi's Dining and Spirits to get a taste of that special Ripon flavor. Connected to the larger communities of Madison, Green Bay and Milwaukee, yet nestled in the wilderness of Wisconsin, Ripon takes the best of both worlds and makes them come alive. Whether you go city or stay country, you can live your comfort in Ripon!