Traverse County, of which Wheaton is the county seat, takes its name from Lake Traverse, the huge lake just to the west of Wheaton.  Traverse County was organized in 1862.  The first white farm settlers came here after the Sioux Indians ceded their territory claims in 1851.  Before the introduction of farming, this area was active in the fur trade, with several French and British companies competing for the lucrative business.

The Homestead Act of 1870 opened the territory to eager European immigrants, many of whose descendants still work the land their ancestors claimed in the last century.

The town site of Wheaton was platted September 1, 1884.   Wheaton was incorporated May 25, 1887.  The town was moved from a location just southeast of the original site because of flood danger.  Wheaton was named by the owners of the land, Svenning and Ole Odenborg, in honor of the civil engineer and county surveyor who did the original plat work, Daniel Thomas Wheaton.  Mr. Wheaton was officially in the employment of the Fargo and Southern Railroad.

As the rich farming area prospered, the need for services grew.   The first business in Wheaton was the A.Wells Company mercantile store, founded in 1884.  The Wheaton Gazette is the oldest business still in existence.  The Gazette was first published in March of 1885.

In the early part of this century Wheaton was a premier spot for duck and goose hunters.  Entire train loads of hunters would arrive to stalk the productive shores of Lake Traverse.  A small resort industry to accommodate these visitors was started and is still in operation today, although responsible natural resource management has halted the huge kill numbers.

To find out more about the history of Wheaton and/or Traverse County... stop by the Traverse County Museum, open Memorial Day through Labor day Wednesday-Sunday, 1-5 pm is located on the corner of Broadway Avenue West and Trail Street located in the old Milwaukee Railroad Depot. The museum offers many fascinating objects from the past as well as complete replications of a meat market, a dentist’s office, home living quarters and a general store. An actual schoolhouse and caboose are located on the museum grounds. Tour guide available.

Wheaton celebrated its first 100 years with a gala celebration in 1987.  We now look eagerly forward to another 100 years of progress for the City of Wheaton and Traverse County.