BELMONT, Wis. (WMTV) - On this day, October 25, 1836, Wisconsin’s first Territorial Legislature met for the first time in Belmont.

The small town about an hour southwest of Madison served as Wisconsin’s first Capitol .

The two white buildings there were instrumental in making plans for the future of the state.

Over the course of about 2 months, lawmakers passed 42 acts and created the state judicial system.

This is also when it was decided Madison would be the new capital city. Some of the other 17 options included Platteville, Cassville, Mineral Point, as well as some places that still don’t exist like ‘Wisconsinopolis.’

Wisconsin became its own territory in 1836 and achieved statehood in 1848.

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