Marathon County, Wisconsin Real Estate
Marathon County: Simply Spectacular!

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From its beautiful lakes and parks to the famous ski resort at Granite Peak, Marathon County, Wisconsin has so much to offer residents and visitors. Located in north central Wisconsin, Marathon County - the largest county in Wisconsin - is a beautiful, fertile area of rolling plains and hills. In 1850 when Marathon County was organized by action of the state legislature, its land was heavily forested, and most of the 500 inhabitants made their living from the rich timber resources. Today, one-third of the county land area remains forest land and county leaders are committed to reforestation. For more than a decade, roughly 400,000 trees have been planted annually on approximately 28,000 acres of county land that has been permanently set aside for forestry, wildlife and recreation purposes.

But, today's healthy economy is characterized by industrial diversification and the utilization of all natural resources. With a rich and varied economy, which includes industry leaders in papermaking, lumber and insurance, Marathon County also produces the nation's finest Wisconsin cheeses and other dairy products and is the leading county in the nation for ginseng production. This strong economy contributes to a high quality of life for residents. Both the county and city have very low unemployment rates and a variety of industries in which to work.

Residents who love the outdoors love Marathon County. The county has one of the finest park systems in the state. Eighteen county parks, totaling 4,050 acres, provide recreational, historical, scenic and wildlife attractions for all. Cross-state trails meander through the Marathon County countryside, passing many miles of lake and stream frontage as well as swimming beaches, boat landings, picnic areas, hiking trails, playgrounds, shelters and camping areas, a 600 yard shooting range and two indoor ice arenas. For winter sports enthusiasts, the excellent facilities of Granite Peak Ski Resort at Rib Mountain have made it one of the most popular winter-fun areas in the region. In addition to downhill slopes, Marathon County maintains 48 miles of cross-country ski trails and abundant opportunities for ice hockey, ice fishing, ice skating, curling, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. In Spring, fishing enthusiasts turn to trout waters in the Plover and Prairie Rivers. There are also many fine hunting areas in the county.

Besides all of this, Marathon County is considered the gateway to the playgrounds of the North where numerous lake and resort areas are within easy driving distance.