Sun Prairie is a bustling suburb of Madison that is the second-largest town in Dane County. It is located not far from the airport, northeast of downtown.

Sun Prairie's claim to fame is that it is the "Groundhog Capital of the World". Jimmy the Groundhog has been able to predict with great accuracy whether we will have a long winter or not on February 2nd. This has been a tradition dating back to 1886 for Ground Hog Day events.

Ground Hog Day in 2015 caught the attention of the national media when the mayor was holding Jimmy the groundhog and he bit his ear. The mayor was a good sport about the incident that took place in Cannery Square. The Square has become one of Madison's most thriving business districts. You will find dining, retail and unique shops in Cannery Square.

The History of Sun Prairie

Sun Prairie has a deep history that started with a pioneer named Augustus Bird in 1837. On orders from President Martin Van Buren, they were on their way to build a capital for the Territory of Wisconsin. They were pummeled with spring showers for 9 days until they reached the border of the prairie and saw the sun shining through. Bird carved the name "Sun Prairie" into a tree and it has been called that ever since.

There are many historic buildings in Sun Prairie along with the Historical Museum. Here are three places to visit:

• Crosse House
• Adam & Mary Smith House
• Georgia O'Keefe's Birthplace
• Wetmore Community Park - A well-maintained park with ball fields, picnic facilities, classic playground, and hockey and ice skating available at times.
• Carriage Hills Estates Park - Play soccer in the summer and sledding in the winter.
• Sheehan Park - Cross-country ski or mountain bike on 143 acres of land. This is a local favorite.
• Stoneridge Estates Park - A park with trails, baseball diamond, basketball court, and playground equipment.
• Smith’s Crossing Community Park - Twenty acres of wildlife, ponds, and playground equipment.

RECREATION IN SUN PRAIRIE

• Wetmore Community Park - A well-maintained park with ball fields, picnic facilities, classic playground, and hockey and ice skating available at times.
• Carriage Hills Estates Park - Play soccer in the summer and sledding in the winter.
• Sheehan Park - Cross-country ski or mountain bike on 143 acres of land. This is a local favorite.
• Stoneridge Estates Park - A park with trails, baseball diamond, basketball court, and playground equipment.
• Smith’s Crossing Community Park - Twenty acres of wildlife, ponds, and playground equipment.

The Schools of Sun Prairie

The large school district is made up of:

• Nine public elementary schools
• Three public middle schools
• Two public high schools

SP4K is a voluntary early learning program offered by the school district to help children transition to kindergarten. This program focuses on developmental skills through play.

Prairie Phoenix Academy is a non-traditional, public-alternative school for K-12.

Top Places To Eat in Sun Prairie

Image Attribution: User: Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

• Salvatore's Tomato Pies
• Buck and Honey's
• Gus's Diner
• Monk's Bar and Grill
• Market Street Diner & Bakery
• Chicken Lips
• Johnny's Italian Steakhouse
• Sir Hobos
• Anna's Pizzeria
• Daly's Bar &Grill
• Guimo's Mexican Resturant
• Full Mile Beer Co. & Kitchen

According to the 2020 Census, the population in Sun Prairie is 35,967 and reached 36,000 this year in 2021 and the average household income is $88,946. Sun Prairie is one of the best places to live in Wisconsin. The public schools are highly rated and many residents commute to work in Madison and return to their suburban homes at the end of the day.