Nestled on the Yellow Banks of the Wisconsin River, Plover was
originally used by Native Americans for portaging between the Wisconsin
and Wolf Rivers. After being established as the Portage County seat in
1844, the area grew rapidly. Soon, mills sprang up, farmers worked the
land, businesses flourished, and lodging could not be built fast enough
to keep up with the demand. By 1857, Plover boasted 500 residents and
112 buildings, with 40 more under construction. In 1868, the county seat
was moved out of Plover, and by the mid-1880s, Plover had begun to
decline. Despite this, and the fact that the village has been dissolved
twice, incorporated three separate times, and gone by four different
names, Plover has proved resilient. Since being reincorporated in 1971,
Plover has thrived and grown at an impressive rate. Today, the main
businesses are part of the industrial, agricultural, and retail sectors.