Sun Prairie is located in Dane County between Madison and Beaver Dam along US Hwy 151 near Monona, De Forest, Waterloo, and Columbus. The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 19,763, an increase of 4,411 since 1990.
President Van Buren commissioned a party of 45 men, including August Bird, to build a state capitol in Madison. The group of men left Milwaukee and traveled for days in the rain. On June 9, the group emerged at the edge of the prairie and with the sun shining, carved the words 'Sun Prairie' into a tree. Charles Bird returned to the area 2 years later and became the first settler.
Sun Prairie is part of the Madison, Wisconsin metro area.
