Manawa, WI

Manawa is a Waupaca County city along the Little Wolf River, where the river and dam give the place its shape. The Manawa Dam was completed in 1920 for hydroelectric power and recreation, and the reservoir covers about 195 acres. The city also hosts the Midwestern Rodeo each July, with rodeo performances and an Independence Day parade. In July 2024, flooding on the Little Wolf River forced evacuations, damaged the dam, and canceled that year's rodeo. Manawa's character comes from the mix: a Wisconsin river town with a hydroelectric dam, a summer rodeo, and a community that knows exactly what the water can do.