History
The Town of Troy is nestled between Hudson and River Falls and borders the beautiful St. Croix National Scenic River Way. It is one of the western-most towns in St. Croix County and encompasses more than 6 miles of scenic riverway. We’re sure you’ll be pleased with the amenities the area has to offer. The surrounding communities offer everything from quaint local cafes to fine dining experiences; from a picnic in one of the local parks to a picnic high above the St. Croix River in a hot air balloon.
The first settler in Troy was James Chinnoch in 1850. In that year, he raised the first crop and erected a house. At that time, the population of St. Croix County was 624. The Town of Troy was organized in 1851 and was first called Malone by the Perrine brothers who were early settlers from New York. It was later renamed Troy, either in honor of Troy, New York, or ancient Troy.
The Town of Troy is proud of its agricultural tradition. Because of this the Town has put in place a development ordinance that is aimed at protecting the rural nature of the community while allowing development of areas best suited for residential use. We’re happy to welcome you to the Town and hope you find the lifestyle to be as rich as the heritage of this area!
Data and Demographics
The Town is part of St. Croix County, and encompasses over 37 square miles, and has a 2020 population of 5,558. Troy is the southwestern-most town in the County, bordering Pierce County and the City of River Falls to the south, the St. Croix River to the west, the Town and City of Hudson to the north, and the Town of Kinnickinnic to the east.
The unique landscape of the Town of Troy is characterized by rich farmland, rolling hills with dramatic tree covered features and the scenic St. Croix River as its western boundary. Much of Troy’s farmland is being permanently protected by conservation easements, funded by a market driven Transfer of Development Rights program. Clustered residential communities are sheltered among the rolling topography and forests. Residential growth is managed by an outcome based subdivision ordinance. Land along the scenic St. Croix River slopes sharply downward to the river and is the location for many homes overlooking the river. Land management activities along the scenic river are administered by the Town under its own Lower St. Croix Riverway Ordinance, developed in partnership with the Wisconsin DNR. Land management activities along the St. Croix River are also regulated by the St. Croix County Lower St. Croix Riverway District.
Farmland Preservation
The Town of Troy has been recognized by the State of Wisconsin as a leader in the preservation of farmland. This preservation is being accomplished through a market driven Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program that uses no public funding. To date, the program has protected 1,589 acres of prime farmland under permanent conservation easements.
If the Town can implement its long term plan, without annexation and intervention from surrounding cities, the Town could ultimately, permanently preserve over 6,400 acres of farmland and 4,300 acres of open space. This permanent preservation program is succeeding where many others have failed.
For more detail on the Town of Troy's history or development, the 2014-2034 Comprehensive Plan is available
For info regarding population, reference chapter two of the Town's 2020-2025 Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan