Inama's active promotion of the area was instrumental in attracting immigrants, mostly from German territories, particularly Bavaria. Within two years of his arrival, 15 families had settled in Roxbury. Inama established the first Catholic church in Dane County in Roxbury. In 1845, he erected a log chapel in section 18 of the town. Church services were held there until 1853, when a small brick church was constructed. is a stately edifice overlooking a small settlement below.

thumb|right|St. Norbert's Church

St. Norbert's Church has always been the centerpiece of the hamlet and focal point of the community. A convent to house the Dominican nuns who ran the school was erected in 1879. The only settlement in the town is the hamlet of Roxbury, which is centered around the church. Tradition has it that the Kelly family were the only ones in Roxbury who could not speak German. Local residents still refer to the hamlet of Roxbury as "the Dorf", German for village.

Given the proximity of the town to the city of Madison, concerns have been raised about development in the town. As a result, the town's most recent comprehensive plan addressed a number of issues, including growth and economic development; land use and preservation; agricultural, natural, and cultural resources; community facilities; and housing. The key goals that were identified by residents of the town of Roxbury and delineated in the plan were to preserve agricultural land and agriculture as a way of life, to preserve natural resources and wildlife, to preserve areas of cultural and historic importance, and to carefully site and design new development so as to maintain the existing character of the town.

Geography

thumb|Roxbury, Wisconsin

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.9&nbsp;square miles (93.0&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), of which 34.6&nbsp;square miles (89.6&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) is land and 1.3&nbsp;square miles (3.4&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) (3.65%) is water. The Town of Roxbury occupies Township 9 North, Range 7 East of the fourth principal meridian. The land in the Town of Roxbury is hilly, with high limestone bluffs in the west adjoining the Wisconsin River. Throughout the town, small areas of prairie are interspersed with oak groves. In the north lie several small lakes, including Crystal Lake and Fish Lake. Springs, ponds, and creeks also dot the area.

References

Further reading

  • Keyes, Elisha W., ed. History of Dane County: Biographical and Genealogical. Madison, WI: Western Historical Association, 1906.
  • Richards, Robert Jr. "Reminiscences of Robert Richards Jr. of Dane County Wisconsin, 1843–1855."
  • "Roxbury" in History of Dane County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1880.
  • Wisconsin Historical Society Online Image Collection - Licensed historical photos of Roxbury
  • Roxbury, a historic hamlet community in a magnificent countryside setting - Description and contemporary photos
  • The Battle of Wisconsin Heights – Includes landscape photos of the Town of Roxbury
  • Block-and-stack houses in Roxbury
  • Haraszthy [De Moksca), Agoston 1812–1869 Dictionary of Wisconsin History
  • Inama, Adelbert 1798–1879 Dictionary of Wisconsin History