With Madison at its core, Dane County is the fastest growing county in Wisconsin. But that growth is spreading to surrounding communities as well, like the Village of Mazomanie. Halfway between Middleton and Spring Green along Hwy. 14, Mazomanie straddles the line between Dane and Iowa counties and helps bridge the gap between urban and rural life. It feels like small-town living, but you're just 20 minutes away from everything.

Part of this growth is due to larger businesses taking root here, such as Wick Buildings and Roundy's Distribution Center. Between 2000-2013, Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC), Plastic Ingenuity, and Cardinal Coated Glass also moved into large facilities in town that have attracted numerous employees. In turn, there has

Just over 20 miles west of Madison along Hwy. 14 are two suburbs with a lot in common: Black Earth and Mazomanie.

Established as villages in the 1850s, nearly 1,500 people now call each of these places home. And it doesn't take long to understand why.

With rolling hills, historic downtowns and plenty of room to breathe, you'll be drawn to the beautiful views that surround these close-knit communities.

They are both located near a railroad and Black Earth Creek (a hot spot for trout fishing), on either side of Lake Marion and south of the Wisconsin River. They are also covered by the local newspaper, Star News, and share a school district, Wisconsin Heights, that boasts small class sizes for K-12 in the countryside.

This summer, families