Of course there are political factors. I have always heard that in Wisconsin many rural roads were paved to better serve dairy farmers beginning in the 1890s -

Of course there are political factors. I have always heard that in Wisconsin many rural roads were paved to better serve dairy farmers beginning in the 1890s - and continued through the WPA program. While in Minnesota, similar rural roads remained unpaved. Best link I could find to substantiate such a claim https://www.uwlax.edu/currents/biking-in-the-driftless-region/#:~:text=Just%20a%20few%20miles%20away,Wisconsin%20to%20serve%20dairy%20farmers https://www.uwlax.edu/currents/biking-in-the-driftless-regio.... Of course in contemporary times the high maintenance cost has many Wisconsin towns/counties considering returning to gravel. https://www.wpr.org/economy/taxes/small-wisconsin-towns-paved-roads-return-gravel https://www.wpr.org/economy/taxes/small-wisconsin-towns-pave...