Early French visitors to the site found it occupied by a group of Fox Indians led by a chief whose name "Alim" meant "chien" in French (dog in English). The French explorers named the location "Prairie du Chien", French for "Dog's Meadow". Originally this name applied only to the plain upon which the settlement is located, but it was later applied to the city as well. The city of Prairie du Chien is located between the Town of Prairie du Chien and the Town of Bridgeport.