Appleton, Wisconsin

File:1805-Appleton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin 1867-PRINT.jpg

The territory where Appleton is today was formerly occupied by the Ho-Chunk and the Menominee. The Menominee Nation ceded the territory to the United States in the Treaty of the Cedars in 1836.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mpm.edu/content/wirp/ICW-108.html|title=Menominee Treaties and Treaty Rights|website=Indian Country Wisconsin|access-date=October 5, 2018}} In the Menominee language, Appleton is known as Ahkōnemeh, or "watches for them place".{{Cite web|url=https://www4.uwsp.edu/museum/menomineeClans/places/chart.aspx|title=Menominee Place Names in Wisconsin|last=Hoffman|first=Mike|website=The Menominee Clans Story|access-date=October 5, 2018}}

The first European settlers in Appleton were fur traders seeking to do business with Fox River Valley Native Americans. Hippolyte Grignon built the White Heron in 1835 to house his family and serve as an inn and trading post.{{cite web | url = http://www.apl.org/history/ | title = History of Appleton | access-date = December 28, 2011 | date = June 1, 2011 | publisher = Appleton Public Library}}

File:Wisconsin. Appleton Paper Mills-LCCN2008678245.jpg

Appleton was settled in 1847. It was founded as three unincorporated villages along the Fox River. From south to north along the river, these were Grand Chute, Appleton, and Lawesburg. In 1853, the three were merged into the single incorporated Village of Appleton. John F. Johnston was the first resident and village president. Lawrence University, also founded in 1847, was backed financially by Amos A. Lawrence and originally known as the Lawrence Institute. Samuel Appleton, Lawrence's father-in-law from New England who never visited Wisconsin, donated $10,000 to the newly founded college library, and the town took his name in appreciation.Wineries of Wisconsin and Minnesota By Patricia Monaghan page 126{{Cite web|url=http://www.appleton.org/about|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324142830/http://www.appleton.org/about|title=Appleton.org | City of Appleton, Wisconsin|archivedate=March 24, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=23738|title=Profile for Appleton, Wisconsin|publisher=ePodunk|access-date=June 20, 2010}}

The paper industry, beginning with the building of the first paper mill in the city in 1853, has been at the forefront of the development of Appleton. In order to provide electricity to the paper industry, the nation's first hydro-electric central station, the Vulcan Street Plant on the Fox River, began operation on September 30, 1882. The power plant also powered the Hearthstone House, the first residence in the world powered by a centrally located hydroelectric station using the Edison system.[http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2005/12/15/news/news21.txt "Victorian Christmas"], Beloit Daily News, December 15, 2005

Shortly thereafter, in August 1886, Appleton was the site for another national first, the operation of a commercially successful electric streetcar company. Electric lights replaced gas lamps on College Avenue in 1912. Appleton also had the first telephone in Wisconsin, and the first incandescent light in any city outside of the East Coast.{{cite web |title=Appleton [brief history] |url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=15063&term_type_id=2&term_type_text=places&letter=a |access-date=January 18, 2014 |publisher=Wisconsinhistory.org |archive-date=January 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115094710/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=15063&term_type_id=2&term_type_text=places&letter=a |url-status=dead }}

The community was incorporated as a city on March 2, 1857,{{cite book |author = Wisconsin | title = Private and Local Laws Passed by the Legislature of Wisconsin in the Year 1857 | publisher = Calkins and Proudfit, Printers | year = 1857 | location = Madison, Wisconsin | pages = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_U-IqAAAAIAAJ/page/n240 243]–283 | url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_U-IqAAAAIAAJ}} with Amos Story as its first mayor. Early in the 20th century, it adopted the commission form of government. In 1890, 11,869 people lived in Appleton; in 1900, there were 15,085; in 1910, 16,773; in 1920, 19,571; and in 1940, 28,436.

Significant annexations to the city, taken from the Town of Grand Chute, were performed in the next two decades. The first, the "Glendale" district, was completed on November 8, 1941, growing Appleton north past Glendale Avenue.{{Cite news |last=Rumsey |first=John |date=December 21, 1950 |title=Annexation of New Wards Will Bring Problems, Benefits to City |pages=8 |work=The Post-Crescent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98993884/annexation-of-new-wards-will-bring/ |access-date=April 3, 2022}} Another became official on December 22, 1950, after multi-year disputes, when the unincorporated villages of Bell Heights and Whispering Pines were annexed into the city from Grand Chute.{{Cite news |last=Rumsey |first=John |date=December 21, 1950 |title=City to Grow Quickly in Annexation Tonight |pages=1 |work=The Post-Crescent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98993139/city-to-grow-quickly-in-annexation/ |access-date=April 3, 2022}} Bell Heights added new area to the northwest edge of Appleton, and Whispering Pines, to the northeast, would include land where Appleton Memorial Hospital would later be built. Bell Heights and Whispering Pines increased the population of the city by ten percent, and its area by twenty percent, overnight.

Appleton's tallest building, the 222 Building was built in 1952.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112227906/aid-association-for-lutherans-new-buildi/ |title=24,400 Tons of Building Rest on 271 Steel Piles |newspaper=The Post-Crescent |location=Appleton, WI |date=July 15, 1952 |access-date=October 29, 2022}} The Valley Fair Shopping Center, built in 1954, laid claim to being the first enclosed shopping mall in the United States, although this claim is disputed by other malls. In 2007 most of the structure was demolished, leaving only its east wing and a movie theater. A Pick 'n Save Food Center now stands in its place.

From approximately 1930–1970, Appleton was a sundown town: black people were not allowed to stay overnight,{{cite book |last1=Loewen |first1=James |title=Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism |date=2006 |publisher=Touchstone |isbn=0743294483 |location=New York}} and none lived within its city limits by 1930. In 1936, the Institute of Paper Chemistry tried to hire the famous African-American chemist Percy Julian, but could not figure out how to do this without running afoul of what was stated as "an arcane law on the City of Appleton's books".{{cite book |author=Anderson, Frank |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V6cjCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT61 |title=Wicked Fox Cities: The Dark Side of the Valley |date=May 13, 2010 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=9781614230595}} A fight over Julian's employment ensued, and he was hired by Glidden in Chicago instead.{{cite book |author=Bowden, Mary Ellen |url=https://archive.org/details/chemicalachiever0000bowd |title=Chemical Achievers: The Human Face of the Chemical Sciences |publisher=Chemical Heritage Foundation |year=1997 |isbn=0941901122 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/chemicalachiever0000bowd/page/109 109]–110 |url-access=registration}} Appleton's sundown status was largely de facto and not de jure; it stood by unwritten consensus and enforcement, such as by police strongly encouraging black people to leave town after dark.{{cite web | url=http://www.celebratediversityfoxcities.com/issues | title=Appleton was indeed a 'Sundown Town' | publisher=Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities | access-date=December 23, 2017 | author=Peeples, Scott}} A partial exception was made for opera singer Marian Anderson when she sang at Lawrence University in 1941; she was allowed to stay overnight in the Conway Hotel, but even then was not allowed to eat dinner in public.{{cite news | url=http://www.postcrescent.com/story/life/2014/10/19/lawrence-revisit-concert-marian-anderson/17445927/ | title=Lawrence to revisit 1941 concert of Marian Anderson | work=Post-Crescent | date=October 18, 2014 | access-date=December 23, 2017 | author=Anderson, Cheryl | location=Appleton, Wisconsin}}

Following the Flint water crisis, a report of Wisconsin Rust Belt cities showed high levels of lead contamination in the water of Appleton, with children under the age of 1 testing positive for lead. With a state average of 1.9 per 100 for this age group, Appleton tested at 4.5 per 100 for the same age group.{{cite news |url=https://pontiactribune.com/2017/01/lead-contamination-in-the-rust-belt-wisconsin/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102063926/http://pontiactribune.com/2017/01/lead-contamination-in-the-rust-belt-wisconsin/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 2, 2017 |title=LEAD CONTAMINATION IN THE "RUST BELT": WISCONSIN |quote=Appleton, WI is a city with a population of about 75,000 people. Testing was done on a local level by the Appleton City Health Department. The most disturbing numbers from Appleton is that of children under 1 testing positive for lead. With a state average of 1.9 per 100 for this age group, Appleton tested at 4.5 per 100 for the same demographic. |work=Pontiac Tribune |date=January 1, 2017 |access-date=February 17, 2022}}

File:Appleton Locks 1-3 Historic District September 2013.jpg]]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|24.82|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|24.33|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.49|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012 }}

Appleton has a humid continental climate typical of Wisconsin. Summers are warm to hot and winters are rather cold in comparison. Precipitation is relatively moderate compared to other areas close to the Great Lakes, which means lesser snowfall in winter than in many other cold areas.

A dew point of {{convert|90|°F|C}} was observed at Appleton at 5 p.m. on July 13, 1995. This is tied for the second highest dew point ever observed in the United States and coincides with the 1995 Chicago heat wave.

Being inland from Lake Michigan, Appleton is prone to temperature extremes. The hottest temperature recorded was {{convert|107|F|C}} during the 1936 Dust Bowl and the coldest was {{convert|-32|F|C}} in 1929. The coldest maximum on record is {{convert|-20|F|C}} set in 1994 and the warmest minimum being {{convert|82|F|C}} in 1912. On average, the coldest maximum temperature of the year during the normals between 1991 and 2020 was at a frigid {{convert|1|F|C}} and the warmest minimum averaged {{convert|73|F|C}}.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|location = Appleton, Wisconsin (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 55

|Feb record high F = 68

|Mar record high F = 83

|Apr record high F = 89

|May record high F = 95

|Jun record high F = 101

|Jul record high F = 107

|Aug record high F = 103

|Sep record high F = 101

|Oct record high F = 89

|Nov record high F = 75

|Dec record high F = 64

|year record high F = 107

|Jan avg record high F = 43

|Feb avg record high F = 47

|Mar avg record high F = 64

|Apr avg record high F = 76

|May avg record high F = 86

|Jun avg record high F = 91

|Jul avg record high F = 92

|Aug avg record high F = 90

|Sep avg record high F = 87

|Oct avg record high F = 78

|Nov avg record high F = 62

|Dec avg record high F = 48

|year avg record high F = 94

|Jan high F = 25.4

|Feb high F = 29.1

|Mar high F = 40.6

|Apr high F = 54.0

|May high F = 67.2

|Jun high F = 77.0

|Jul high F = 81.5

|Aug high F = 79.3

|Sep high F = 71.9

|Oct high F = 57.8

|Nov high F = 43.4

|Dec high F = 30.7

|year high F = 54.8

|Jan mean F = 17.7

|Feb mean F = 20.4

|Mar mean F = 31.4

|Apr mean F = 44.0

|May mean F = 56.8

|Jun mean F = 66.8

|Jul mean F = 71.4

|Aug mean F = 69.5

|Sep mean F = 61.3

|Oct mean F = 48.6

|Nov mean F = 35.5

|Dec mean F = 23.8

|year mean F = 45.6

|Jan low F = 10.0

|Feb low F = 11.7

|Mar low F = 22.1

|Apr low F = 33.9

|May low F = 46.4

|Jun low F = 56.6

|Jul low F = 61.3

|Aug low F = 59.8

|Sep low F = 50.8

|Oct low F = 39.3

|Nov low F = 27.6

|Dec low F = 16.8

|year low F = 36.4

|Jan avg record low F = -10

|Feb avg record low F = -7

|Mar avg record low F = 2

|Apr avg record low F = 19

|May avg record low F = 31

|Jun avg record low F = 42

|Jul avg record low F = 50

|Aug avg record low F = 47

|Sep avg record low F = 35

|Oct avg record low F = 25

|Nov avg record low F = 12

|Dec avg record low F = -3

|year avg record low F = -14

|Jan record low F = -30

|Feb record low F = -32

|Mar record low F = -21

|Apr record low F = 7

|May record low F = 23

|Jun record low F = 34

|Jul record low F = 41

|Aug record low F = 35

|Sep record low F = 25

|Oct record low F = 15

|Nov record low F = -7

|Dec record low F = -23

|year record low F = -32

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 1.36

|Feb precipitation inch = 1.13

|Mar precipitation inch = 1.92

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.24

|May precipitation inch = 3.64

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.65

|Jul precipitation inch = 3.78

|Aug precipitation inch = 3.58

|Sep precipitation inch = 3.18

|Oct precipitation inch = 2.84

|Nov precipitation inch = 2.07

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.76

|year precipitation inch = 33.15

|Jan snow inch = 12.6

|Feb snow inch = 11.2

|Mar snow inch = 7.2

|Apr snow inch = 4.0

|May snow inch = 0.1

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.3

|Nov snow inch = 2.4

|Dec snow inch = 11.6

|year snow inch = 49.4

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 9.2

|Feb precipitation days = 8.5

|Mar precipitation days = 9.2

|Apr precipitation days = 11.6

|May precipitation days = 11.9

|Jun precipitation days = 11.5

|Jul precipitation days = 11.1

|Aug precipitation days = 10.5

|Sep precipitation days = 9.8

|Oct precipitation days = 10.6

|Nov precipitation days = 8.8

|Dec precipitation days = 9.9

|year precipitation days = 122.6

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 8.2

|Feb snow days = 7.7

|Mar snow days = 5.0

|Apr snow days = 2.3

|May snow days = 0.1

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.2

|Nov snow days = 2.8

|Dec snow days = 7.7

|year snow days = 34.0

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=grb

| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 14, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00470265&format=pdf

| title = Station: Appleton, WI

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 14, 2021}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1860= 2345

|1870= 4518

|1880= 8005

|1890= 11869

|1900= 15085

|1910= 16773

|1920= 19561

|1930= 25267

|1940= 28436

|1950= 34010

|1960= 48411

|1970= 56377

|1980= 58913

|1990= 65695

|2000= 70087

|2010= 72623

|2020= 75644

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}} 2020 census

}}

[[Image:Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah CSA.png|thumb|Location of the Appleton–Oshkosh–Neenah CSA and its components: {{legend|#FF0000|Appleton Metropolitan Statistical Area}} {{legend|#FFFF00|Oshkosh–Neenah Metropolitan Statistical Area}}

]]

Appleton is the principal city of the Appleton–Oshkosh–Neenah CSA, a Combined Statistical Area which includes the Appleton (Calumet and Outagamie counties) and Oshkosh–Neenah (Winnebago County) metropolitan areas,{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} which had a combined population of 392,660 at the 2010 census[https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2010-2019/metro/totals/csa-est2019-annres.xlsx Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019] U.S.Census. Retrieved November 23, 2021 and an estimated population of 409,881 as of 2019.

According to the 2020 census, 62,899 of the city's population lived in Outagamie County,{{Cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Census Bureau profile: Appleton city, Outagamie County, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Appleton%20city,%20Outagamie%20County,%20Wisconsin |access-date=November 5, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} 11,304 lived in Calumet County,{{Cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Census Bureau profile: Appleton city, Calumet County, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Appleton%20city,%20Calumet%20County,%20Wisconsin |access-date=November 5, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} and 1,441 lived in Winnebago County.{{Cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Census Bureau profile: Appleton city, Winnebago County, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Appleton%20city,%20Winnebago%20County,%20Wisconsin |access-date=November 5, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

As of the census of 2020,{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Appleton city, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US5502375&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 10, 2022}} the city's population was 75,644. The population density was {{convert|3,051.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 31,747 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,280.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. Ethnically, the population was 7.3% Hispanic or Latino of any race. When grouping both Hispanic and non-Hispanic people together by race, the city was 80.1% White, 6.4% Asian, 3.13% Black or African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.2% from other races, and 6.5% from two or more races.

The 2020 census population of the city included 318 people incarcerated in adult correctional facilities and 1,275 people in student housing.{{cite web|title=Group Quarters Population, 2020 Census: Appleton city, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US5502375&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P5 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 10, 2022}}

According to the American Community Survey estimates for 2016–2020, the median income for a household in the city was $61,475, and the median income for a family was $76,791. Male full-time workers had a median income of $51,431 versus $41,564 for female workers. The per capita income for the city was $33,282. About 7.8% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web|title=Selected Economic Characteristics, 2020 American Community Survey: Appleton city, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US5502375&y=2020&d=ACS%205-Year%20Estimates%20Data%20Profiles&tid=ACSDP5Y2020.DP03 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 10, 2022}} Of the population age 25 and over, 92.6% were high school graduates or higher and 33.6% had a bachelor's degree or higher.{{cite web|title=Selected Social Characteristics, 2020 American Community Survey: Appleton city, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US5502375&y=2020&d=ACS%205-Year%20Estimates%20Data%20Profiles&tid=ACSDP5Y2020.DP02 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 10, 2022}}

As of the 2010 census,{{cite web|title=QuickFacts Appleton city, Wisconsin|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/appletoncitywisconsin,US/POP010210|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 2, 2021}} there were 72,623 people, 28,874 households, and 18,271 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2984.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 30,348 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1247.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 87.5% White, 1.7% African American, 0.7% Native American, 5.9% Asian, 2.2% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.0% of the population.

There were 28,874 households, of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.7% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 35.3 years. 25% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.7% were from 25 to 44; 26.1% were from 45 to 64; and 11.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

{{see|Hmong in Wisconsin}}

Per the 2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates, the Hmong population was 2,965 comprising over 70% of the city's Asian population.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2022.B02018?q=B02018&g=160XX00US5502375|title=B02018 Total Asian Alone or in Any Combination Population – 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates – Appleton, Wisconsin|date=July 1, 2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 17, 2024}}

FBI crime statistics for 2019 list the crime rate (per 100,000 population) for Appleton as follows{{Cite web |title=Wisconsin |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/tables/table-8/table-8-state-cuts/wisconsin.xls |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=FBI |language=en-us}}

File:FoxRiverMallFoodCourt AppletonWisconsinUSA.jpg]]

As of 2020, the largest employers in the city were:{{Cite web|title=Annual Financial Report - 2020|url=https://www.appleton.org/home/showpublisheddocument/24107/637596135529230000|date=December 31, 2020|website=City of Appleton|access-date=September 11, 2021}}

Corporations headquartered in Appleton include:

• ASP, Inc.
• Fleet Farm{{cite news |title=SECURA sells its longtime Appleton building to Fleet Farm |url=https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/2019/07/10/appleton-secura-sells-its-headquarters-building-fleet-farm/1682825001/ |access-date=July 12, 2019 |work=Post-Crescent Media |language=en}}
• John Birch Society
• Miller Electric

The city is served by two hospitals:

• ThedaCare Regional Medical Center–Appleton
• St. Elizabeth Hospital

File:HearthstoneAppletonWisconsin.jpg was the first house in US to be powered by hydroelectricity.]]

Appleton tourist attractions include the Hearthstone Historic House Museum, the four-story mansion that was the first house in US to be powered by hydroelectricity at its completion in 1881. The History Museum at the Castle contains exhibits on Fox River Valley history, including a gallery showcasing Edna Ferber, a Harry Houdini exhibit, and other traveling exhibits. The J. B. Courtney Woolen Mills is a preserved site showcasing the area's historical manufacturing roots.{{cite web|url=http://landmarkhunter.com/125773-j-courtney-woolen-mills/ |title=J. B. Courtney Woolen Mills|publisher=Landmark Hunter.com |accessdate=February 14, 2025 }}

The Fox Cities Exhibition Center is a prominent venue for conventions and events. The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is a key location for performing arts, hosting a wide range of theater, musical, and dance performances. The Gardens of the Fox Cities, a public botanical garden, showcases the seasonal beauty of plants and gardens in Wisconsin. The Trout Museum of Art features a variety of visual art exhibits, contributing to the region's cultural landscape.{{cite web|url=https://www.cffoxvalley.org/loop/2024/01/22/embracing-art-and-community-trout-museum-of-arts-exciting-journey-to-a-new-home/ |title=Embracing Art and Community: Trout Museum of Art's Exciting Journey to a New Home - Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region |date=February 6, 2024 |access-date=February 14, 2025 |website=Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region }} The John Hart Whorton House is an example of local historic architecture.{{cite web|url=http://landmarkhunter.com/148379-john-hart-whorton-house/ |title=John Hart Whorton House |publisher=Landmark Hunter.com |accessdate=February 14, 2025 }}

Houdini Plaza, on the corner of College Avenue and Appleton Street, has been referred to as the 'front yard' of downtown Appleton. It holds roughly 55 events each year, including summer concerts and part of the downtown farmers market.{{cite web|url=http://whoonew.com/2013/07/houdini-plaza/ |title=Houdini Plaza Opens At Last!–The New Face of Downtown Appleton [Infographic] |publisher=Whoonew.com |date=July 10, 2013 |access-date=July 27, 2017}}

The Atlas Science Center, formerly Paper Discovery Center, was a museum and workshop center focused on papermaking and the history of the paper industry in the area.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=http://paperdiscoverycenter.org/general/about_us.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215122204/http://www.paperdiscoverycenter.org/general/about_us.shtml |archive-date=December 15, 2010 |access-date=March 18, 2011 |website=Paper Discovery Center}} It was first conceived in 1999 as part of the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame, Inc.{{cite web |title=Paper Industry International Hall of Fame, Inc. |url=http://www.paperhall.org/ |access-date=March 18, 2011 |website=Paper Industry International Hall of Fame}} The Kimberly-Clark Corporation donated its former Atlas Mill on the Fox River in Appleton to house the center, and after it was opened in February 2005, its programs included hands-on work experience, tours, and general information on papermaking.{{cite web |date=January 6, 2011 |title=Science Summer Series at Paper Discovery Center |url=http://www.videomedio.com/science-summer-series-at-paper-discovery-center/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110042748/http://www.videomedio.com/science-summer-series-at-paper-discovery-center/ |archive-date=January 10, 2011 |access-date=March 18, 2011 |website=VideoMedio}} The center closed in November 2024 and donated its remaining assets.{{Cite web |last=Wang |first=Zhen |title=Former Paper Discovery Center in Appleton closes, due to rising operational costs |url=https://www.postcrescent.com/story/money/2024/11/04/appleton-atlas-science-center-former-paper-discover-center-closes/76050494007/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=The Post-Crescent |language=en-US}}

File:Fox Cities Stadium 2014.jpg]]

The city of Appleton has 24 neighborhood parks and four community parks in its park system. The neighborhood parks range in size from {{convert|2|acre}} to {{convert|16|acre}}, while the community parks range in size from {{convert|25|acre}} to {{convert|139|acre}}.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} Goodland Field is a historic site associated with local baseball, while the Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium serves as the home of the minor league Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Memorial Park is the largest of the community parks, covering {{convert|139|acre}}. The park's facilities include: seven baseball/softball fields, playground equipment, an indoor ice skating rink, a sledding hill, a picnic pavilion, a catch-and-release fishing pond, grills, and a warming shelter.{{cite web |author=dminteractive.com |url=http://www.appleton.org/ |title=Official Site of the City of Appleton | Appleton, WI |publisher=Appleton.org |access-date=January 18, 2014 |archive-date=February 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223074805/http://appleton.org/ |url-status=dead }} The park provides a firework display for the Appleton community during the 4th of July holiday.

City Park, established in 1882, is the oldest park in the Appleton park system. The Trout Museum of Art uses the park for its Art in the Park showcase. The show features over 200 artists that attract over 25,000 art enthusiasts annually.{{cite web|url=http://www.triviaasylum.com/parks/city/city.htm |title=Appleton, Wisconsin Parks and Places - City Park |publisher=Triviaasylum.com |date=August 2, 1996 |access-date=January 18, 2014}} Pierce Park is the site of weekly Appleton City Band concerts held during the summer, and of the annual Appleton Old Car Show and Swap Meet. Pierce Park and Telulah Park each feature a disc-golf course. Erb Park and Mead Park each feature a public aquatics facility. Jones Park is the site of the finish line for the Santa Scamper run held during the annual Appleton Christmas Parade, and features an outdoor hockey rink in the winter.{{cite web|url=http://www.appletonparkandrec.org/ |title=Appleton Parks & Recreation |publisher=Appletonparkandrec.org |access-date=January 18, 2014}}

File:OutagamieCountyWisconsinCourthouse.jpg]]

Appleton is governed via the mayor-council system. The mayor appoints department heads, subject to council approval. The city attorney is elected every four years in a citywide vote. The council, known as the common council or city council, consists of 15 members, called alderpersons, all of whom are elected to two-year terms from individual districts.

The current mayor of Appleton, Jake Woodford, was elected in 2020 to his first four-year term. The first mayor of Appleton was Amos Story, elected in April 1857. The longest-serving mayor was Timothy Hanna, who served from 1996 through 2020.

Partial of list of Appleton's past mayors:{{Cite web|url=https://content.mpl.org/digital/collection/AMP/search/searchterm/Appleton+Mayors/mode/exact/page/1|title=Appleton Memory Project}}

Appleton is represented by Ron Johnson (R) and Tammy Baldwin (D) in the United States Senate. It is represented in the United States House of Representatives by Tony Wied, who has represented Wisconsin's 8th district since November 2024. In the Wisconsin state legislature, Appleton is divided among four State Assembly Districts (3rd, 55th, 56th, 57th) and two State Senate Districts (1st, 19th). As of the 2018–2019 legislative session, the following representatives serve these districts:

• 3rd Assembly District: Ron Tusler (R–Harrison)
• 55th Assembly District: Nate Gustafson (R–Neenah)
• 56th Assembly District: David Murphy (R–Greenville)
• 57th Assembly District: Lee Snodgrass (D–Appleton)
• 1st Senate District: André Jacque (R–DePere)
• 19th Senate District: Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R–Fox Crossing)

Image:Main Hall at Lawrence University.jpg]]

Appleton is served by the Appleton Area School District, which has three high schools, four middle schools, seventeen elementary schools, and sixteen charter schools. The district's main public high schools are Appleton East, Appleton North, and Appleton West.

Appleton has two parochial high schools: Roman Catholic Xavier High School and Fox Valley Lutheran High School. Appleton also has charter high schools, including: Fox Cities Leadership Academy, Renaissance Academy, Appleton Technical Academy, and Tesla Engineering.

Appleton is home to Lawrence University, a private liberal arts college, and Fox Valley Technical College. Globe University, Concordia University Wisconsin,{{cite web|url=https://www.cuw.edu/admissions/locations-landing.html|title=Concordia's Locations|website=Visit Concordia|publisher=Concordia University|access-date=April 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416050744/https://www.cuw.edu/admissions/locations-landing.html|archive-date=April 16, 2016|url-status=dead}} and Rasmussen College have branch campuses in the city. Located in nearby Menasha, is the University of Wisconsin–Fox Valley, which is set to close on June 30th 2025. University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley is a two-year campus of the University of Wisconsin System. Art is important and taught in local school districts.{{Cite web |title= Our School - Renaissance School for the Arts|url=https://rsa.aasd.k12.wi.us/our-school }}

In recent years, Appleton has emerged as a center for innovation in technology education, particularly in the area of K–12 technology education: the student-driven Appleton Youth Education Initiative has partnered with Microsoft Philanthropies, Plexus Corp., Miron Construction, Schneider National, and Stellar Blue Technologies to organize the Appleton Tech Clinic and HackAppleton, a popular annual hackathon that draws students from all over Wisconsin.{{cite web|url=https://northnoct.com/10389/features/changemakers/the-appleton-youth-education-initiative-the-past-present-and-future/|title=The Appleton Youth Education Initiative: Past, Present, and Future; |publisher=northnoct.com

|date=January 1, 2022 |access-date=April 26, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ayeinitiative.org/initiatives|title=INITIATIVES; |publisher=ayeinitiative.org

|date=April 26, 2022 |access-date=April 26, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hackappleton.org/stories.html|title=AYEI 3rd Annual HackAppleton Shifts Virtual to Empower Students to Address the Impacts of COVID-19; |publisher=hackappleton.org

|date=June 14, 2020 |access-date=April 26, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://northnoct.com/8382/news/microsoft-sponsors-appleton-youth-education-initiative-to-organize-third-annual-hackappleton-coding-competition/|title=Microsoft Sponsors Appleton Youth Education Initiative to Organize third annual "HackAppleton" Coding Competition; |publisher=northnoct.com

|date=March 6, 2020 |access-date=April 26, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kimberly.k12.wi.us/kimberly-high/news/1660431/khs-hackappleton|title=KHS HackAppleton Teams took Second and Third Place; |publisher=kimberly.k12.wi.us

|date=May 28, 2019 |access-date=April 26, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://newdigitalalliance.org/2019/05/stellar-blue-helps-hackappleton/ |title=Stellar Blue Technologies Helps HACKAppleton; |publisher=newdigitalalliance.org

|date=May 5, 2019 |access-date=April 26, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/2018/03/21/hack-appleton-competition-planned-april-8/445182002/ |title='Hack Appleton' competition planned for April 8'; |publisher=postcrescent.com |date=March 21, 2018 |access-date=April 26, 2022}}

The city and surrounding area are served by the Appleton Public Library, which was chartered by the city in 1897 and as of 2010 has a collection of over 600,000 items. The library offers free wifi as well as printing and faxing for a small fee.{{Cite web|title=Computers & Tech {{!}} Appleton Public Library (WI)|url=https://apl.org/computers|access-date=September 28, 2021|website=apl.org}}

The city owns Valley Transit, a network of bus lines serving the Fox Valley. Amtrak Thruway and Lamers Bus Lines offer intercity buses serving such locations as Green Bay, Madison, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Milwaukee, and Chicago.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

In April 2021, Bird Rides launched a pilot program with 100 rentable electric scooters that users can operate throughout most of the city. In 2024, the city cut ties with Bird Rides, citing scooter parking concerns and concerns regarding Bird Rides' financial viability.{{Cite web |last=Behnke |first=Duke |title=Bird wants to return to Appleton and offers to fix persistent scooter parking problems |url=https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/local/2024/05/10/bird-tells-appleton-it-can-fix-persistent-scooter-parking-problems/73617632007/ |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=The Post-Crescent |language=en-US}} The founder of the company Travis VanderZanden grew up in the Appleton area.{{cite news |last1=Behnke |first1=Duke |title=Appleton's Bird scooter program provides more than 13,000 rides in the first four months |url=https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/local/2021/09/10/appletons-bird-scooters-provide-13-000-rides-first-four-months/5696068001/ |access-date=September 22, 2021 |work=The Post-Crescent}}

Roads include:

• Interstate 41
• US 10
• US 41
• WIS 47
• WIS 96
• WIS 125
• WIS 441

Appleton is crisscrossed by the former main lines of the Chicago and North Western Railway (southwest-northeast) and the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railway (roughly southeast–northwest, and now largely abandoned except for local service to area paper mills and other industries). A north-south branch of the former Wisconsin Central Railroad passes on the west side of the city. All rail service is now operated by Canadian National Railway. Appleton has no intercity passenger rail service, although studies are being undertaken on the feasibility of extending Amtrak rail service to the Fox Cities and Green Bay.

The Appleton International Airport is {{convert|6|mi}} west of downtown Appleton. With four major airlines, the airport has an annual volume of over one million passengers.{{Cite web |date=1 September 2024 |title=Bureau Of Transportation Statistics Data: Appleton International (ATW) |url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&Nv42146=Ngj&Nv42146_anzr=N22yr610,%20jV:%20N22yr610%20V06r40n6v10ny&pn44vr4=SNPgf |access-date=31 December 2024 |website=Bureau of Transportation Statistics}}

{{Main|List of people from Appleton, Wisconsin}}

Appleton is twinned with:{{Cite web|url=https://www.appleton.org/government/mayor-s-office/sister-cities|title=Sister Cities|website=appleton.org|access-date=August 30, 2020}}

• {{flagicon|NIC}} Chinandega, Chinandega Department, Nicaragua
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Kan'onji, Kagawa, Japan

• List of sundown towns in the United States

{{Reflist}}

• Raney, William F. "[http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/18140 Appleton]". Wisconsin Magazine of History, vol. 33, no. 2 (December 1949): 135–151.

{{Commons category|Appleton, Wisconsin}}

{{NSRW poster|Appleton, Wis.}}

{{wikivoyage|Appleton}}

• [https://www.appleton.org/ City of Appleton]
• {{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Appleton |short=x}}

{{Appleton, Wisconsin}}

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Category:Appleton–Fox Cities metropolitan area