Wautoma, Wisconsin
{{About|the city|the adjacent town|Wautoma (town), Wisconsin}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Update|demographics and population|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Wautoma, Wisconsin
|settlement_type = City
|nickname =
|motto =
|image_skyline = WautomaWisconsinDowntown1WIS21.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Looking west at downtown Wautoma, Wisconsin
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
|image_map = File:Waushara County Wisconsin Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Wautoma Highlighted.svg
|mapsize = 250px
|map_caption = Location of Wautoma in Waushara County, Wisconsin.
|pushpin_map = Wisconsin#USA
|pushpin_label = Wautoma
|pushpin_relief = yes
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Wisconsin}}
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Waushara
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|leader_title1 =
|leader_name1 =
|established_title =
|established_date =
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 7.34
|area_land_km2 = 7.23
|area_water_km2 = 0.11
|area_total_sq_mi = 2.83
|area_land_sq_mi = 2.79
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.04
|population_as_of = 2010
|population_est = 2142
|pop_est_as_of = 2019
|population_total = 2218
|population_density_km2 = 296.46
|population_density_sq_mi = 767.74
|timezone = Central (CST)
|utc_offset = -6
|timezone_DST = CDT
|utc_offset_DST = -5
|elevation_m =
|elevation_ft = 863
|coordinates = {{coord|44|4|17|N|89|17|23|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = ZIP Code
|postal_code = 54982
|area_code = 920
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = 55-84625
|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank1_info = 1576330 {{GNIS|1576330}}
|website = http://www.cityofwautoma.com/
|footnotes =
}}
Wautoma is a city and the county seat of Waushara County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,218 at the 2010 census.
The city consists of three noncontiguous areas: one is entirely surrounded by the Town of Wautoma, the second is entirely surrounded by the Town of Dakota, and the third and largest straddles the boundary between the two towns.
Wautoma calls itself the "Christmas tree capital of the world".{{cite web|url=http://onmilwaukee.com/visitors/articles/xmastree.html|title=So, where is the Christmas tree capital?|date=December 14, 2004|access-date=December 25, 2014|last=Hoffmann|first=Gregg|website=OnMilwaukee.com}}{{cite news|url=http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_285172.html#axzz3Mxx59vXm|title='Tis the season for tree farmers|date=December 20, 2004|access-date=December 25, 2014|last=Foreman|first=Chris|newspaper=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review}}{{cite news|url=http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/arts/art-city-explores-place-sacred-spaces-b99329942z1-276569591.html|title=Christmas Tree Groves|date=September 24, 2014|access-date=December 25, 2014|last=Salas|first=Rafael Francisco|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel}}{{cite book|last1=Johnson|first1=Mickey|last2=Kehr|first2=Roland|title=Wingshooter's Guide to Wisconsin: Upland Birds and Waterfowl|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kWzsSD1b3PkC&pg=PA176|access-date=25 December 2014|year=2002|publisher=Wilderness Adventures Press|isbn=978-1-885106-86-5|page=176}} The Kirk Company of Tacoma, Washington, operated the "Wautoma plantation" of more than {{convert|10000|acres}} of Christmas trees, beginning in 1953.{{cite journal|title=Of Christmas trees, long, long ago|first=Kathryn A. |last=Kahler |journal=Wisconsin Natural Resources|publisher=Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources|date=December 2014|page=2|access-date=December 25, 2014|url=http://dnr.wi.gov/wnrmag/}}
On August 29, 1992, the town was struck by a half-mile wide F-3 tornado, killing 2 people, injuring 30 others, and causing over $5 million in damage.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/01/us/tornado-in-wisconsin-kills-2-and-injures-30.html | title=Tornado in Wisconsin Kills 2 and Injures 30 | date = September 1, 1992 | access-date = February 12, 2015 | newspaper = New York Times}}
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|2.72|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|2.68|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.04|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=2012-11-18}}
Demographics
{{US Census population|align=left
|1880= 295
|1910= 964
|1920= 1046
|1930= 1044
|1940= 1180
|1950= 1376
|1960= 1466
|1970= 1624
|1980= 1629
|1990= 1784
|2000= 1998
|2010= 2218
|estyear=2019
|estimate=2142
|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}}
}}
=2010 census=
As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-11-18}} of 2010, there were 2,218 people, 945 households, and 487 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|827.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,061 housing units at an average density of {{convert|395.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 88.3% White, 1.4% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 6.3% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.8% of the population.
There were 945 households, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.6% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 48.5% were non-families. 44.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 3.13.
The median age in the city was 35.4 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.2% were from 25 to 44; 22.8% were from 45 to 64; and 17.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.5% male and 49.5% female.
=2000 census=
As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 1,998 people, 806 households, and 429 families living in the city. The population density was 800.8 people per square mile (308.6/km2). There were 877 housing units at an average density of 351.5 per square mile (135.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.04% White, 1.10% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 2.00% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 7.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 806 households, out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.7% were non-families. 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,723, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $27,546 versus $19,648 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,006. About 5.2% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Wautoma is served by the Wautoma Municipal Airport {{airport codes|||Y50}}.
Media
=News media=
- The Waushara Argus is the weekly newspaper.
=Radio=
- WAUH radio broadcasts at 102.3 FM.
High school sports
Wautoma High School has won five state championships, three in boys' track and field, one in boys' basketball, and one in football. In 1980, Wautoma High School won the Class B State Basketball Championship.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Basketball_Boys/teamchamps.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-01-02 |archive-date=2013-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228080322/http://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Basketball_Boys/teamchamps.pdf |url-status=dead }}
Notable people
{{div col}}
- Jared Abbrederis, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver
- Robert E. Behnke, Wisconsin State Representative
- William Belter, Wisconsin State Representative
- Robyn J. Blader, U.S. National Guard general
- George M. Byse, Wisconsin State Representative
- Boyd A. Clark, Wisconsin State Representative and jurist
- Richard W. Hubbell, Wisconsin State Representative
- Edward F. Kileen, Wisconsin State Senator
- Robert L. D. Potter, Wisconsin State Senator
- Jon Wilcox Wisconsin State Representative, Wisconsin Chief Judge, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice
- June Wandrey, World War II veteran, writer
- William C. Webb, Wisconsin and Kansas politician and jurist
{{div col end}}
Images
File:Wautoma sign.jpg|Road sign, looking west down Highway 21
File:Wautoma city hall.jpg|Wautoma City Hall
File:Waushara County Courthouse.jpg|Waushara County courthouse
File:Wautoma Wisconsin Sign Looking West WIS21.jpg|Looking west at the sign for Wautoma
File:Wautoma Wisconsin Public Library.jpg|Public library
File:Wautoma Wisconsin High School.jpg|Wautoma High School
File:Waushara Training School Wautoma Wisconsin.jpg|The former Waushara Training School in Wautoma
See also
References
{{reflist|22em}}
External links
{{commons category|Wautoma, Wisconsin}}
- {{official website|http://www.cityofwautoma.com}}
- [http://www.wautomalibrary.org/ Wautoma Public Library]
- [https://www.imagefap.com/profile/SissyToiletSlavePig/ Wautoma Farmer's Union]
- Sanborn fire insurance map: [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/12492 1911]
{{Waushara County, Wisconsin}}
{{Wisconsin county seats}}
{{authority control}}