Beaver Dam

Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Dodge County

Beaver Dam is a city in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States, along Beaver Dam Lake and the Beaver Dam River. The population was 15,169 at the 2000 census. The city is located within the Town of Beaver Dam.

Geography and climate

Beaver Dam is located at 43°27′35″N 88°50′9″W / 43.45972°N 88.83583°W / 43.45972; -88.83583 (43.459967, -88.836066)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17.0 km²), of which, 5.2 square miles (13.5 km²) of it is land and 1.3 square miles (3.5 km²) of it (20.43%) is water.

Since 1996, the average annual snowfall in Beaver Dam has been 59.0 inches. The 2007-2008 winter season was the snowiest on record, with a recorded 119.7 inches of snow.^{[citation needed]}

Normal climate

Normal temperatures

Normal precipitation

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 15,169 people, 6,349 households, and 3,999 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,904.6 people per square mile (1,122.0/km²). There were 6,685 housing units at an average density of 1,280.1/sq mi (494.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.95% White, 0.44% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.61% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. 4.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,349 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,873, and the median income for a family was $46,346. Males had a median income of $33,267 versus $23,513 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,592. About 4.5% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

History

Beaver Dam was first settled by Thomas Macki and Joseph Goetschius in 1841, and was home to almost 100 people by 1843. Beaver Dam was incorporated as a city on March 18, 1856.^[3] Also in 1856, the Milwaukee Railroad reached the area, encouraging further growth. The city was named for an old beaver dam located in a stream flowing into Beaver Dam River.^[4] The area was also known as Okwanim, Chippewa for beaver dam.^[5]

Education

Beaver Dam High School is the local public high school; its mascot is The Golden Beaver. The city is also home to Wayland Academy, a private school. The Beaver Dam campus of Moraine Park Technical College is located in the city.

Notable citizens

• Delia Akeley, explorer
• Samuel D. Burchard, U.S. Representative
• Michael E. Burke, U.S. Representative
• Paul Cloyd, professional basketball player
• Brian Donlevy, actor
• Lois Ehlert, illustrator, Caldecott Medal recipient
• Ric Flair, wrestler
• Zona Gale, writer
• Raymond Z. Gallun, writer
• Bobby Hatfield, singer
• Pink Hawley, major league baseball player
• Addie Joss, MLB player, member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame
• Robert Kastenmeier, U.S. Representative
• Walter J. LaBuy, U.S. District Court Judge in Illinois
• Lyman Linde, MLB player
• Jason Maas, professional football player
• Fred MacMurray, actor
• David Maley, NHL player
• Parry Moon, electrical engineer, author
• Bill Rentmeester, UFL player
• Elmer Rhenstrom, NFL player
• John Samuel Rowell, politician, agricultural inventor, and pioneer manufacturer
• A. Scott Sloan, U.S. Representative
• Gil Sterr, NFL player
• John Mellen Thurston, U.S. Senator from Nebraska, Thurston County, Nebraska is named after him.
• Barney Traynor, NFL player
• Frederick Douglas Underwood, President of Erie Railroad, Director of Wells Fargo

Films shot in Beaver Dam

• Thirteen Hours by Air (1936)
• The Pit (1981)
• Public Enemies (2009)

References

1. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ Private and Local Laws Passed by the Legislature of Wisconsin in 1856, ch. 143. http://books.google.com/books?id=ttY4AAAAIAAJ
4. ^ "Beaver Dam [brief history", in Dictionary of Wisconsin History http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=15129
5. ^ Virgil J. Voegl, Indian Names on Wisconsin's Map. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press, 1991. ISBN 0299129802 p. 142

External links

• City of Beaver Dam | city map | historical overview
• Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce
• School district website

• Beaver Dam, Wisconsin is at coordinates 43°27′36″N 88°50′10″W / 43.459967°N 88.836066°W / 43.459967; -88.836066 (Beaver Dam, Wisconsin)Coordinates: 43°27′36″N 88°50′10″W / 43.459967°N 88.836066°W / 43.459967; -88.836066 (Beaver Dam, Wisconsin)

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