Wisconsin Rapids

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
—  City  —
Location of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 44°23′12″N 89°49′23″W / 44.38667°N 89.82306°W / 44.38667; -89.82306
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Wood
Government
- Mayor	Mary Jo Carson
Area
- City	14.1 sq mi (36.5 km2)
- Land	13.3 sq mi (34.3 km2)
- Water	0.9 sq mi (2.2 km2)
Elevation	1,027 ft (313 m)
Population (2000)
- City	18,435
- Density	1,390.3/sq mi (536.8/km2)
- Metro	48,123
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	715
FIPS code	55-88200[1]
GNIS feature ID	1576906[2]
Website	http://www.wirapids.org

Looking south at WIS 13 in downtown Wisconsin Rapids

Welcome sign

WIS 13 / WIS 54 bridge over the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin Rapids

Water tower

Wisconsin Rapids is a city in and the county seat of Wood County, Wisconsin, United States.^[3] The population was 18,435 at the 2000 census.

According to the 2000 census, the Wisconsin Rapids micropolitan area was home to 48,123 people. The city also forms one of the core areas of the United States Census Bureau's Marshfield-Wisconsin Rapids Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Wood County (2000 population: 75,555).

Geography

Wisconsin Rapids is located at 44°23′12″N 89°49′23″W / 44.38667°N 89.82306°W / 44.38667; -89.82306 (44.386805, -89.823078).^[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.1 square miles (36.5 km²), of which, 13.3 square miles (34.3 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.2 km²) (6.02%) is water.

History

The American Indians called the area "Adahwahgam", meaning "Two-sided Rapids". Although Europeans began to settle this area in the 1830s, Wisconsin Rapids has been known by this name only since 1920. Prior to that, the community was divided by the Wisconsin River, with the west side incorporated as Centralia and the east side as Grand Rapids. The two cities merged in 1900, with the entire community taking the name Grand Rapids. The name was changed in 1920 to avoid mail and other goods from being misdirected to the much better known Grand Rapids, Michigan.^[5]

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 18,435 people, 7,970 households, and 4,782 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,390 people per square mile (536.8/km²). There were 8,426 housing units at an average density of 635.3/sq mi (245.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.04% White, 0.34% African American, 0.80% Native American, 3.46% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.

There were 7,970 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,956, and the median income for a family was $43,594. Males had a median income of $36,098 versus $22,466 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,723. About 7.0% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Known for its papermaking manufacturing history, Wisconsin Rapids is also an important locale for the cranberry industry. Wisconsin Rapids is the corporate home of the international educational software company, Renaissance Learning, Inc. as well as other national and global companies.

Education

Mid-State Technical College, which has a campus in the city, offers multiple diplomas.

Recreation

Wisconsin Rapids has several local parks, including Robinson Park, Gaynor Park, and Lyon Park. There is also a recently built skate park. There are three museums, the South Wood County Historical Society Museum, the Alexander House, and the Paper Making Museum, all three of which are housed in large former family homes. There is a municipal zoo (free to enter), and two public swimming pools (a third is closed, as at the 2009 summer season).

Notable residents

• Bonnie Bartlett, actress
• Bruno Block, MLB catcher
• James Daly, actor
• Tom Metcalf, MLB pitcher
• Grim Natwick, animator and film director
• Edith Nash, educator and poet
• Philleo Nash, professor and anthropologist
• John Offerdahl, NFL player
• Bryan Reffner, NASCAR driver
• Don Rehfeldt, All-American college & NBA basketball player
• Scott Scharff, NFL player
• Dick Trickle, NASCAR driver
• Joseph Wood, merchant, and Wisconsin legislator

References

External links

• City of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Wisconsin Rapids Chamber of Commerce
• Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune
• The Voice of Wisconsin Rapids
• Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools
• McMillan Memorial Library
• Wisconsin Rapids & Wood County History
• [1]
• [2]

• Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin is at coordinates 44°23′12″N 89°49′23″W / 44.386805°N 89.823078°W / 44.386805; -89.823078 (Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin)Coordinates: 44°23′12″N 89°49′23″W / 44.386805°N 89.823078°W / 44.386805; -89.823078 (Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin)

v • d • e Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin Surrounding communities (under 10,000) Biron‡ | Grand Rapids* | Nekoosa° | Port Edwards‡ | Port Edwards* | Saratoga* | Seneca Counties Wood County *town ‡village °city

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Wood County, Wisconsin County seat: Wisconsin Rapids Cities Marshfield | Nekoosa | Pittsville | Wisconsin Rapids Villages Arpin | Auburndale | Biron | Hewitt | Milladore | Port Edwards | Rudolph | Vesper Towns Arpin | Auburndale | Cameron | Cary | Cranmoor | Dexter | Grand Rapids | Hansen | Hiles | Lincoln | Marshfield | Milladore | Port Edwards | Remington | Richfield | Rock | Rudolph | Saratoga | Seneca | Sherry | Sigel | Wood CDP Lake Wazeecha Unincorporated communities Babcock | Bethel | Blenker | Dexterville