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Abbotsford, Wisconsin facts for kids

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Abbotsford, Wisconsin
First Street, downtown Abbotsford
First Street, downtown Abbotsford
Nickname(s): 
Wisconsin's First City
Location of Abbotsford in Clark Countyand Marathon County, Wisconsin.
Location of Abbotsford in Clark County
and Marathon County, Wisconsin.
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Counties Clark, Marathon
Area
 • Total 3.03 sq mi (7.86 km2)
 • Land 3.03 sq mi (7.86 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,407 ft (429 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,275
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
54405
Area codes 715 & 534
FIPS code 55-00100
GNIS feature ID 1560663

Abbotsford is a city in Wisconsin, a state in the United States. It's located in both Clark and Marathon counties. Abbotsford is often called "Wisconsin's First City." This is because its name starts with "A," making it first on many lists of cities in Wisconsin! In 2020, about 2,275 people lived here.

History of Abbotsford

Imagine a time when Abbotsford was mostly forest! In 1872, the Wisconsin Central Railroad began clearing a path for their train tracks. The tracks were built through the area that would become Abbotsford in 1874.

Later, in 1879, the railroad needed a good place for trains to switch directions and connect to other lines. They chose this area, which was first called Colby Junction. In 1880, it was renamed Abbotsford. The city was named after Edwin H. Abbott, an important person from the Wisconsin Central Railroad.

Abbotsford officially became a village in 1894. Many years later, in 1965, it changed its status and became a city.

Geography of Abbotsford

Abbotsford is located in the central part of Wisconsin. It covers an area of about 3.03 square miles (about 7.86 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water inside the city limits.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 443
1910 947 113.8%
1920 782 −17.4%
1930 781 −0.1%
1940 920 17.8%
1950 1,013 10.1%
1960 1,171 15.6%
1970 1,375 17.4%
1980 1,901 38.3%
1990 1,916 0.8%
2000 1,956 2.1%
2010 2,310 18.1%
2020 2,275 −1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

Abbotsford is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin area. In 2020, the city had a population of 2,275 people. The community is diverse, with people from many different backgrounds living there. About 38.5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino in 2020.

Education in Abbotsford

Students in Abbotsford attend schools that are part of the Abbotsford School District. The district has an elementary school for younger students. It also has a middle/senior high school for older students. There is also an alternative high school and education center.

Notable People from Abbotsford

Many interesting people have connections to Abbotsford, including:

  • Bruce F. Beilfuss: He was the 22nd chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He lived and worked as a lawyer in Abbotsford.
  • Herman Hedrich: He was a Wisconsin State Representative, meaning he helped make laws for the state. He lived in Abbotsford.
  • Galen Laack: He was a professional NFL player. He was born right here in Abbotsford.
  • Frank Nikolay: Another Wisconsin State Representative who lived in Abbotsford.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Abbotsford (Wisconsin) para niños

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