Amherst, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amherst
|
|
|---|---|
Looking north at downtown Amherst
|
|
Location of Amherst in Portage County, Wisconsin.
|
|
 Amherst, Wisconsin
Location in Wisconsin
Amherst, Wisconsin
Location in the United States
Amherst, Wisconsin
Location in North America
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Portage |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.33 sq mi (3.46 km2) |
| • Land | 1.28 sq mi (3.32 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.14 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,093 ft (333 m) |
| Population
(2010)
|
|
| • Total | 1,035 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
|
1,045 |
| • Density | 816.41/sq mi (315.13/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Zip code |
54406
|
| Area codes | 715 & 534 |
| FIPS code | 55-01775 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1582689 |
Amherst is a small village located in Portage County, Wisconsin, in the United States. In 2010, about 1,035 people lived there. Amherst is known as the center of the Tomorrow Valley area.
Contents
History of Amherst Village
The name Amherst was chosen in 1853 by Adam Uline. He named it after General Jeffery Amherst. This general was famous during the American Revolutionary War. He was also from a place called Amherst, Nova Scotia.
The first person known to settle in Amherst was John F. Hillstrom. He arrived in 1851. John and A. P. Een came shortly after him in August 1852.
Geography and Location
Amherst is a small village with a total area of about 3.46 square kilometers (1.35 square miles). Most of this area is land, about 3.32 square kilometers (1.28 square miles). A small part, about 0.14 square kilometers (0.05 square miles), is water.
People Living in Amherst
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Amherst has changed over the years. Here's a quick look at how the population has grown:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 298 | — | |
| 1890 | 438 | 47.0% | |
| 1900 | 558 | 27.4% | |
| 1910 | 629 | 12.7% | |
| 1920 | 588 | −6.5% | |
| 1930 | 577 | −1.9% | |
| 1940 | 611 | 5.9% | |
| 1950 | 608 | −0.5% | |
| 1960 | 596 | −2.0% | |
| 1970 | 585 | −1.8% | |
| 1980 | 701 | 19.8% | |
| 1990 | 792 | 13.0% | |
| 2000 | 964 | 21.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,035 | 7.4% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 1,045 | 1.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Amherst Population in 2010
In 2010, the village had 1,035 people living in 434 households. About 274 of these were families. The village had about 315 people per square kilometer (816 people per square mile).
Most people in Amherst were White (97.9%). A small number were from other backgrounds. About 2.5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (35.5%) had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.38 people. The average family had 2.99 people.
The average age of people in Amherst was 35.1 years. About 29% of residents were under 18. About 13.1% were 65 years or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (49.1%) and females (50.9%).
Public Services and Community Life
Amherst has good public services for its residents.
Education in Amherst
The Tomorrow River School District serves Amherst. All schools are on one campus. This includes Amherst High School, Amherst Middle School, and Amherst Elementary School.
Safety and Local Services
The Amherst Fire District provides fire protection and ambulance services. The Portage County Sheriff's Department handles police protection. The village also has a public library. The Lettie Jensen Community Center is a place for community events. There is a nice riverside park downtown along the Tomorrow River.
Transportation Routes
Amherst is connected to U.S. Highway 10. This is an important road. The Canadian National Railway main train line also runs through the village. It is on a raised track.
Local Infrastructure
Amherst is home to the Amherst Telephone Company. This company is also known as Tomorrow Valley Communications. It started on July 3, 1903. Local residents helped start the company by buying shares. The company provides phone and internet services. It serves Amherst and nearby communities like Rosholt, Amherst Junction, and Polonia.
Amherst Mill Pond
The Amherst Mill Pond is a 48-acre body of water. It is located right in the village. A dam on the Tomorrow River created this pond. It was once used to power a local feed mill.
The pond is not very deep, with a maximum depth of about five feet. The bottom is mostly sand covered with silt. You can travel by boat on the Tomorrow River both above and below the dam. There are two public places to access the pond. These are the boat landing and Cate Park on the east side. The pond is a good spot for fishing. You can find northern pike and panfish there.
Fairgrounds and Events
The fairgrounds in Amherst were built in 1917. They host many fun events. The Portage County Fair is held here. There is also an Amish craft fair. Other community events take place at the fairgrounds.
Since 2013, Stock car racing has been held at the fairgrounds. The race track is known as Amherst Speedway.
Famous People from Amherst
- Tyler Biadasz, a football player
- Charles Couch, a legislator (someone who makes laws)
- Charles F. Hanke, a legislator
- Herman H. Hoffman, a legislator
- Norman Myhra, a businessman and legislator
- Timothy Olson, an ultrarunner (someone who runs very long distances)
- David Zenoff, a Nevada Supreme Court justice (a judge in a high court)
Images for kids
-
Looking east in downtown Amherst
-
Welcome sign
See also
In Spanish: Amherst (Wisconsin) para niños
