kids encyclopedia robot

Amherst Junction, Wisconsin facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Amherst Junction, Wisconsin
Village
Location of Amherst Junction in Portage County, Wisconsin.
Location of Amherst Junction in Portage County, Wisconsin.
Country  United States
State  Wisconsin
County Portage
Area
 • Total 1.24 sq mi (3.22 km2)
 • Land 1.24 sq mi (3.20 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
1,109 ft (338 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 377
 • Estimate 
(2019)
383
 • Density 309.87/sq mi (119.63/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
Zip code
54407
Area codes 715 & 534
FIPS code 55-01800
GNIS feature ID 1560833

Amherst Junction is a small village located in Portage County, Wisconsin, in the United States. In 2010, about 377 people lived there.

History of Amherst Junction

Amherst Junction started because of the railroad. It was a special spot where two different train lines met. These were the Wisconsin Central and the Green Bay and Lake Pepin railroads. This meeting point was called a "junction."

Before 1875, the area was known as Groversburg. This name probably came from the Grover family, who owned a lot of land there. But in March 1875, a post office opened. From then on, the community was officially called Amherst Junction.

The village officially became a village (or "incorporated") in 1911. By 1914, Amherst Junction was very important for buying and selling potatoes. Many people who wanted to travel to the eastern parts of the county would get off the train here. They would then hire a horse and buggy from a local stable to reach their final destination.

At one time, Amherst Junction was a busy place with 36 businesses. These included five taverns, two hotels, and two grocery stores. There were also dance halls, train depots, and stores that sold animal feed. The village had four potato warehouses, a blacksmith shop, a stable for horses, a meat market, a bank, and a hardware store. There was even a car dealership, a post office, a school, and a factory that processed turkeys.

The Summit House Hotel

The Summit House was a large hotel built around 1872 or 1873. It was a popular spot for people to stay, eat, and dance. This shows that Amherst Junction was a central gathering place for many nearby communities.

The Summit House stayed open until 1939. After that, it was taken apart, and its wood was used to build a new home for the owner. For a while, the hotel was run by Zilphia Moyers Een. She was the first woman in the county to be a hotel keeper.

Geography of Amherst Junction

Amherst Junction is located at 44°28′10″N 89°19′1″W / 44.46944°N 89.31694°W / 44.46944; -89.31694. This is its exact spot on a map.

The United States Census Bureau says the village covers about 1.22 square miles (3.22 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.21 square miles (3.20 square kilometers), is land. Only a tiny part, about 0.01 square miles (0.02 square kilometers), is water.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 49
1920 192
1930 210 9.4%
1940 197 −6.2%
1950 185 −6.1%
1960 131 −29.2%
1970 141 7.6%
1980 225 59.6%
1990 269 19.6%
2000 305 13.4%
2010 377 23.6%
2019 (est.) 383 1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 Census Information

In 2010, a census (a count of the population) showed that 377 people lived in Amherst Junction. These people lived in 137 households, and 102 of these were families.

The population density was about 311.6 people per square mile (119.63 people per square kilometer). This tells us how many people live in a certain area. There were also 146 housing units, like houses or apartments.

Almost everyone living in the village (100%) was identified as White. A small number, about 0.5%, were Hispanic or Latino.

Out of the 137 households:

  • 42.3% had children under 18 living with them.
  • 65.7% were married couples living together.
  • A small number had a single parent (3.6% female, 5.1% male).
  • 25.5% were not families.
  • 18.2% of households had only one person living there.
  • 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The average household had 2.75 people, and the average family had 3.16 people.

The median age in the village was 35.2 years old. This means half the people were younger than 35.2, and half were older.

  • 28.9% of residents were under 18 years old.
  • 6.9% were between 18 and 24 years old.
  • 29.8% were between 25 and 44 years old.
  • 25.4% were between 45 and 64 years old.
  • 9% were 65 years old or older.

The village had a nearly equal number of males and females. About 49.3% were male, and 50.7% were female.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Amherst Junction para niños

kids search engine
Amherst Junction, Wisconsin Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.