Beaver Dam, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beaver Dam
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City
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Looking east at downtown Beaver Dam
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Location of Beaver Dam in Dodge County, Wisconsin.
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 Beaver Dam
Location in Wisconsin
Beaver Dam
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States of America |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Dodge County |
| Settled | 1852 |
| Area | |
| • City | 8.70 sq mi (22.52 km2) |
| • Land | 7.31 sq mi (18.94 km2) |
| • Water | 1.38 sq mi (3.59 km2) 16.89% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 16,708 |
| • Density | 2,242.99/sq mi (866.07/km2) |
| • Metro | 88,489 |
| Time zone | Central |
| Area code(s) | 920 |
| FIPS code | 55-05900 |
Beaver Dam is a city in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States, along Beaver Dam Lake and the Beaver Dam River. The population was 16,708 at the 2020 census, making it the largest city primarily located in Dodge County. It is the principal city of the Beaver Dam Micropolitan Statistical area. The city is adjacent to the Town of Beaver Dam.
History
Beaver Dam was first settled by Thomas Mackie and Joseph Goetschius in 1841, and by 1843 had a population of almost 100. The city was named for an old beaver dam located in a stream flowing into Beaver Dam River. The area had also been known as Okwaanim, Chippewa for beaver dam. The community was incorporated as a city on March 18, 1856. That same year the Milwaukee Railroad reached the area, encouraging further growth.
Beaver Dam hosted a World War II POW camp called Camp Beaver Dam in the summer of 1944. The camp held 300 German prisoners of war in a tent city encampment where the Wayland Academy field house now stands.
Beaver Dam is also home to the Williams Free Library, the first public library in the United States to have open stacks.
Geography and climate
Beaver Dam is located at 43°27′35″N 88°50′9″W / 43.45972°N 88.83583°W (43.459967, −88.836066).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.17 square miles (21.16 km2), of which, 6.79 square miles (17.59 km2) is land and 1.38 square miles (3.57 km2) is water.
Since 1996, the average annual snowfall in Beaver Dam has been 61.7 inches (157 cm). The 2007–2008 winter season was the snowiest on record with 119.7 inches (304 cm).
Normal climate 1981-2010
Normal temperatures
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max °F | 26.4 | 30.6 | 42.5 | 57.0 | 68.0 | 78.2 | 81.8 | 79.7 | 72.3 | 60.0 | 44.4 | 30.6 | 56.0 |
| Min °F | 9.3 | 12.5 | 23.5 | 35.5 | 46.1 | 56.0 | 60.3 | 58.9 | 50.0 | 38.3 | 27.0 | 14.3 | 36.0 |
Normal precipitation
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inch | 1.35 | 1.36 | 2.08 | 3.34 | 3.57 | 4.61 | 4.56 | 3.62 | 3.50 | 2.72 | 2.41 | 1.66 | 34.78 |
Snowfall
| Year | 1996– 1997 |
1997– 1998 |
1998– 1999 |
1999– 2000 |
2000– 2001 |
2001– 2002 |
2002– 2003 |
2003– 2004 |
2004– 2005 |
2005– 2006 |
2006– 2007 |
2007– 2008 |
2008– 2009 |
2009– 2010 |
2010– 2011 |
2011– 2012 |
2012– 2013 |
2013– 2014 |
2014– 2015 |
2015– 2016 |
2016– 2017 |
Annual Avg. | 10 yr Running Avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inch | 80.0 | 60.0 | 49.5 | 42.3 | 62.5 | 40.7 | 35.5 | 30.4 | 53.3 | 51.3 | 61.5 | 119.7 | 85.9 | 64.0 | 96.3 | 47.2 | 97.4 | 67.5 | 35.1 | 54.5 | 44.5 | 61.7 | 72.9 |
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 2,765 | — | |
| 1870 | 3,265 | 18.1% | |
| 1880 | 3,416 | 4.6% | |
| 1890 | 4,222 | 23.6% | |
| 1900 | 5,128 | 21.5% | |
| 1910 | 6,758 | 31.8% | |
| 1920 | 7,992 | 18.3% | |
| 1930 | 9,867 | 23.5% | |
| 1940 | 10,356 | 5.0% | |
| 1950 | 11,867 | 14.6% | |
| 1960 | 13,118 | 10.5% | |
| 1970 | 14,265 | 8.7% | |
| 1980 | 14,149 | −0.8% | |
| 1990 | 14,196 | 0.3% | |
| 2000 | 15,169 | 6.9% | |
| 2010 | 16,214 | 6.9% | |
| 2020 | 16,708 | 3.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 16,214 people, 6,819 households, and 4,113 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,387.9 inhabitants per square mile (922.0/km2). There were 7,326 housing units at an average density of 1,078.9 per square mile (416.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.0% White, 0.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.4% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.5% of the population.
There were 6,819 households, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.7% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.95.
The median age in the city was 37.7 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.
Events
The following events are held each year in Beaver Dam, WI:
January:
- Cabin Fever Fest – 4th Sunday
March:
- Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast – 1st Sunday
April:
- Rotary Casino Night – 1st Saturday
- Beaver Dam Area Orchestra Annual Spring Concert – 3rd Saturday
May:
- Race Into Summer Festival – Sunday of Memorial Day weekend
- Memorial Day Parade – Memorial Day
June:
- Taste of Wisconsin (beer & cheese tasting) – Saturday before Father's Day
- Swan City Classic Car Show – Father's Day
July:
- Lake Days / Swan Park Craft Fair – 2nd weekend
August:
- Corn Roast – 1st Thursday
- Dodge County Fair – 3rd Wednesday through the following Sunday
November:
- Midwest Cream Cheese Competition – Saturday of opening of deer hunting
- Economic Update Luncheon – 3rd Wednesday
December:
- Christmas Parade – 1st Saturday
Education
The Beaver Dam Unified School District provides public education in the area.
Primary education
Beaver Dam's five public primary schools for K to 5th grades are: Jefferson Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Prairie View Elementary, Washington Elementary, and Wilson Elementary.
There are two parochial primary schools: St. Katharine Drexel (grades: pre-K to 8th), and St. Stephen's Evangelical Lutheran (grades: K to 8th).
Middle school
Beaver Dam Middle School is the local public middle school teaching 6th through 8th grades.
Secondary education
Beaver Dam High School is the local public high school; its mascot is The Golden Beaver. An alternative school, the Don Smith Learning Academy, is part of the Beaver Dam Unified School District. The city is also home to Wayland Academy, a private school.
Post-secondary education
The Beaver Dam campus of Moraine Park Technical College is located in the city.
Notable people
Professional sports
- Eric Baldwin, professional poker player
- Paul Cloyd, professional basketball player
- Ric Flair, wrestler
- Pink Hawley, major league baseball player
- Addie Joss, MLB player, member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame
- Lyman Linde, MLB player
- Doug Lloyd, professional football player
- Jason Maas, professional football player
- David Maley, NHL player
- Bill Rentmeester, NFL/UFL player
- Elmer Rhenstrom, NFL player
- Gil Sterr, NFL player
- Barney Traynor, NFL player
Business
- Frederick Douglas Underwood, President of Erie Railroad, Director of Wells Fargo
- Lina Trivedi, co-creator of (Beanie Babies)
Science, media, and the arts
- Delia Akeley, explorer
- Edward Creutz, physicist
- Brian Donlevy, actor
- Lois Ehlert, illustrator, Caldecott Medal recipient
- Zona Gale, writer
- Raymond Z. Gallun, writer
- Bobby Hatfield, singer, best known as one of The Righteous Brothers singing duo
- Fred MacMurray, actor
- Parry Moon, electrical engineer, author
- Kira Salak, writer, adventurer, journalist, attended Wayland Academy
- Nancy Zieman, television sewing host, author and businesswoman
See also
In Spanish: Beaver Dam (Wisconsin) para niños
