Belgium, Wisconsin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Belgium, Wisconsin
Village
Looking east at Belgium's business district
Location of Belgium in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin.
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Ozaukee
Settled	1840s
Incorporated	1922; 102 years ago (1922)
Area
• Total	2.15 sq mi (5.58 km2)
• Land	2.15 sq mi (5.58 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	738 ft (225 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	2,245
• Estimate  (2019)	2,345
• Density	1,089.18/sq mi (420.56/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	262
FIPS code	55-06175
GNIS feature ID	1582781

Belgium is a village in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. Located along Interstate 43, the village is one of the northernmost communities in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The population was 2,245 at the 2010 census.

Beginning in the 1840s, immigrant farmers from Luxembourg settled in Northern Ozaukee County and formed several rural communities, including Belgium as well as the neighboring hamlets of Dacada, Holy Cross, and Lake Church. Although Belgium grew after a railroad was constructed through the community and incorporated as a village in 1922, the community remained primarily agricultural in the 20th century. As recently as 2015, the local cannery, which processes fruits and vegetables harvested at area farms, was by far the village's largest employer.

The village continues to have strong cultural ties to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Members of the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg have visited, and the Luxembourg Government sponsors the Luxembourg American Cultural Center and Museum in the community. Among other programs, the center assists Americans of Luxembourgian ancestry in applying for dual citizenship, and since 1987 the village has hosted an annual festival devoted to Luxembourgian food and culture.

History

The first settlement at Belgium was made in 1848. A large share of the early settlers being natives of Belgium caused the name to be selected. A post office called Belgium has been in operation since 1857.

Geography

Belgium is located at 43°30′2″N 87°50′48″W / 43.50056°N 87.84667°W / 43.50056; -87.84667 (43.500735, -87.846897).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.42 square miles (6.27 km²), all of it land.

Belgium is two miles (3 km) west of Lake Michigan, adjacent to conjoined Interstate 43-State Highway 32.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,245 people, 817 households, and 608 families residing in the village. The population density was 927.7 inhabitants per square mile (358.2/km²). There were 848 housing units at an average density of 350.4 per square mile (135.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 94.5% white, 0.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 2.9% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.2% of the population.

There were 817 households, of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.0% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.6% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.24.

The median age in the village was 35 years. 29.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 33.8% were from 25 to 44; 23.5% were from 45 to 64; and 8.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 51.0% male and 49.0% female.

Economy

Education

The village is served by the joint Cedar Grove-Belgium School District. Students attend Cedar Grove-Belgium Elementary School for kindergarten through fourth grade, Cedar Grove-Belgium Middle School for fifth through eighth grades, and Cedar Grove-Belgium High School for ninth through twelfth grades. All of the district's schools are located in Cedar Grove, Sheboygan County, north of the Village of Belgium. The district is governed by a seven-member elected board of education.

Transportation

Interstate 43 runs parallel to the village's eastern municipal boundary with access via Exit 107.

Ozaukee County Transit Services' Shared Ride Taxi provides a public transit option for Belgium residents. The taxis operate seven days a week and make connections to Washington County Transit and Milwaukee County Routes 12, 49 and 42u. Unlike a typical taxi, however, the rider must contact the service ahead of time to schedule their pick-up date and time. The taxi service plans their routes based on the number of riders, pick-up/drop-off time and destination then plans the routes accordingly.

The Ozaukee Interurban Trail, which is for pedestrian and bicycle use, passes through Belgium and connects the village to the neighboring communities of Port Washington and Cedar Grove, and continues north to Oostburg and south to Milwaukee County.

The Union Pacific Railroad operates a freight rail line running parallel to the Ozaukee Interurban Trail in the village, but Belgium currently does not have a passenger train station.

Notable people

• Nicholas J. Bichler - Wisconsin State Representative
• William J. Bichler - Wisconsin State Senator
• Henry Ellenbecker - Wisconsin State Representative

See also

In Spanish: Belgium (Wisconsin) para niños