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Birchwood, Wisconsin
Downtown Birchwood on WIS48
Downtown Birchwood on WIS48
Nickname(s): 
The Bluegill Capital of Wisconsin
Location of Birchwood in Washburn County, Wisconsin.
Location of Birchwood in Washburn County, Wisconsin.
Country  United States
State  Wisconsin
County Washburn
Village 1903
Area
 • Total 1.25 sq mi (3.23 km2)
 • Land 1.08 sq mi (2.79 km2)
 • Water 0.17 sq mi (0.43 km2)
Elevation
1,329 ft (405 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 442
 • Estimate 
(2019)
428
 • Density 396.66/sq mi (153.20/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
Area codes 715 & 534
FIPS code 55-07575
GNIS feature ID 1582812
Website http://www.birchwoodvillagewi.com

Birchwood is a small village in Washburn County, Wisconsin, United States. In 2020, about 402 people lived there. The village is part of the larger Town of Birchwood. It's often called "The Bluegill Capital of Wisconsin" because of the many fish in its lakes!

History of Birchwood Village

Birchwood Village Hall
Birchwood Village Hall

Early Logging Companies

Birchwood's history is closely tied to the logging industry. A very large logging company, Knapp, Stout and Company, started in 1846. It was one of the biggest lumber companies in the world. They owned huge areas of pine forests.

This company produced millions of feet of lumber each year. They also owned large farms to supply their logging camps with food.

How Birchwood Started

Knapp, Stout and Company had a big impact on northern Wisconsin. They helped bring railroads to the area, like the Soo and Omaha lines. Many logging camps they set up later grew into towns.

Birchwood is located where a lumber camp called Birch Lake once stood. It was also where the two main railroads crossed.

Naming the Village

Birchwood, Wisconsin, was officially mapped out in 1901. It was first named Loomis, after Wilbur Loomis. He was one of the first people to live there and owned the first store.

In 1912, the name was changed to Birchwood. This happened partly because of a disagreement, but also because there were so many birch trees in the area.

The Birch Lake Dam's Story

The Birchwood dam was first built by Knapp, Stout and Company. The very first dam was made of logs in 1881. They made it bigger in 1893 because the first one was too small.

Later, in 1911, the dam was sold to a power company. This company built the first concrete dam. In 1916, this dam helped bring electricity to Birchwood for the first time!

Birchwood's Main Industry

In 1903, a company called Ahnapee Veneer and Seating Co. built a mill in Birchwood. This mill was very important for the village. After it burned down in 1906, it was quickly rebuilt.

Over the years, the mill changed owners and names several times. It became known as Birchwood Lumber and Veneer Co. in 1944. This mill has been the main industry in Birchwood for a long time. Today, it's owned by Masonite International.

Birchwood Schools History

In 1902, the people of Birchwood set aside land for a school. The first school was a small, one-room building. A new, larger school was built in 1903.

By 1909, the school had too many students. Classes had to be held in local churches until more rooms were added. A high school was built in 1921. This is still the same building used today, with some new parts added over time.

Geography of Birchwood

Birchwood is located at coordinates 45°39′26″N 91°33′15″W / 45.65722°N 91.55417°W / 45.65722; -91.55417.

The village covers about 1.26 square miles (3.26 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 1.09 square miles (2.82 square kilometers). The rest is water, about 0.17 square miles (0.44 square kilometers).

Population Information

Historical population
Census Pop.
1930 565
1940 531 −6.0%
1950 502 −5.5%
1960 433 −13.7%
1970 394 −9.0%
1980 437 10.9%
1990 443 1.4%
2000 518 16.9%
2010 442 −14.7%
2019 (est.) 428 −3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 Census Details

Birchwood Wisconsin Sign WIS48
The sign for Birchwood on WIS48

In 2010, the village of Birchwood had 442 people living there. There were 200 households in total. The population density was about 405 people per square mile.

Most of the people living in Birchwood were White (98.2%). About 20.8% of the residents were under 18 years old. The average age in the village was 43.7 years.

Education in Birchwood

Birchwood has a public school called Birchwood Public School. It teaches students from pre-kindergarten all the way to 12th grade. About 350 students attend this school.

The village also offers other learning options. These include two special charter schools: Birchwood Blue Hills Charter School and Birchwood Public Montessori. There is also an online learning program called Bobcat Virtual Academy.

See also

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

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