Birchwood, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Birchwood, Wisconsin
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Downtown Birchwood on WIS48
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| Nickname(s):
The Bluegill Capital of Wisconsin
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Location of Birchwood in Washburn County, Wisconsin.
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| 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)
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| • Total | 442 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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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!
Contents
History of Birchwood Village
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.
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 | |||
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| 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
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
In Spanish: Birchwood (Wisconsin) para niños
