Chetek, Wisconsin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chetek, Wisconsin
City
U.S. Highway 53 at Chetek
Location of Chetek in Barron County, Wisconsin
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Barron
Area
• Total	3.11 sq mi (8.05 km2)
• Land	2.40 sq mi (6.21 km2)
• Water	0.71 sq mi (1.85 km2)
Elevation	1,050 ft (320 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,172
• Density	698.4/sq mi (269.81/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Zip Code	54728
Area code(s)	715 & 534
FIPS code	55-14325
GNIS feature ID	1562995

Chetek is a city in Barron County, Wisconsin, in the United States. It's a smaller city, with a population of 2,172 people recorded in the 2020 census. The city is partly located within the larger area called the Town of Chetek.

History of Chetek

Early Beginnings

The first people to live in the Chetek area were the Ojibwa Indians. They called the place zhedeg, which means "pelicans." Over time, this name was spelled in different ways, like "Sheetak" or "Shetak."

When the first post office opened in 1872, the spelling was officially set as "Chetek."

Important Dates in Chetek's Past

Many important things happened in Chetek's early years:

• In 1872, the Omaha Railroad started service to Chetek. This helped people and goods travel.
• Also in 1872, a logging camp called Knapp-Stout was set up. Logging was a big industry back then.
• The first schoolhouse, made of logs, was built in 1872.
• In 1881, medical care became available for the people living there.
• In 1882, the local newspaper, The Chetek Alert, began. It still serves the community today.
• Chetek officially became a city in 1891.
• Telephone service came to Chetek in 1903, connecting people far and wide.
• The city's fire department started in 1904, helping to keep everyone safe.
• Roselawn Elementary School opened its doors in 1960.
• In 2010, the Chetek School District joined with the Weyerhaeuser School District.
• In 2017, a strong tornado, called an EF3 tornado, passed through the town. It caused damage to buildings and unfortunately, some people were hurt.

Geography of Chetek

Chetek is located at 45°19′7″N 91°39′16″W / 45.31861°N 91.65444°W / 45.31861; -91.65444. The city covers a total area of about 3.13 square miles (8.05 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, while about 0.71 square miles (1.85 square kilometers) is water.

The city is situated along U.S. Highway 53. This is a major road that helps people travel to and from Chetek. Other local roads, like County Roads I and SS, also pass through the area.

Population and People

How Many People Live Here?

As of the census in 2010, there were 2,221 people living in Chetek. These people lived in 951 different homes. The city had about 917 people per square mile.

Most of the people living in Chetek were White (97.4%). A small number of people were from other backgrounds, including African American, Native American, and Asian. About 1.8% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Families and Age Groups

In 2010, about 27% of homes had children under 18 living there. Many homes (43.2%) were married couples living together. About 35% of all homes had just one person living there.

The average age of people in Chetek was about 44.7 years old. About 21% of residents were under 18, and 25% were 65 years old or older.

Transportation

Chetek has its own airport, called Chetek Municipal–Southworth Airport (Y23). This airport serves the city and the towns nearby, making it easier for people to travel by air.

Notable People from Chetek

Chetek has been home to some interesting people:

• Leona E. Tyler was a famous psychologist. She even became the President of the American Psychological Association.
• J. B. Van Hollen served as the Attorney General for Wisconsin.
• John C. Van Hollen was a politician and realtor in Wisconsin.

See also

In Spanish: Chetek (Wisconsin) para niños