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Crivitz
Village
Nickname(s): 
Ellis Junction (Railroad name until 1883)
Motto(s): 
Crivitz, a great place to live, work, and play
Location of Crivitz in Marinette County, Wisconsin
Location of Crivitz in Marinette County, Wisconsin
Crivitz, Wisconsin is located in Wisconsin
Crivitz, Wisconsin
Crivitz, Wisconsin
Location in Wisconsin
Country United States
State Wisconsin
County Marinette
Town of Crivitz September 10, 1883
Village of Crivitz 1974
Government
 • Type Village President and Board of Trustees (6)
Area
 • Total 1.64 sq mi (4.25 km2)
 • Land 1.58 sq mi (4.11 km2)
 • Water 0.06 sq mi (0.14 km2)
Elevation
679 ft (207 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,093
Demonym(s) Wolverines (local sports team)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
United States Zip Code
54114-xxxx
Area code(s) 715 & 534
FIPS code 55-17725
GNIS feature ID 1563535
Airport Crivitz Municipal Airport
Highways
  • US 141 (north-south)
  • County W (east-west)
  • County A (northwest)

Crivitz is a small village located in Marinette County, Wisconsin, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,093 people lived here. It's part of a larger area that includes Marinette, Wisconsin, and some parts of Michigan.

History of Crivitz

CrivitzWisconsin1
A business district on Main Avenue looking east

Crivitz was first mapped out and planned in the summer of 1883. This plan was officially recorded on September 10, 1883. A German immigrant named Frederick John Bartels did this work. He named the new settlement after his hometown, Crivitz, Germany.

Early Challenges and Growth

The people living in the Crivitz area changed a lot after a serious illness outbreak in 1894. This illness caused the local sawmills to close down. Hieronymus Zech (1849–1932), who ran mills from Chilton, took over the closed mills. He encouraged many Polish immigrants to move to Crivitz. Many of these families came from big cities like Milwaukee and Chicago.

Zech helped build stores, houses, schools, and roads for the new Polish community. Because of his efforts, many people in Crivitz today have Polish-American backgrounds.

Becoming a Village and Facing Hardship

Crivitz was first a "town" until 1913. That year, it officially became the "Village of Crivitz." This meant it had its own local government. The village hall, where local government meetings happened, was first at 600 Main Avenue. Later, it moved to 800 Main Avenue.

The main shopping area grew along Main Avenue between 1913 and 1924. But in 1924, a huge fire destroyed 22 buildings on the south side of Main Avenue. This was a big setback. In 1927, Crivitz stopped being a village and went back to being a town. The fire, this change, and the start of the Great Depression in 1929 made things difficult for Crivitz for many years.

Modern Crivitz

In 1961, a place for skiing called Winterset was built in Crivitz. This brought new activities to the area.

Then, in 1974, Crivitz officially became the Village of Crivitz again. The Village Hall moved to 800 Henriette Avenue. After this, many improvements were made. The village improved its water and sewer systems, electricity, and roads.

Today, the village is run by a Village President, a Board of Trustees, and a Municipal Judge. Different departments help keep the village running smoothly. These include the Public Works, Water-Sewer, Police, Fire, and Parks Departments.

In the 1980s, many businesses moved to U.S. Highway 141, which is on the eastern edge of the village. A business park called Dyer Business Park was also added in 2005. The main downtown area has not grown much since then. However, homes have continued to be built both north and south of the village, between the railroad tracks and the Peshtigo River.

Geography of Crivitz

Crivitz is located at 45°14′2″N 88°0′25″W / 45.23389°N 88.00694°W / 45.23389; -88.00694.

The United States Census Bureau says that the village covers a total area of about 1.64 square miles (4.25 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.59 square miles (4.11 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.05 square miles (0.14 square kilometers), is water.

Transportation in Crivitz

Crivitz has its own airport called the Crivitz Municipal Airport (airport code: 3D1). This airport helps people travel to and from the village.

Population of Crivitz

Historical population
Census Pop.
1980 1,041
1990 996 −4.3%
2000 998 0.2%
2010 984 −1.4%
2020 1,093 11.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

Crivitz Population in 2010

In 2010, the census showed that 984 people lived in Crivitz. There were 452 households and 235 families. The village had about 618.9 people per square mile.

Most people living in Crivitz (97.4%) were White. A small number were African American (0.3%) or Native American (0.8%). About 1.5% of the population identified with two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 0.8% of the population.

About 23.5% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (41.4%) were made up of single individuals. About 21.6% of households had someone aged 65 or older living alone. The average household had about 2 people, and the average family had about 2.7 people.

The average age of people in Crivitz was 49 years old. About 18.9% of residents were under 18. About 30.2% were 65 years or older. The village had slightly more females (53.8%) than males (46.2%).

Economy and Activities

The economy of Crivitz relies a lot on tourism and outdoor activities. Many people visit Crivitz for fishing, snowmobiling, and hunting.

Several local businesses focus on these outdoor adventures. They offer services like guided hunting and fishing trips. They also help with snowmobiling, whitewater rafting, and tubing. Some businesses also maintain trails for ATVs and rent out boats.

Famous People from Crivitz

CrivitzWisconsinSignUS141
Welcome sign

Here are some notable people who have lived in or are connected to Crivitz:

  • Pete Banaszak – A former NFL player who was a running back for the Oakland Raiders.
  • Frank L. Kersten – A person who served as a Wisconsin State Representative.
  • Julius La Rosa – A famous singer who lived in Crivitz for a short time later in his life.
  • Trixie Mattel (Brian Firkus) – A well-known drag queen and musician who lived in Crivitz.
  • Richard P. Matty – Another person who served as a Wisconsin State Representative.

Images for kids

See also

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

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