Darboy, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Darboy, Wisconsin
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 Darboy, Wisconsin
Location in Wisconsin
Darboy, Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Outagamie |
| Settled | 1830s |
| Post Office Establishment | 1877-1901 |
| Elevation | 790 ft (241 m) |
| Population
(2005)
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| • Unincorporated community | 14,114 (Total of Buchanan and Harrison- Sanitary District slightly less) |
| • Metro | 360,000 (Fox Valley) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
54915
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| Area code(s) | 920 |
| Website | http://www.townofbuchanan.org/ |
| Sources: The Post-Crescent | |
Darboy is a small, unincorporated community in Outagamie County, Wisconsin. It's part of the wider Fox Cities area. Darboy is located within the town of Buchanan.
The community stretches from the Calumet County line in the south to Highway CE in the north. Its eastern border is State Park Road, and Highway 441 forms its western edge. Before 2013, part of Darboy was also in the town of Harrison. However, that area became part of the village of Harrison when it officially formed.
Contents
What is Darboy's History?
In the early days of Wisconsin, French fur traders and Native Americans often traveled through the area that is now Darboy. The first German settlers arrived around 1842. They made their homes near Old Plank Road, which was the only road connecting Lake Winnebago to Kaukauna at the time.
A group of Dutch settlers came in 1848. This was the same year Wisconsin became a state! These settlers were connected to a group led by Father Gothard, who helped establish nearby Hollandtown.
How Did Darboy Get Its Name?
The community was named after Georges Darboy, a Catholic Archbishop. He was a very important religious leader who died during the Franco-Prussian War.
A post office opened in Darboy in 1877, but it closed in 1901. In the early 1900s, many businesses started here. These included Van Vorst's Hall (now called the Silver Spur) and the Darboy Butter and Cheese Company. Other businesses were Les Stumpf Ford, Lamers Dairy, and Darboy Refrigeration Sales and Service. There was even a cobbler shop for shoes, a blacksmith shop, and George Mader Hall.
What About Darboy's Culture?
A book called The History of Holy Angels and the Darboy Community shares stories about the town. It says that the ancestors of Darboy worked hard but also loved to have fun. Darboy has a rich history of music, with several bands and singing groups. There were also baseball teams, taverns, and youth groups like 4-H, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts.
Some of the musical groups included the Darboy Orchestra and the Ken Schmalz Band. The Mader singing group and Building Permit also performed. Many groups sang at Holy Angels Church over the years.
The most historic building in Darboy is Holy Angels Catholic Church. It was first known as St. Martin's of Manhattan Church. The very first church service was held there in 1839. In 1850, the Orth family gave 5 acres of land to the church. A new church building was then built on this land in 1855. The parish was renamed Holy Angels in 1857. The current church building was constructed in 1874 on County KK. A Catholic school was also built in 1883.
Both the church and school are still used today. Holy Angels Catholic Parish recently joined with Holy Name of Jesus Parish of Kimberly. They are now called Holy Spirit Parish. The Catholic school was updated in 1996.
How Has Business Grown in Darboy?
As more people moved to Darboy, new businesses started to open. The first big commercial area was the Darboy Plaza. It was built at the corner of County Highways N and KK, right in the center of Darboy.
Later, larger stores and businesses began to appear on the west side of Darboy, near Appleton. This growth happened because Wisconsin Highway 441 was finished in September 1993. This highway runs along the western edge of the towns of Harrison and Buchanan. It made it easy for people from Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, Kimberly, and Grand Chute to reach the area. This made the land near the highway very valuable for businesses.
After this growth, Appleton took over a large part of the Town of Harrison. Today, Darboy has a busy business district. You can find seven large stores, eight banks, many shops, convenience stores, and other small businesses. In 2019, the Darboy Club, a large hall for events, closed after 57 years.
What Are Darboy's Special Events?
Two of Darboy's most famous events were the Holy Angels Church Picnic and Chickenfest.
Holy Angels Church Picnic
The Holy Angels Church Picnic is an annual event that has been a tradition since 1885. Every summer, on the third Sunday of August, the community comes together. They celebrate their town and church history with a day of fun, food, and fundraising for their parish. The picnic often features live music, games, bingo, an auction, and many other activities. Even though Holy Angels has merged with Holy Name Parish, the picnic is still held every year because it's so popular.
Chickenfest
Chickenfest took place every summer at the Darboy Community Park. This park is in the town of Harrison, behind Sunrise Elementary School. The festival celebrated Darboy's history with chicken, games, and fireworks. Chickenfest started in 2003 to celebrate the Town of Harrison's 150th anniversary. It was mainly organized by the Darboy Kiwanis club. Sadly, Chickenfest was held for the last time in the summer of 2017. The Kiwanis stopped the event for several reasons, mostly because they didn't have enough volunteers.
How Does Darboy Get Its News?
People in Darboy can read local news from several sources. These include The Post-Crescent (from Appleton), The Times-Villager (from Kaukauna), and Around Town (which covers Darboy and Sherwood).
Who Are Some Notable People from Darboy?
- Henry W. Hupfauf: He was a farmer, businessman, and a Wisconsin State Representative. He owned a general store and a tavern in Darboy.
