Grand Rapids, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Town of Grand Rapids, Wisconsin
|
|
|---|---|
Town hall
|
|
Location of the Town of Grand Rapids, Wisconsin
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Wood |
| Area | |
| • Total | 21 sq mi (54.4 km2) |
| • Land | 20.8 sq mi (53.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,040 ft (317 m) |
| Population
(2000)
|
|
| • Total | 7,801 |
| • Density | 375.5/sq mi (145/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 715 & 534 |
| FIPS code | 55-30125 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1583296 |
| PLSS township | T22N R6E and parts of T22N R5E and T23N R6E |
| Website | http://www.townofgrandrapids.org/ |
The Town of Grand Rapids is a community in Wood County, Wisconsin, United States. In the year 2000, about 7,801 people lived there.
Two other places are also found within the town. These are Lake Wazeecha and part of the community of Kellner.
Contents
Exploring Grand Rapids' Location and Size
The Town of Grand Rapids covers an area of about 21 square miles (54.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 20.8 square miles (53.8 square kilometers). A small part, about 0.2 square miles (0.5 square kilometers), is water.
A Look Back at Grand Rapids' History
Grand Rapids got its name from the fast-moving parts of the Wisconsin River nearby. These fast-moving sections are called "rapids."
Early Surveys and Land Sales
In 1836, the Menominee people sold a part of the land, known as the "Indian strip," to the United States government. This area included the western and northern parts of what is now Grand Rapids. Because of this sale, the land was surveyed and logged early on.
In the spring of 1840, a team from the U.S. government began surveying the land. They walked through the woods and crossed the river. They used tools like a chain and a compass to measure the land.
After their survey, they wrote down what they saw. They noted that there wasn't much good farming land. They also mentioned two large lumber businesses. These businesses were using the powerful water flow from the rapids. They also found several large groups of pine trees.
Later Discoveries and Land Descriptions
In 1851, a different team surveyed the entire town. They also described the land. They said the land quality varied a lot. However, none of it was considered top-quality.
The southern part of the town had "pine barrens." This meant most of the timber was gone. The remaining trees were mostly a type of pine not very useful for fuel or lumber. The northern part of the town had many wet marshes. These marshes were not good for farming. However, large parts of them were covered with Cranberry vines. These vines produced many cranberries every other year.
Who Lives in Grand Rapids?
In 2000, there were 7,801 people living in Grand Rapids. These people made up 2,788 households. A household is a group of people living together. Most of these households, 2,314, were families.
The town had about 375.5 people living in each square mile. Most of the people (97.81%) were White. There were also smaller numbers of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 0.81% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino background.
Families and Age Groups
Many households in Grand Rapids had children. About 41.3% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most families (75.9%) were married couples living together.
The average household had 2.79 people. The average family had 3.08 people.
The population included people of all ages. About 28.6% were under 18 years old. About 8.5% were 65 years or older. The average age in the town was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were about 102 males.
Income and Economy
In 2000, the average income for a household in Grand Rapids was $62,515. For families, the average income was $66,423. Men generally earned more than women. The average income per person in the town was $25,331.
A small number of people lived below the poverty line. This included about 1.8% of families and 2.5% of the total population.
Well-Known People from Grand Rapids
Several notable people have lived or worked in the Town of Grand Rapids:
- D. D. Conway: He was a lawyer and a politician.
- Eliphalet S. Miner: He served as a judge and a politician. He was also the postmaster for the town.
- Levi P. Powers: He was a judge and a politician.
- Marlin D. Schneider: He was a Democratic politician and a teacher. He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly for a very long time, from 1971 to 2011.
See also
In Spanish: Grand Rapids (Wisconsin) para niños
