Hawkins, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hawkins, Wisconsin
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Bethel Lutheran, with a historic pine log on right
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Location of Hawkins in Rusk County, Wisconsin.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Rusk |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.23 sq mi (5.76 km2) |
| • Land | 2.21 sq mi (5.71 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,371 ft (418 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 305 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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280 |
| • Density | 126.93/sq mi (49.02/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 715 & 534 |
| FIPS code | 55-33300 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1566157 |
Hawkins is a small village located in Rusk County in north-central Wisconsin, United States. In 2010, about 305 people lived here. It is a quiet place surrounded by nature.
Contents
History of Hawkins
Before the railroad arrived, the area around Hawkins was mostly thick forests. There were also streams and swampy lowlands. In 1884, the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (called the Soo Line) built its tracks through this area. The railroad wanted to connect farms in the Twin Cities with shipping ports in Sault Ste. Marie.
The railroad built a station where it crossed a stream. This station became the village of Hawkins.
How Hawkins Got Its Name
It's not completely clear how Hawkins got its name. It might have been named after Marsh P. Hawkins. He was an important person in the railroad company during the 1880s. Another idea is that it was named after a lumberman (someone who cuts down trees for wood) named Hawkins. He owned land in the area. Some people also think that Norwegian settlers might have named the town after King Haakon of Norway.
Early Growth and Industries
An old map from 1888 shows the railroad station and a few other buildings. It also shows a road that followed the railroad tracks.
The first sawmill in Hawkins was built in 1898 by C.P. Crosby. Sawmills are factories that cut logs into lumber. More sawmills were added, and the town started to grow. Soon, Hawkins had stores, a hotel, a bank, and restaurants.
Other factories also opened. There was a lath mill (which made thin strips of wood), a planing mill (which smoothed wood), a shingle mill (which made roof tiles), and a box factory. The box factory made crates for pianos, cereal boxes, and even ammunition boxes. Many of these businesses burned down in the 1920s and 1930s, but most of them were rebuilt. A map from 1914 shows neat blocks of homes, two churches, a school, and a special rail line going into the Ellingson Lumber Co. yards.
Schools in Hawkins
In the early days, Hawkins had a small log school building. It could only fit about 5 or 6 students. Another school building was added in 1899. In 1903, a bigger, two-story school with four rooms was built. Hawkins High School was built in 1916, and an elementary school was built in 1921.
In 1967, the Hawkins School District joined with the Ladysmith district. High school students from Hawkins then rode buses to Ladysmith for school. In 2009, Hawkins left the Ladysmith district and joined the Flambeau district instead.
Later Industries
In 1920, a cheese factory opened in Hawkins, which helped the town grow even more. In 1922, a company called Northern Sash and Door opened. This factory made windows and doors. It burned down in 1967 but was rebuilt. It later became Norco and is now called Jeld-Wen. This company is the only large manufacturer left in Hawkins today.
Geography
Hawkins is located in Wisconsin at coordinates 45°30′44″N 90°42′48″W / 45.51222°N 90.71333°W.
The United States Census Bureau says that the village covers about 2.22 square miles (5.76 square kilometers) in total. Most of this area, about 2.21 square miles (5.71 square kilometers), is land. Only a small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.05 square kilometers), is water.
Hawkins is situated along U.S. Highway 8 and County Road M, which are important roads in the area.
Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 372 | — | |
| 1940 | 496 | 33.3% | |
| 1950 | 414 | −16.5% | |
| 1960 | 402 | −2.9% | |
| 1970 | 385 | −4.2% | |
| 1980 | 407 | 5.7% | |
| 1990 | 375 | −7.9% | |
| 2000 | 317 | −15.5% | |
| 2010 | 305 | −3.8% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 280 | −8.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Information
The census is like a big count of all the people living in a place. In 2010, the census showed that 305 people lived in Hawkins. There were 159 households (groups of people living together) and 84 families.
The population density was about 138 people per square mile (53 people per square kilometer). This means that for every square mile of land, there were about 138 people living there.
Most people living in Hawkins in 2010 were White (97.0%). A small number were Native American (0.3%), Asian (0.3%), or from other backgrounds.
Out of the 159 households:
- About 19% had children under 18 living with them.
- About 41% were married couples living together.
- About 47% were not families, meaning individuals living alone or with roommates.
The average household had about 1.92 people. The average family had about 2.56 people.
The median age in the village was 47.5 years old. This means half the people were younger than 47.5 and half were older.
- About 18% of residents were under 18 years old.
- About 22% were between 25 and 44 years old.
- About 36% were between 45 and 64 years old.
- About 22% were 65 years old or older.
In terms of gender, 52.5% of the population was male and 47.5% was female.
See also
In Spanish: Hawkins (Wisconsin) para niños
