Laona (CDP), Wisconsin Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Laona, Wisconsin
Census-designated place
Looking west in downtown Laona
Location of Laona, Wisconsin
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Forest
Government
• Type	unincorporated
Area
• Total	1.948 sq mi (5.05 km²)
• Land	1.948 sq mi (5.05 km²)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km²)
Elevation	1,572 ft (479 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	519
• Density	266.4/sq mi (102.87/km²)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	715 & 534
FIPS code	55-42500
GNIS feature ID	1583528

Downtown Laona

Laona is a small community located in Forest County, Wisconsin, United States. It's known as a census-designated place, which means it's a specific area identified for population counting.

You can find Laona by following U.S. Route 8, which runs east to west through the community. Wisconsin Highway 32 also passes nearby. A special fact about Laona is that its community park has a sign saying they donated the 1979 Christmas tree for the nation's capitol building. In 2020, about 519 people lived in Laona.

History of Laona
Local Businesses
- Nicolet Hardwoods Corporation
- W•D Flooring, LLC
Fun Things to Do
- Lumberjack Steam Train
- Snowmobiling Adventures
Images for kids
See also

History of Laona

Laona Johnson was the namesake of Laona, WI

The community of Laona officially started in 1903. However, people began settling here earlier, around 1896. A man named William D. Connor, who was a lumberman, helped start the area. He was the president of his company, R. Connor Lumber and Land Company.

Laona was named after the daughter of an early resident, Norman Johnson. She was the first child born to a settler in the area.

In 1896, W.D. Connor explored this region. He traveled about 60 miles from Gillett, Wisconsin, looking for good places for mills and towns. He found several spots, and two of them became Wabeno, Wisconsin and Laona. Connor eventually bought over 100,000 acres (40,000 ha) of land around Laona.

The Laona area was once home to the Potawatomi and Chippewa Native American tribes. They held annual porcupine hunts in the summer. People from all over Northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan would gather for days of hunting, cooking, and dancing. They also had fall festivals to celebrate the wild rice harvest. What is now Laona's main street used to have a long brush fence. This was a deer hunting area where Native Americans would wait with bows for deer drives.

Laona was a classic company town. This means that the Connor company built almost everything. They built the town's mill, bank, hospital, store, school, and even houses. The town's economy mainly depended on the company's lumber mill. Sometimes, during tough economic times, the company would even issue its own special money, called "company scrip", for people to use in town.

Today, Laona is still an important part of Wisconsin's lumber history. The private forests around the town have been carefully managed for over 100 years. This shows how forests can be used sustainably, meaning they are used in a way that protects them for the future.

Local Businesses

Laona is home to some big businesses that focus on wood products.

Nicolet Hardwoods Corporation

Nicolet Hardwoods Corporation is one of the largest hardwood sawmills in the Midwest. They use very advanced technology to process wood. They are proud to say that they have zero waste from their sawmill. This means they use every part of the wood, which is great for the environment!

W•D Flooring, LLC

W•D Flooring, LLC is the biggest flooring mill in the region. They make flooring for homes and businesses. They even make special flooring for gymnasiums and sports courts. Their flooring has been used in famous places like the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville and the Detroit Institute of Arts. Like Nicolet Hardwoods, W•D Flooring also aims for zero waste in their production.

Fun Things to Do

Laona offers some exciting activities, especially for those who love history and the outdoors.

Lumberjack Steam Train

During the summer, you can visit the Lumberjack Steam Train. This is a real, working passenger train from the early 1900s. It also has an award-winning museum. It's a great way to experience what train travel was like a long time ago!

Snowmobiling Adventures

In the winter, Laona is a popular spot for snowmobiling. It's home to the "100 Mile Snow Safari," also called the "100 miler." This is one of Wisconsin's oldest snowmobiling trails. It offers nearly 100 miles (160 km) of trails through undeveloped areas. You can ride through many lakes and timberland, making it a favorite trail for snowmobile riders.