Manitowoc, Wisconsin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Manitowoc, Wisconsin
City
Manitowoc River, near where it enters Lake Michigan, reflecting the skyline of downtown Manitowoc, with the U.S. 10 highway bridge at left
Seal
Nickname(s):  Wisconsin's Maritime Capital, Clipper City, the Port City, Manty
Location of Manitowoc in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Manitowoc, Wisconsin Location in Wisconsin
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Manitowoc
Area
• Total	18.14 sq mi (46.98 km2)
• Land	17.78 sq mi (46.05 km2)
• Water	0.36 sq mi (0.93 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	34,626
• Density	1,908.8/sq mi (737.04/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	54220-54221
Area code(s)	920
FIPS code	55-48500
Interstates
U.S. Routes
Public Transit	Maritime Metro Transit

Manitowoc is a city in Wisconsin, United States. It is the main city of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. The city is located right on Lake Michigan, where the Manitowoc River flows into the lake. In 2020, about 34,626 people lived in Manitowoc.

History of Manitowoc

The name Manitowoc comes from a native word meaning "dwelling of the great spirit" or "place of the spirits." The Menominee people, who lived here first, called it Manetōwak. They gave this land to the United States in 1836.

French fur traders were the first Europeans to visit the area in 1673. A trading post was set up in 1795. In 1835, land sales began, and William Jones and Louis Fizette were among the first buyers. Benjamin Jones, William's brother, is seen as the founder of Manitowoc. Many early settlers came from Germany, Norway, Britain, Ireland, and Canada.

The first school was in a warehouse in 1838. Manitowoc became a village in 1851 and a city in 1870. It became the county seat in 1853. The current Manitowoc County Courthouse was built in 1906.

Manitowoc became famous for building ships. In 1847, Joseph Edwards built the first schooner, a type of sailing ship. Later, shipyards here built large ships for fishing and trading on the Great Lakes. During World War II, Manitowoc built important ships like landing craft and submarines for the U.S. Navy.

A metal ring marks the location of the Sputnik 4 impact.

On September 5, 1962, a piece of the USSR satellite Sputnik 4 crashed in Manitowoc. This piece weighed about 20 pounds (9 kg). Sputnik 4 was a test flight for the Vostok spacecraft, which later carried the first human into space. A small mistake in its navigation system caused it to go into a higher orbit.

A mold was made of the satellite piece before the Soviets took it back. This mold is now shown at the Rahr West Art Museum. People in the city thought it would be fun to have a festival about the crash. The first "Sputnikfest" was held in 2008.

Manitowoc is home to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. It is also where the SS Badger ferry starts its journey across Lake Michigan to Ludington, Michigan.

Since the late 1990s, new shopping centers have opened, especially near Interstate 43. The downtown area is also growing with new restaurants and homes along the Manitowoc River. In 2022, Manitowoc was named Wisconsin's World War II Heritage City.

Geography of Manitowoc

The Manitowoc River empties into Lake Michigan.

The lighthouse on Manitowoc's North pier

Little Manitowoc Slough in Manitowoc

Manitowoc covers about 18 square miles (47 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

The city is located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Manitowoc River. Other nearby cities include Green Bay (34 miles away) and Milwaukee (74 miles away). Manitowoc and nearby Two Rivers form a small urban area.

Areas within Manitowoc

Manitowoc includes some smaller areas that were once separate communities.

Alverno

Alverno is in the western part of the city. It has some homes and a banquet hall. A county road, County Road CS, ends here.

Kellners Corners

Kellners Corners is in the northwest part of the city. It is mostly a residential area with some businesses. It is located where Rapids Road and Menasha Avenue meet.

Climate in Manitowoc

Manitowoc has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters. Because it is next to Lake Michigan, the lake helps keep the city a bit warmer in winter and cooler in summer than places further inland.

The average high temperature for the year is about 52°F (11°C). The average low is about 38.5°F (3.6°C). The hottest it has ever been was 105°F (41°C), and the coldest was -27°F (-33°C). The city gets about 31 inches (79 cm) of rain and snow each year. Most rain falls from April to November, and most snow falls from December to March.

Population and People

2020 Census Information

In 2020, Manitowoc had 34,626 people. Most residents (82.9%) were White. About 5.0% were Asian, and 2.4% were Black or African American. About 7.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

2010 Census Information

In 2010, there were 33,736 people living in Manitowoc. There were 14,623 households. About 27% of households had children under 18. The average age in the city was 41.7 years.

Businesses and Industries

Manitowoc has several important companies:

• The Manitowoc Company: This company started in Manitowoc and used to build cranes here. Now, it makes equipment for construction and food service.
• Lakeside Foods Company: This food company has its main office in Manitowoc.
• Bio-Blend Fuels: This company is also headquartered in Manitowoc.
• Burger Boat Company: This company builds luxury yachts. They make a few yachts each year.
• Baileigh Industrial: This company makes machines for working with metal and wood.
• Orion Energy Systems: This company focuses on energy-saving lighting.
• Manitowoc Ice: This company makes commercial ice machines. It started in 1964 and still makes products in Manitowoc.

Education in Manitowoc

Manitowoc Lutheran High School

Public schools in Manitowoc are managed by the Manitowoc Public School District. The high schools in the city are:

• Lincoln High School
• Roncalli High School
• Manitowoc Lutheran High School

Colleges and Universities

Manitowoc has two colleges:

• University of Wisconsin–Manitowoc
• Lakeshore Technical College

Media

Newspapers

• Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: This is a daily newspaper.
• Lakeshore Chronicle: This newspaper is printed twice a week.

Television and Radio

Manitowoc is part of the Green Bay TV market. This means most TV channels come from Green Bay. There are no TV stations based in Manitowoc itself.

For radio, Manitowoc is part of the Sheboygan/Manitowoc market. Many radio stations can be heard from both Sheboygan and Green Bay.

Religion

The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity have their main house in Manitowoc. In 2005, several Catholic churches in the city joined together to form St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. The city has many Roman Catholics.

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod also has a strong presence with four churches and Manitowoc Lutheran High School. St. James' is a historic Episcopal church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also has a building in Manitowoc.

Fun Places to Visit

Rahr West Art Museum

• Rahr West Art Museum: This museum is in a 19th-century mansion. It has art from the 15th to the 21st centuries, including paintings and sculptures. It also has a preserved Victorian home.

Wisconsin Maritime Museum

• Wisconsin Maritime Museum: This is one of the largest nautical museums in the country. It explores maritime history, especially about the Great Lakes. A main attraction is the USS Cobia, a real World War II submarine. You can take tours of the submarine and learn about Manitowoc's role in building submarines during the war.
• Lincoln Park Zoo: This zoo is open all year. It offers tours and educational programs.
• Eighth Street Historic District: This area shows the city's historic downtown with many old buildings from the 1850s to the 1930s.
• Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary: This area in Lake Michigan, off the coast of Manitowoc, has many important shipwrecks. It became a national sanctuary in 2021.

Getting Around

S.S. Badger leaving port in Manitowoc

Maritime Metro Transit provides public bus transportation in Manitowoc and Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

Manitowoc is the starting point for the S.S. Badger ferry. This ferry crosses Lake Michigan to Ludington, Michigan, and is part of U.S. Route 10.

The Manitowoc Mariners Trail is a 5.5-mile (8.9 km) paved path along Lake Michigan. It connects Manitowoc and Two Rivers.

Highways

• I-43: This highway goes north to Green Bay and south to Milwaukee.
• US 10: This route goes east across Lake Michigan on the SS Badger and west to Appleton.
• US 151: This highway goes south to Fond Du Lac.
• WIS 42: This road goes south to Sheboygan and north to Sturgeon Bay.

Airport

Manitowoc County Airport (KMTW) serves the city and nearby areas.

Famous People from Manitowoc

Sister City

Manitowoc has one sister city:

• Kamogawa, Japan

Images for kids

• 

  The Manitowoc River empties into Lake Michigan.

• 

  The lighthouse on Manitowoc's North pier

• 

  Little Manitowoc Slough in Manitowoc