Marshall, Rusk County, Wisconsin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marshall, Wisconsin
Town
Location of Marshall, Rusk County, Wisconsin
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Rusk
Area
• Total	35.8 sq mi (92.6 km2)
• Land	35.8 sq mi (92.6 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	1,139 ft (347 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	683
• Density	19.1/sq mi (7.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	715 & 534
FIPS code	55-49625
GNIS feature ID	1583664
PLSS township	T33N R5W
Website	https://www.marshallruskwi.gov/

Marshall is a small town located in Rusk County, Wisconsin, in the United States. In the year 2000, about 683 people lived there. The village of Sheldon is also part of the town of Marshall.

Marshall's Geography

Marshall covers an area of about 35.8 square miles (92.6 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

The Land and Rivers

The soil in Marshall is a mix of different types, like Almena, Auburndale, and Spencer silt loam. These soils were left behind by the last glacier that moved through the area. There are also areas with peat soil in lower spots, where water has collected over time. The Jump River flows through the southern part of the town.

Marshall's History

Marshall has a rich history, starting long before it became a town.

Early Surveys and Forests

In October 1852, a team of surveyors worked for the U.S. government. They mapped out the six-square-mile area that would become Marshall. They walked through thick woods and swamps, using special tools to measure the land.

After their survey, they described the area. They noted that some parts were Tamarac swamps, not good for farming. Other areas had hay meadows. The land was mostly flat. They said the higher land was good, similar to "second-rate" land in other places. The forests were full of trees like white and yellow Birch, Sugar Maple, Elm, Ash, and some Pine and Hemlock.

Logging and Early Roads

By 1880, logging was a big activity in the area. The Mississippi River Logging Company built a large dam on the Chippewa River in 1878. This dam was about twelve miles downstream from Marshall.

Early maps show how people traveled. A "tote road" was a path used to carry supplies. One tote road from Cornell (then called Brunett) went through the western part of what would become Marshall. It followed the east side of Main Creek. Another tote road from Cornell ended at the Jump River, near where the County G bridge is now.

Growing Settlements

A map from 1901 shows the area when Rusk County was called Gates. Marshall was still part of a larger town called Dewey. This map showed only one main wagon road in the town. It came from Chippewa County in the south, crossed the river, and passed by the Fern Post Office. Then, the road followed what would become Cemetery Road and County V to the north end of Marshall.

About a dozen families had settled along this road. Most of the land away from the road was still owned in large blocks. Big landowners included Cornell University, Fitch Gilbert, and Keith Brothers in the west. Northwestern Lumber Company owned land in the east. James L. Gates bought and sold pine lands, then sold the cut-over land to farmers.

A later map, from around 1905, showed even more roads and settlers. One road went west from Fern, following the river. Another road, a predecessor to Marshall Road, went two miles east of Cemetery Road. A short road also led to a sawmill on the Little Jump River. More settlers were moving into the area. By this time, Cornell University and Fitch Gilbert had sold their large land blocks, mostly to John S. Owen and J.L. Gates Land Co.

The Arrival of the Railroad

Before 1905, there was no development where the village of Sheldon is now. Around 1905, the J.S. Owen Company built a new rail line for the Wisconsin Central Railroad. This line went from Wisconsin Rapids to Ladysmith and eventually to Superior. Today, this is part of the Canadian National Railway.

This new rail line cut diagonally across Marshall. It crossed the Jump River about a mile east of Fern. The Wisconsin Central built a train station and a section house (a building for railroad workers) on the north bank of the river. They named this station "Sheldon." Within a few years, the post office, a saloon, and a general store moved from Fern to Sheldon, closer to the new station.

Marshall in 1914

A 1914 map of Marshall shows the Soo Line Railroad also crossing the town. Sheldon was clearly established north of the river. More wagon roads had been built, and more settlers had arrived.

There were several rural schools. One was near Fern, across from Meadowbrook Cemetery. Another was three miles north of Sheldon on what is now County V. A third was five miles northwest on Elm Road. Another school was where County G now crosses the river. By this time, the area west of the railroad was mostly settled. Much of the eastern part of Marshall was still owned in large blocks by the Owen Lumber Company. Other big landowners included the Faast Land Company and Northern Wisconsin Seed.

Marshall's Population

In the year 2000, Marshall had 683 residents. There were 210 households, and 170 of these were families. The population density was about 19.1 people per square mile.

Who Lives in Marshall

Most of the people in Marshall were White (about 95.9%). There were also Native American residents (about 2.34%) and people from other backgrounds. About 1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Many households (43.3%) had children under 18 living with them. Most households (67.1%) were married couples. About 15.7% of all households were made up of single individuals.

Age Groups

The population in Marshall was spread out across different age groups. About 38.9% of the people were under 18 years old. About 13.8% were 65 years or older. The average age in Marshall was 31 years.

Income Information

In 2000, the average income for a household in Marshall was $33,281. For families, the average income was $36,319.