Mercer (CDP), Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mercer, Wisconsin
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Downtown Mercer
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Location in Iron County and the state of Wisconsin.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Iron |
| Town | Mercer |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.479 sq mi (14.19 km2) |
| • Land | 4.452 sq mi (11.53 km2) |
| • Water | 1.027 sq mi (2.66 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,601 ft (488 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 516 |
| • Density | 94.18/sq mi (36.36/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
54547
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| Area code(s) | 715 & 534 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1569357 |
Mercer is a small community in Iron County, Wisconsin, in the United States. It is a special kind of place called a census-designated place. This means it's a community that the government counts for population, but it's not officially a city or town with its own local government.
Mercer is located on US Highway 51. In 2010, about 516 people lived there. Mercer has its own post office too.
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The Loon Capital of the World
Mercer is famous for calling itself the "Loon Capital of the World." This fun nickname comes from a study that found Mercer had more common loons than anywhere else. Loons are beautiful water birds known for their unique calls.
To celebrate this, Mercer has a giant statue named "Claire de Loon." She is 16 feet tall and weighs 2,000 pounds! Every year, Mercer also hosts a "Loon Day" festival. This festival has a big arts and crafts fair, live music, and even a loon calling contest.
History of Mercer
Mercer got its post office in 1895. The community was likely named after Hugh Mercer. He was an important general during the American Revolutionary War.
Fun Things to Do in Mercer
Mercer's main business is tourism, especially because of its many natural areas and quiet waterways. People love to visit Mercer to enjoy the outdoors.
Summer Activities
In the summer, there are lots of activities to enjoy:
- Boating and Fishing: Many visitors enjoy boating and fishing on the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage and other lakes, like Tank Lake.
- Water Sports: You can go water skiing and jet skiing on the lakes. Tank Lake even used to have weekly water ski shows!
- Hiking and Biking: There are many trails for exploring nature on foot or by bike.
- Swimming: Tank Lake has a public beach where you can swim.
Autumn and Winter Fun
When the weather gets colder, Mercer still offers plenty of activities:
- Snowmobiling: The area is popular for snowmobiling.
- Skiing: You can enjoy skiing in the winter.
- Hunting: Hunting is also a popular activity during these seasons.
Mercer Area Historical Society
Mercer is home to the Mercer Area Historical Society. It is located in the old train station. Here, you can find a small museum that shares the history of the area. The museum also has other interesting buildings, like an old jail, a schoolhouse, a barbershop, and a rebuilt caboose (the last car on a freight train).
Images for kids
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Mercer's central district. The tourist store Wampum Shop is on the left, with the Historical Society in the background.
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The Historical Society, housed in the former train depot.
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Haines Fire Hall.
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Community center and library.
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Post office.
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Sign on US 51.
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Welcome sign.
See also
In Spanish: Mercer (Wisconsin) para niños
