Milton, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Milton, Wisconsin
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Looking north in downtown Milton
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| Nickname(s):
History in Progress
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Location of Milton in Rock County, Wisconsin
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Rock County |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.28 sq mi (11.08 km2) |
| • Land | 4.26 sq mi (11.03 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 889 ft (271 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,716 |
| • Density | 1,341.8/sq mi (518.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
53563
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| Area code(s) | 608 |
| FIPS code | 55-52200 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1569532 |
| Website | www.ci.milton.wi.us |
Milton is a city located in Rock County, Wisconsin, in the United States. In 2020, about 5,716 people lived there. It's a friendly place with a rich history!
Contents
History of Milton
Milton became a city in 1967 when two smaller villages, Milton and Milton Junction, decided to join together. Most people in both villages voted "yes" to merge, making them one bigger community.
How Milton Started
Milton was first settled in 1838 by a man named Joseph Goodrich. He came from New York with his family. They moved to this area for religious and educational reasons.
Soon after arriving, Joseph Goodrich helped start a Seventh Day Baptist Church in 1840. In 1844, he also started a school that later grew into a college. He even built an inn called the Milton House. This inn was special because it was built where two important trade routes crossed.
The Historic Milton House
The Milton House is very old and is one of the first buildings in the United States made from "poured grout" (a type of concrete). Joseph Goodrich was also known for helping fugitive slaves escape to freedom. The Milton House was part of the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped people find their way to safety.
Where the Name Milton Comes From
People believe Milton was named after a famous poet, John Milton, who wrote "Paradise Lost." A settler supposedly said that the town felt like his "Paradise Regained" after leaving his old home.
Geography of Milton
Milton covers an area of about 3.54 square miles (9.17 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water.
Milton's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 508 | — | |
| 1890 | 685 | 34.8% | |
| 1910 | 833 | — | |
| 1920 | 834 | 0.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,128 | 35.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,266 | 12.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,549 | 22.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,671 | 7.9% | |
| 1970 | 3,699 | 121.4% | |
| 1980 | 4,092 | 10.6% | |
| 1990 | 4,434 | 8.4% | |
| 2000 | 5,132 | 15.7% | |
| 2010 | 5,546 | 8.1% | |
| 2020 | 5,716 | 3.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010–2020 |
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In 2010, Milton had 5,546 people living in 2,231 homes. The city's population density was about 1,571 people per square mile. Most of the people living in Milton were White (96%). A small percentage were from other racial backgrounds. About 2.4% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Milton in 2010 was 35.8 years old. About 26% of residents were under 18, and 12.5% were 65 or older.
Religion in Milton
The Seventh Day Baptist Church in Milton was built in 1934. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. This means it's an important historical building!
Milton's Economy
Milton is home to an "ethanol plant" built by United Cooperative. An ethanol plant makes fuel from plants. There is also a Cargill animal nutrition plant in Milton, which has a very tall "grain elevator" that is 170 feet (52 meters) high. A grain elevator is a tall building used to store grains like corn or wheat.
Education in Milton
Milton has several schools for students of all ages. These include:
- Milton High School
- Milton Middle School
- Northside Intermediate School
- Milton East Elementary
- Milton West Elementary
- Consolidated Elementary
- Harmony School
- Blackhawk Tech (which used to be MECAS)
Milton College History
A college called Milton College started in 1844. It offered both high school and college-level classes. By 1867, it officially became a college. It had strong ties to the Seventh Day Baptist church, which helped support it.
Some famous people who went to Milton College include:
- Albert Whitford, who became a leading astronomer (a scientist who studies stars and planets). An asteroid, 2301 Whitford, is named after him!
- Dave Krieg, who became a professional football player and was an All-Pro quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks.
Milton's school district is also connected to Janesville, a larger city nearby. As Janesville grows, some of its areas are now part of the Milton School District. This means students from Janesville and other nearby areas can attend schools in Milton.
Notable People from Milton
- James C. Bartholf, a Wisconsin editor and politician.
- Rush Bullis, a Wisconsin politician and farmer.
- Solomon C. Carr, a Wisconsin farmer and politician.
- Willis Cole, a professional baseball player.
- Leo Crowley, who led the Foreign Economic Administration for the U.S. government.
- Ludwig Kumlien, a scientist who studied birds.
- John T. Manske, a Wisconsin State Representative.
- Mark Neumann, a U.S. Representative.
- Alexander Paul, a Wisconsin politician.
- Merritt Clarke Ring, a lawyer and politician.
- David Rubitsky, a World War II veteran.
- Mike Saunders, a professional football player.
- Bill Shadel, a news anchor for CBS radio and TV.
- Don Vruwink a Wisconsin educator and politician.
- Albert Whitford, a famous astronomer.
- William Clarke Whitford, an educator.
See also
In Spanish: Milton (Wisconsin) para niños
