Neenah, Wisconsin facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the city. For the adjacent town, see Neenah (town), Wisconsin. For the homophonically named city in Ireland, see Nenagh.

Quick facts for kids Neenah, Wisconsin
City
James Duane Doty's cabin on Doty Island
Nickname(s): The Paper City
Motto(s): "Our future, our Neenah"
Location of Neenah in Winnebago County, Wisconsin.
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Winnebago
Mission	1835
Incorporated	13 March 1873 (city)
Government
• Type	Mayor-council
Area
• Total	9.74 sq mi (25.24 km²)
• Land	9.37 sq mi (24.27 km²)
• Water	0.37 sq mi (0.96 km²)
Elevation	750 ft (230 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	27,319
• Density	2,915/sq mi (1,125.6/km²)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	54956
Area code(s)	920
FIPS code	55-55750

Neenah is a city in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States. It's located right by Lake Winnebago, Little Lake Butte des Morts, and the Fox River. Neenah is about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Oshkosh and 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Green Bay. In 2020, about 27,319 people lived there.

Even though Neenah is inside the Town of Neenah, it runs itself as a separate city. It's the most southwestern city in the group known as the Fox Cities in northeast Wisconsin. Neenah is also a main city in the Oshkosh–Neenah metropolitan area, which had 171,730 residents in 2020. People sometimes call Neenah a "twin city" with Menasha because they share Doty Island.

Discovering Neenah's Past

The beautiful Neo-classical style Equitable Fraternal Union Building with the old City Hall clock tower behind it.

A view of the Neenah Public Library, the clock tower, Shattuck Park, and the Neenah Centers.

The Neenah Light on the Fox River.

How Neenah Got Its Name

Governor James Duane Doty named Neenah. The name comes from the Hoocąk word for "water" or "running water." In the Hoocąk language, it's called Nįįňą. A Ho-Chunk village was located here in the late 1700s.

Early Settlement and Growth

In 1835, the government first set up this area as a place for Menominee Indians to learn industrial and farming skills. European Americans started settling here a few years later. This happened mainly because the area was so close to the Fox River, which was great for transportation and power.

The Rise of Paper Mills

The Kimberly-Clark company started in Neenah in 1872. They built a big paper mill here in 1873. This region was a major center for cutting down trees (lumbering), which provided plenty of wood for paper. The money made from lumbering helped other businesses and jobs grow. After a big fire in Oshkosh in 1875, some people moved to Neenah to rebuild their lives.

Neenah's Location and Size

Neenah is located at 44°10′26″N 88°28′6″W / 44.17389°N 88.46833°W / 44.17389; -88.46833.

The city covers a total area of about 9.74 square miles (25.24 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 9.37 square miles (24.27 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.37 square miles (0.96 square kilometers), is water, including parts of the lakes and river.

People Living in Neenah

Population Growth Over Time

1860: 1,296 people
1870: 2,655 people
1880: 4,202 people
1890: 5,083 people
1900: 5,954 people
1910: 5,734 people
1920: 7,171 people
1930: 9,151 people
1940: 10,645 people
1950: 12,437 people
1960: 18,057 people
1970: 22,902 people
1980: 22,432 people
1990: 23,219 people
2000: 24,507 people
2010: 25,501 people
2020: 27,319 people

Neenah's Population in 2020

In 2020, Neenah had a population of 27,319 people. The city had about 12,164 homes.

Most of the people in Neenah were White (88.0%). Other groups included Asian (2.3%), Black or African American (1.8%), and Native American (0.7%). About 4.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. Some people identified with two or more races (5.8%).

The average income for a family in Neenah was about $77,229 per year. Most adults (94.9%) had finished high school, and many (32.1%) had a college degree or higher.

Neenah's Population in 2010

In 2010, Neenah had 25,501 people living in 10,694 households. About 32.2% of these households had children under 18.

The average age in Neenah was 37.1 years. About 25% of the residents were under 18 years old.

Neenah's Economy and Jobs

Neenah is well-known for its paper and steel industries.

Major Industries

Paper Companies: Companies like Essity and Kimberly-Clark have important operations here. Kimberly-Clark was actually started in Neenah!
Steel Industry: Manhole covers made at Neenah Foundry are used all over the central and southern United States and even in parts of Europe.

Other Important Businesses

Neenah is also home to the main offices of several other companies:

Plexus: This company designs and makes electronic products.
Cobblestone Hotel Group: A hotel company.
J. J. Keller & Associates: A company that helps with safety and compliance.
Miron Construction: A large construction company.
Menasha Corporation: A packaging and supply chain company.
Theda Clark Hospital: A local hospital.

Arts and Culture in Neenah

The Bergstrom-Mahler Museum in Neenah.

Bergstrom-Mahler Museum

The Bergstrom-Mahler Museum opened in Neenah in 1959. It has a huge collection of glass art, with over 3,000 pieces! The museum is especially famous for its historic paperweights and glasswork from Germany. It's a great place to see beautiful and unique art.

Getting Around Neenah

Roads and Buses

Interstate 41 runs right through the middle of Neenah, making it easy to travel north and south. Bus service in the city is provided by Valley Transit.

Airports

For commercial flights, people in Neenah use Appleton International Airport. Smaller, private planes can use Brennand Airport.

Railways

In the past, Neenah was served by several major railroads like the Chicago & Northwestern and the Soo Line. Today, the Canadian National Railway still has a line running through Neenah, connecting Chicago to International Falls, Minnesota.

Famous People from Neenah

Jack Ankerson, NFL player
William Arnemann, politician
Havilah Babcock, businessman and a founder of Kimberly Clark
James R. Barnett, politician
George Bergstrom, designer of The Pentagon
Robert D. Bohn, U.S. Marine Corps major general
John A. Bryan, U.S. diplomat
Elmer J. Burr, Medal of Honor recipient
Merritt L. Campbell, politician
Charles B. Clark, U.S. Representative and a founder of Kimberly-Clark
Laura Coenen, basketball all-American, 3-time Olympian – team handball
Kenneth John Conant, architectural historian, professor at Harvard University
Samuel A. Cook, U.S. Representative
Philip Daly, municipal councillor in Edmonton, Alberta
George Danielson, politician
Julius H. Dennhardt, politician
William Draheim, politician
A. D. Eldridge, politician
Michael Ellis, politician
James C. Fritzen, politician
Robert Frederick Froehlke, businessman and government official
Jim Hall, professional boxer
Marcus Lee Hansen, historian and Pulitzer Prize winner, born in Neenah
William C. Hansen, educator and politician
Howard Hawks, film director, Rio Bravo, Red River, The Big Sleep
William Hawks, film producer
Christopher T. Hill, author and theoretical physicist
Zuhdi Jasser, medical doctor, activist, policy board member
Dick Jorgensen, NFL referee, Super Bowl XXIV
Frank Bateman Keefe, U.S. Representative
Kris Kelderman, MLS player and assistant coach
John A. Kimberly, a founder of Kimberly-Clark
Judith Klusman, politician
Peter Konz, NFL Player
Wayne Kreklow, NBA player, head coach of the Missouri Tigers women's volleyball team
Nels Larson, politician and businessman
Henry Leavens, politician
Rich Loiselle, MLB player
Ernst Mahler, chemist and business leader
David Martin, politician
Azel W. Patten, businessman and politician
Charles H. Pfennig, politician
Roger Ream, educator
Reid Ribble, politician
Nathaniel S. Robinson, physician and politician
Mike Rohrkaste, politician and businessman
John Schneller, NFL player
Richard J. Steffens, politician
John Stevens, inventor of the roller flour mill
John Strange, lieutenant governor of Wisconsin
Kenneth E. Stumpf, Medal of Honor recipient
Konrad Tuchscherer, professor
Ryan G. Van Cleave, author and educator
Edwin Wheeler, politician and jurist
John Whitlinger, tennis player, born in Neenah
Tami Whitlinger, WTA player
Edwin A. Williams, legislator, educator, businessman, mayor