kids encyclopedia robot

Peshtigo, Wisconsin facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Peshtigo
City
Peshtigo from former U.S. Route 41
Peshtigo from former U.S. Route 41
Location of Peshtigo in Marinette County, Wisconsin.
Location of Peshtigo in Marinette County, Wisconsin.
Peshtigo is located in Wisconsin
Peshtigo
Peshtigo
Location in Wisconsin
Country  United States
State  Wisconsin
County Marinette
Area
 • Total 3.08 sq mi (7.99 km2)
 • Land 2.91 sq mi (7.54 km2)
 • Water 0.17 sq mi (0.44 km2)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 3,502
 • Estimate 
(2019)
3,345
 • Density 1,148.30/sq mi (443.43/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s) 715 & 534
FIPS code 55-62175
Bird's eye view of Peshtigo, Wisconsin Sept. 1871. LOC 93681235
Pestigo map before fire, September 1871
PeshtigoFireCemetery
Peshtigo Fire Cemetery

Peshtigo is a city in Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,502 at the 2010 census. The city is surrounded by the Town of Peshtigo. It is part of the Marinette, WI–MI Micropolitan Statistical Area. Peshtigo is most famous as the site of the Peshtigo fire of 1871, in which more than 1,200 people perished.

History

Name

Peshtigo took its name from the nearby Peshtigo River. The etymology of Peshtigo is uncertain. Explanations include an Ojibwe word meaning 'river of the wild goose', a Menominee word for 'snapping turtle', a word meaning 'passing through a marsh', or a reference to a local Menominee band known as Pesh-tiko.

Peshtigo Fire

On October 8, 1871, a forest fire driven by strong winds totally consumed Peshtigo along with a dozen other villages, killing 1,200 to 2,500 people and charring approximately 1.5 million acres (6,000 km²). This fire, known as the Peshtigo Fire, is the deadliest in American history. Unidentifiable remains of hundreds of residents were buried in a mass grave at the Peshtigo Fire Cemetery. The Peshtigo Fire Museum features several items that survived the fire, plus other artifacts from the area's history.

This fire happened on the same day as the Great Chicago fire, the Holland, Michigan fire, the Port Huron Fire of 1871, and The Great Michigan Fire in Manistee, Michigan.

Geography

Peshtigo is located at 45°3′13″N 87°44′45″W / 45.05361°N 87.74583°W / 45.05361; -87.74583 (45.053759, −87.746028).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.20 square miles (8.29 km2), of which, 3.03 square miles (7.85 km2) is land and 0.17 square miles (0.44 km2) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 1,719
1910 1,975
1920 1,440 −27.1%
1930 1,579 9.7%
1940 1,947 23.3%
1950 2,279 17.1%
1960 2,504 9.9%
1970 2,836 13.3%
1980 2,807 −1.0%
1990 3,154 12.4%
2000 3,357 6.4%
2010 3,502 4.3%
2019 (est.) 3,345 −4.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 3,502 people, 1,469 households, and 888 families living in the city. The population density was 1,155.8 inhabitants per square mile (446.3/km2). There were 1,621 housing units at an average density of 535.0 per square mile (206.6/km2). The racial makup of the city was 96.8% White, 0.1% African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2%.

Of the 1,469 households 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.6% were non-families. 35.4% of households were one person and 14.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.82.

The median age was 43.2 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 25.4% were from 45 to 64; and 22.5% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

Modern culture

The fictional character Caroline Duffy from the TV show Caroline in the City is from Peshtigo. The town was mentioned on the show many times.


Education

The Peshtigo School District provides public education for the Peshtigo area.

St. John Lutheran School is a Pre-K–8 grade school of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Peshtigo.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Peshtigo (Wisconsin) para niños

kids search engine
Peshtigo, Wisconsin Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.