Phelps, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phelps, Wisconsin
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Location of Phelps, Wisconsin
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Vilas |
| Area | |
| • Total | 108.8 sq mi (281.8 km2) |
| • Land | 94.9 sq mi (245.7 km2) |
| • Water | 14.0 sq mi (36.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,736 ft (529 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,238 |
| • Density | 13/sq mi (5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 715 & 534 |
| FIPS code | 55-62425 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1583917 |
| Website | http://townofphelps.com/ |
Phelps is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. In 2020, about 1,238 people lived here. The small community of Phelps is also located within the town.
Contents
People of Phelps
In 2019, about 1,010 people lived in Phelps. This was a bit less than in 2010. Most people in Phelps are White, but there are also Native American, Asian, and African American residents. Some people are also of Hispanic or Latino background.
Phelps is a town with many families. Most households are families, often with married couples. There are also many older people who are widowed.
The people living in Phelps are generally older. The average age is 60 years old. About half the population is male and half is female.
The average yearly income for a household in Phelps was about $40,060. Most of this money comes from wages, but some also comes from investments, retirement, and social security. The cost of living in Phelps is similar to the average for the United States.
Most people in Phelps (92%) have finished high school. About 22% have a college degree or higher. The Phelps School district has a high school and an elementary school. There are also other schools nearby, like Northwoods Community Secondary School.
Geography of Phelps
The Town of Phelps is in the northeast part of Vilas County, right next to the border with Michigan. The Wisconsin River starts in the northwest corner of the town, at a place called Lac Vieux Desert.
A large part of Phelps is inside the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The town covers about 108.8 square miles (281.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 14 square miles (36.2 square kilometers) is water, like lakes and rivers.
Phelps Climate
Phelps has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold, snowy winters.
| Climate data for Phelps, Wisconsin | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −7 (20) |
−5 (23) |
3 (37) |
11 (52) |
18 (64) |
23 (73) |
26 (78) |
23 (74) |
19 (67) |
12 (54) |
3 (38) |
−3 (26) |
11 (51) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −19 (−2) |
−19 (−2) |
−14 (7) |
−3 (26) |
2 (35) |
8 (46) |
11 (51) |
8 (47) |
5 (41) |
1 (33) |
−6 (21) |
−13 (8) |
−3 (26) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 30 (1.2) |
25 (1) |
38 (1.5) |
58 (2.3) |
81 (3.2) |
100 (4.1) |
94 (3.7) |
100 (4) |
99 (3.9) |
66 (2.6) |
51 (2) |
36 (1.4) |
780 (30.8) |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
Fun Things to Do in Phelps
Phelps is a great place for outdoor activities. Many hunting and fishing clubs are located here, including the old Big Sand Lake Club. People love to visit the resorts and enjoy the many lakes in the town.
Hiking and camping in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest are also very popular. Every summer, there's a big softball tournament in Wavering Park. For Independence Day, many people watch a fireworks show over the lake from their boats.
History of Phelps
The Chippewa Indian people first lived in the area that is now Phelps. In the early 1700s, French trappers and fur traders came to the area. Lac Vieux Desert was an important meeting point for this trade.
Because there were so many trees, the logging business started here in 1896. Many people from Finland moved to the town between 1906 and 1912, which made the population grow a lot. The town was first called Hackley. In 1912, it was renamed Phelps after William Phelps, who was a partner in a logging company.
Getting Around Phelps
Phelps has several roads that help people get around. Wisconsin Highway 17 (WIS 17) goes through the town and connects to Michigan. This highway also links to US Highway 45 and WIS 32 near Eagle River.
There are also three Vilas County trunk highways:
- County Trunk Highway E (CTH-E) starts in Phelps and goes northwest to Lac Vieux Desert.
- CTH-K follows the north shore of North Twin Lake.
- CTH-A connects to WIS 55 in Nelma.
Healthcare in Phelps
Phelps has fewer doctors than the average for Wisconsin. There are about 22.4 primary care doctors for every 100,000 people, while the state average is 75.6. This means it can be harder to find a doctor in Phelps.
The area is also considered a "medical desert" for mental health care, meaning there are not enough mental health professionals. Experts believe that by 2035, Phelps will have a big shortage of doctors.
See also
In Spanish: Phelps (Wisconsin) para niños
