Port Edwards, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Port Edwards, Wisconsin
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Port Edwards municipal building
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Location of Port Edwards in Wood County, Wisconsin.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Wood |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.48 sq mi (16.79 km2) |
| • Land | 5.23 sq mi (13.56 km2) |
| • Water | 1.25 sq mi (3.23 km2) |
| Elevation | 974 ft (297 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 1,818 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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1,763 |
| • Density | 336.84/sq mi (130.05/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Zip code(s) |
54469
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| Area code(s) | 715 & 534 |
| FIPS code | 55-64200 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1571796 |
Port Edwards is a small village located in Wood County, Wisconsin, USA. It sits right next to the Town of Port Edwards. In 2010, about 1,818 people lived there.
Contents
The Story of Port Edwards
Port Edwards was first known as "Frenchtown." In 1869, its name was changed to honor John Edwards, who owned a local mill.
Early Days and Sawmills
The village started around a sawmill built in 1829. It was first owned by Grignon and Merrill. Later, John Edwards Sr. and his partner, Henry Clinton, bought the mill in 1840. Their business, the Edwards and Clinton Company, became very successful.
John Edwards Sr. eventually owned the whole business by 1862. He renamed it John Edwards and Company. His son, John Jr., took over managing the business a few years later. John Edwards Sr. passed away in 1871.
In the 1860s, the community was small. It had a store, a blacksmith shop, a school, two boarding houses, and several white homes.
From Sawmill to Paper Mill
By the late 1800s, most sawmills in central Wisconsin were closing. John Edwards Sr.'s son-in-law, Lewis M. Alexander, took a big chance. He decided to change the sawmill company into a paper mill company. This change was completed in 1896.
It was a tough start, but the paper company eventually did well. The village of Port Edwards officially became an incorporated village in 1902.
Port Edwards Today
The village grew slowly, depending a lot on the mill. Today, you can see many homes from the 1890s to the 1940s that have been kept up. The paper mill closed down in 2008. The local high school is named after John Edwards, the early mill owner.
Where is Port Edwards?
Port Edwards covers about 7.28 square miles (18.86 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 6.03 square miles (15.62 square kilometers). The rest, about 1.25 square miles (3.24 square kilometers), is water.
People Living in Port Edwards
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 136 | — | |
| 1910 | 758 | — | |
| 1920 | 755 | −0.4% | |
| 1930 | 988 | 30.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,192 | 20.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,336 | 12.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,849 | 38.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,126 | 15.0% | |
| 1980 | 2,077 | −2.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,848 | −11.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,944 | 5.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,818 | −6.5% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 1,763 | −3.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2010
In 2010, the village had 1,818 people living in 711 households. About 499 of these were families. The village had about 301 people per square mile (116 people per square kilometer).
Most people in Port Edwards were White (94.9%). There were also smaller groups of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 2.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 32.1% of households had children under 18. Many households (56.4%) were married couples. The average age in the village was 43.5 years old.
What is the Economy Like?
For a long time, making paper was the main job in Port Edwards. The biggest employer was Domtar Inc., which ran the paper mill. However, the mill closed in the middle of 2008.
See also
In Spanish: Port Edwards (Wisconsin) para niños
