Reedsburg, Wisconsin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Reedsburg
City
Downtown Reedsburg
Location of Reedsburg in Sauk County, Wisconsin.
Reedsburg Location in Wisconsin
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Sauk
Named for	David C. Reed
Government
• Type	Mayor-council
Area
• Total	6.04 sq mi (15.65 km2)
• Land	5.93 sq mi (15.36 km2)
• Water	0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,984
• Density	1,653.0/sq mi (637.96/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Zip Codes	53958, 53959
Area code(s)	608
FIPS code	55-66800
Website	www.reedsburgwi.gov

Reedsburg is a city in Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Baraboo micropolitan area. In 2020, about 9,984 people lived there. The city is surrounded by the Town of Reedsburg. It is also located along the Baraboo River.

Before European settlers arrived in the 1800s, the Ho-Chunk people lived in this area. Reedsburg became a village in 1868. It was named after an early settler, David C. Reed.

History of Reedsburg

Early Days of Settlement

Early settlers came to this area because of its rich natural resources. There was a lot of lumber available. In 1844, the first copper mine was started here, but it closed soon after. James W. Babb and his wife Rebecca Scarff Babb were among the first recorded settlers. They moved their family from Ohio to Wisconsin in 1845.

They settled near a place 55 miles northeast of Mineral Point. The Winnebago people had long known this spot as a good place to cross the Baraboo River. Babb left a flat-bottomed boat there to help move supplies.

In 1847, David C. Reed built a dam and a small house at "Babb's Ford." This house was for the workers building the dam. A sawmill was built in June 1848. By 1850, there were five small houses called "Shanty Row." These first buildings were not very strong. They were built on swampy land near the Baraboo River. Main Street would later be built where "Shanty Row" once stood.

Reedsburg was officially mapped out in 1852. Four years later, the community had grown to 50 buildings. These buildings housed 27 families and 122 people. The first bridge over the Baraboo River was built in 1853. It was located where the Main Street bridge is today. In 1854, the Mackey brothers bought Reed's sawmill. This helped the local economy grow. As the town grew, more farms developed nearby. They grew many different kinds of crops.

Late 1800s Growth

Reedsburg was governed as a town until 1868. Then, it became an official village. In May 1887, it became a city. In the 1860s, growing hops brought a lot of money to the area for a short time. After the hops market crashed, farms started to grow different crops. Reedsburg became known for its grain and dairy products. The Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) arrived in 1872.

In the 1870s, Main Street began to develop. Grocery stores, banks, and other businesses opened in Reedsburg. In 1880, the Reedsburg Brewing Company was started. As the city grew, more industries came to Reedsburg. On December 1, 1883, the Webb and Schweke department store opened. It was known as the "Big Store." This store became the largest department store in Sauk County. The City Hotel opened in 1886. William Roper owned it.

One of the most important businesses was the Reedsburg Woolen Mill. It was finished in 1882. By 1899, it had 32 looms. These looms mostly made "fancy cassimeres" for markets in Chicago.

Reedsburg Woolen Mill in 1921.

The 1900s and Beyond

In 1902, Appleton Woolen Mills bought the Reedsburg mill. It started making clothing for stores on the East Coast. Sears and Montgomery Wards became big customers. In 1910, the Central Wisconsin Creamery opened. This made Reedsburg famous for its butter. In 1954, Appleton Woolen Mills changed its focus to making felts. The Reedsburg business then started making special fabrics. The Big Store burned down in 1957, after 78 years of business. The Reedsburg Woolen Mill was a major employer for a long time. It closed in 1967. Most of the mill complex burned in April 1968. Only the mill office remained.

In 1951, Herbert Webb left a large sum of money for Reedsburg. It was a $300,000 trust fund. This is worth over 4 million dollars today. He also set aside money for Webb Park and Webb High School. These are on the northeast side of Reedsburg. He passed away in 1954.

Another important business was the Hankscraft Company. It started in Madison in 1920. Hankscraft made baby bottle warmers and other baby products. It grew a lot during the baby boom after World War II. In 1949, it opened a plant in Reedsburg. In 1970, Gerber Products Company bought Hankscraft. It then started making baby food. Hankscraft was the second largest employer in Reedsburg. Only the Reedsburg Woolen Mill employed more people.

In the 1980s, the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad came to Reedsburg. They bought the old C&NW railroad track. In 1996, Gerber Products Company sold Hankscraft Motors. This company still operates in Reedsburg today. Other important businesses have included Grede Foundry, Seats, Inc., and the Columbia Par Car Corporation.

In 1971, the first Butter Festival was held in Webb Park. It is now known as Butterfest. This festival celebrates the farming and dairy industry. In 1984, the Main Street Commercial Historic District and the Park Street Historic District were added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1993, 22 miles of the C&NW rail line became the Wisconsin 400 State Trail. This is a hiking and biking trail. It was named after a passenger train that traveled 400 miles in 400 minutes.

Reedsburg in the 2000s

Fermentation Fest started in 2010. It is an annual event that celebrates Reedsburg's farming history. As part of this event, Harvest Park was created in 2014. It is a downtown park with a decorated farm machine called "Ruminant."

The Baraboo River flooded in 2008 and 2018. These floods damaged several homes and businesses. Because of the flooding, two new parks were created. They are Mackey Park and the Community Market.

Geography and Natural Features

Reedsburg is in northern Sauk County. It is about 55 miles (89 km) north of Madison, Wisconsin. The city is located on the 90th meridian west. This is at 43.533854 degrees North, 90.002902 degrees West. A pink quartzite marker on Main Street shows this special location. It says "325 feet east of this point lies the 90th meridian." The marker was put there on October 14, 1963. The Kiwanis Club donated and set it up.

The United States Census Bureau says the city has a total area of 5.93 square miles (15.36 km2). Of this, 5.83 square miles (15.10 km2) is land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km2) is water. The Baraboo River flows through the city.

Lake Virginia is a small lake on the east side of Reedsburg. Lake Redstone and Dutch Hollow Lake are two reservoirs nearby. They are in the town of La Valle. Babb Creek, Hay Creek, and Copper Creek all flow through Reedsburg. These creeks are branches of the Baraboo River. Babb Creek was named after early settler James W. Babb. Hay and Copper Creek were named for the farming and mining history of Reedsburg.

Population and People

2020 Census Information

According to the census of 2020, Reedsburg had 9,984 people. The city had about 1,684.8 people per square mile (650.5/km2). There were 4,433 homes. The average density of homes was about 748.1 per square mile (288.8/km2).

Most of the people were White (88.3%). About 1.3% were Black or African American. About 1.0% were Native American. About 0.7% were Asian. About 3.7% were from other races. And 5.0% were from two or more races. About 7.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2010 Census Information

In the census of 2010, there were 9,200 people living in Reedsburg. There were 3,795 households and 2,357 families. The population density was about 1,578.0 people per square mile (609.3/km2). There were 4,103 housing units. The average density of homes was about 703.8 per square mile (271.7/km2).

The racial makeup of the city was mostly White (95.3%). About 0.6% were African American. About 1.0% were Native American. About 0.4% were Asian. About 1.6% were from other races. And 1.1% were from two or more races. About 4.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

About 34.5% of households had children under 18 living with them. About 46.0% were married couples living together. About 11.2% had a female head of household with no husband. About 5.0% had a male head of household with no wife. And 37.9% were not families. About 31.9% of all households were single people. About 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household had 2.41 people. The average family had 3.04 people.

The average age in the city was 35.7 years. About 27% of residents were under 18. About 7.5% were between 18 and 24. About 28.2% were from 25 to 44. About 22.4% were from 45 to 64. And 14.9% were 65 years or older. The city had slightly more females (51.6%) than males (48.4%).

City Infrastructure

Reedsburg has the Main Street Commercial Historic District. It also has the Park Street Historic District. These areas have commercial and residential buildings built between 1873 and 1920. The Chicago and North Western Depot was built in 1906. It connected Reedsburg to the Twin Cities 400 train line. Today, it is the main office for the 400 State Trail. This biking and hiking trail starts in Reedsburg and ends in Elroy, Wisconsin. It follows the old Twin Cities 400 train track. Sound Devices company has its main office in Reedsburg.

Webb Park

Parks in Reedsburg

Reedsburg has 18 parks within the city. City Park is the oldest park. David C. Reed, the city's founder, donated it in 1848. Webb Park is another large park. It was named after Herbert H. Webb, who gave a lot of money to Reedsburg. Webb Park has the city's swimming pool and splash pad. It is next to Webb Middle School. The woods behind Webb Park are called the Roger Popple Nature Area. This area has several trails and a disc golf course.

Transportation Options

Reedsburg Municipal Airport

State Highways 33 and 23 run along Main Street. State Highway 136 ends in Reedsburg. You can easily get to Interstate 90/94 nearby. The city also has the Reedsburg Municipal Airport (C35). Some city roads have special lanes for bicycles. There are also marked bike routes through major parts of town. The Wisconsin and Southern Railroad uses the old C&NW track. You can also get a ride using the Reedsburg Taxi Service, which offers "dial-a-ride" service.

Education in Reedsburg

Reedsburg High School

The School District of Reedsburg has several schools. It has two elementary schools for students from pre-kindergarten to second grade. There is one intermediate school for students in grades 3 through 5. The district also has one middle school and one high school. There is a regional campus of Madison Area Technical College on the west side of Reedsburg.

Famous People from Reedsburg

• Clare Briggs, a comic strip artist
• Edward Dithmar, a former lieutenant governor of Wisconsin
• Alexander Preston Ellinwood, a Wisconsin politician, businessman, and teacher who lived in Reedsburg.
• John Harrington, a professional football player
• Charlie Kavanagh, an MLB (Major League Baseball) player
• Timothy Mahr, a composer and conductor, and a music professor at St. Olaf College
• Agnes Moorehead, an actress
• Saul Phillips, the head coach for the North Dakota State Bison men's basketball team
• Albert O. Sorge, a Wisconsin State Representative
• Henry W. Sorge, a Wisconsin State Representative
• Warren Weaver, a scientist

See also

In Spanish: Reedsburg (Wisconsin) para niños