Rib Lake (town), Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rib Lake, Wisconsin
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Town
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Rustic Road #1, near James Lake
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Location of Rib Lake, Taylor County, Wisconsin
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Taylor |
| Area | |
| • Total | 74.9 sq mi (193.9 km2) |
| • Land | 74.0 sq mi (191.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.9 sq mi (2.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,581 ft (482 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 768 |
| • Density | 10.4/sq mi (2.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 715 & 534 |
| GNIS ID | 1584017 |
| PLSS township | T33N R3E, eastern 2/3 of T33N R2E, and northern half of T32N R3E |
Rib Lake is a town located in Taylor County, Wisconsin, in the United States. In the year 2000, about 768 people lived there. The village of Rib Lake is completely surrounded by the town.
Contents
Geography of Rib Lake
The town of Rib Lake covers about 74.9 square miles (193.9 square kilometers). Most of this area, 74.0 square miles (191.7 square kilometers), is land. The rest, 0.9 square miles (2.2 square kilometers), is water, including lakes and rivers.
Land Features and Glaciers
The northern part of Rib Lake has hills formed by the last glacier. This glacier pushed and shaped the land, creating a line of hills called a terminal moraine. You can find small glacial lakes and flat areas called ice-walled lake plains here.
The south-central part of the town has a type of soil called Merrill till. This soil was left behind by a much older glacier. Over time, this older glacial land flattened out. Some areas along the Big Rib River have sandy soil. This sand was washed out from the last glacier.
History of Rib Lake
The area that is now Rib Lake was first mapped in 1861. Surveyors worked for the U.S. government. They walked through forests and swamps, measuring the land. They used chains and compasses to mark corners.
Early Descriptions and Railroads
In 1862, the surveyors described the land. They said it was "generally rolling" with good soil for farming. They noted lots of hemlock, birch, sugar maple, and white pine trees. They also found many small lakes and streams with clean water.
Around 1873, the Wisconsin Central Railroad built tracks nearby. These tracks went through what would become Medford and Westboro. To pay for the railroad, the company received half of the land along the tracks.
Town Formation and Growth
When Taylor County was created in 1875, Rib Lake was part of other towns. In 1885, Rib Lake became its own separate town.
An 1880 map showed only one main road in the area. It was a wagon road leading to James Lake.
In 1881, J.J. Kennedy started a sawmill in Rib Lake. This mill cut lumber from the surrounding forests. This sawmill helped the village of Rib Lake grow. Around 1883, the Wisconsin Central Railroad built a special track to the village. This track helped carry lumber and other products from the mill. Later, hemlock bark was also important. It was used by a tannery in Rib Lake.
Developing Roads and Settlements
By 1900, more roads and settlers appeared in the town. Roads followed the railroad track to the village. Other roads were built, forming a grid in some areas. Settlers built homes along these new roads. Early schools were also built for children.
By 1911, the roads had grown even more. More settlers had moved to the area. A town hall was built, and schools moved to new locations. Two more sawmills opened near Wood Creek. Large companies like Rib Lake Lumber Company owned much of the land.
The Soo Line railroad also extended its track in 1902. This track went east from Rib Lake and then north. It connected to another railroad line. The Rib Lake Lumber Company used temporary tracks to reach logging camps. They moved these tracks as they cut down trees. This continued until 1948, bringing logs to the sawmill and bark to the tannery.
Rustic Road #1
In 1975, Rustic Road #1 was officially opened. It is a beautiful drive that winds through hills and around lakes. It was the very first official Rustic Road in Wisconsin.
People of Rib Lake
In 2000, the town of Rib Lake had 768 people. The population density was about 10.4 people per square mile. Most of the people living in the town were White (98.31%). There were also small numbers of Native American and Asian residents. About 0.52% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Families
There were 278 households in Rib Lake. A household is a group of people living together. About 33.5% of these households had children under 18. Most households (66.9%) were married couples living together. About 20.9% of all households had only one person living there.
Age Groups
The people in Rib Lake were of different ages. About 27.2% of the population was under 18 years old. About 16.4% were 65 years or older. The average age in the town was 39 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Rib Lake (condado de Taylor, Wisconsin) para niños
