Ripon, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ripon, Wisconsin
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Downtown Ripon
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Location of Ripon in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin
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 Ripon, Wisconsin
Location in Wisconsin
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Fond du Lac |
| settled | 1849 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.03 sq mi (13.02 km2) |
| • Land | 4.97 sq mi (12.88 km2) |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.14 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,863 |
| • Density | 1,581/sq mi (610.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 920 |
| FIPS code | 55-68175 |
| Website | cityofripon.com |
Ripon is a city located in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, in the United States. In 2020, about 7,863 people lived there. The city is surrounded by the Town of Ripon.
Ripon is famous for being home to the Little White Schoolhouse. This building is widely known as the place where the Republican Party was first formed.
Contents
History of Ripon
How Ripon Was Founded
Ripon was started in 1849 by David P. Mapes. He used to be a steamboat captain from New York. Just two years later, Ripon grew to include a nearby community called Ceresco.
Ceresco was set up in 1844 by a group called the Wisconsin Phalanx. These settlers were inspired by the idea of "communitarianism." This means they believed in living and working together for the good of everyone.
David P. Mapes also helped start Ripon College. It was first known as Brockway College in 1851.
The city got its name from a cathedral city in England called Ripon, North Yorkshire. John S. Horner, one of the first settlers, chose the name because his family came from there. He also named most of the streets in Ripon. His original house is still standing today.
Birthplace of the Republican Party
On March 20, 1854, a very important meeting happened in a school house in Ripon. About 30 people who were against the Kansas–Nebraska Act met there. This act allowed new territories to decide if they would allow slavery, which many people opposed.
At this meeting, the group decided to create a new political party. They wanted to connect their cause with the ideas of freedom from the Declaration of Independence. This group played a big part in forming the Republican Party in many northern states during the summer of 1854.
While some people wanted to bring back the Missouri Compromise (which limited where slavery could spread) or just stop slavery from expanding, the Ripon group felt that no more compromises with slavery were possible.
The meeting in February 1854 was the very first political gathering of the group that would become the Republican Party. A modern Republican research group, the Ripon Society, is named after Ripon, Wisconsin.
It's worth noting that Jackson, Michigan, also claims to be the true birthplace of the Republican Party.
Geography and Landscape
Ripon is located in the northwest part of Fond du Lac County. The city covers about 5.02 square miles (13.02 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
The land in Ripon is mostly made of a type of rock called dolomite, with some limestone. This means that Ripon's location was once covered by a shallow sea a very long time ago. Because of the type of rock, Ripon is in a "Karst" environment. This means there might be caves or sinkholes underground.
The area around Ripon was also shaped by several ice ages, which left the land relatively flat. The city is part of the Fox River (Wisconsin) watershed, meaning water from Ripon eventually flows into the Fox River.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 2,025 | — | |
| 1870 | 2,976 | 47.0% | |
| 1880 | 3,117 | 4.7% | |
| 1890 | 3,358 | 7.7% | |
| 1900 | 3,818 | 13.7% | |
| 1910 | 3,739 | −2.1% | |
| 1920 | 3,929 | 5.1% | |
| 1930 | 3,984 | 1.4% | |
| 1940 | 4,566 | 14.6% | |
| 1950 | 5,619 | 23.1% | |
| 1960 | 6,163 | 9.7% | |
| 1970 | 7,053 | 14.4% | |
| 1980 | 7,111 | 0.8% | |
| 1990 | 7,241 | 1.8% | |
| 2000 | 6,828 | −5.7% | |
| 2010 | 7,733 | 13.3% | |
| 2020 | 7,863 | 1.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Ripon's Population in 2010
According to the census from 2010, there were 7,733 people living in Ripon. These people lived in 3,053 households, and 1,769 of those were families.
The city had about 1,556 people per square mile (601 people per square kilometer). There were 3,306 housing units, which are homes or apartments.
Most of the people in Ripon were White (94.7%). There were also smaller numbers of African American (0.7%), Native American (0.3%), and Asian (0.8%) residents. About 5.0% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
In terms of age, the median age in Ripon was 37.2 years old. About 20.2% of residents were under 18. About 17.5% were between 18 and 24 years old. The city had slightly more females (52.6%) than males (47.4%).
Local Businesses and Organizations
Ripon is home to some important businesses and organizations:
- Alliance Laundry Systems is a company that makes laundry machines, including the Speed Queen commercial line.
- The National Forensic League (now called the National Speech and Debate Association) is also based here. This organization helps students develop their public speaking and debate skills.
Education in Ripon
Ripon has good educational opportunities:
- Ripon College is a private liberal arts college located in the city.
- Ripon High School serves the younger students in the area.
Transportation Around Ripon
Ripon is connected by several state highways:
- Wisconsin 23
- Wisconsin 44
- Wisconsin 49
Wisconsin 23 West and Wisconsin 49 North lead to Green Lake. Wisconsin 23 East goes to Rosendale and Fond du Lac. Wisconsin 44 North heads northeast to Pickett and Oshkosh. Wisconsin 44 and 49 South share the same road for about 6 miles when leaving town. Wisconsin 44 then goes to Fairwater, and Wisconsin 49 goes to Brandon and Waupun. Fond du Lac County Highway E also serves the town.
Ripon is also the starting point for a special flight path called the Fisk VFR arrival, used by planes heading to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
Famous People from Ripon
- Frank L. Anders, a Medal of Honor winner, went to college and passed away in Ripon.
- Ezekiel Babcock, a farmer and politician.
- Jeanne Bice, a businesswoman and TV personality who started the Quacker Factory clothing line.
- Sarah Powers Bradish, a writer and activist for the WCTU.
- Carrie Chapman Catt, a leader who fought for women's right to vote and was president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association.
- Arthur F. Hinz, a politician.
- John S. Horner, who was acting Governor of Michigan Territory and Secretary of Wisconsin Territory.
- Bruno E. Jacob, who founded the National Forensic League, lived most of his life in Ripon.
- Lewis G. Kellogg, a politician.
- Asa Kinney, an early settler and politician.
- Oscar Hugh La Grange, a general in the Union Army during the Civil War.
- Alonzo A. Loper, a politician.
- Richard Maltby, Jr., a theater director, producer, and writer.
- Gard Miller, a Wisconsin State Representative.
- George Mitchell, a politician.
- Roy E. Reed, a politician and lawyer.
- H. Gordon Selfridge, who founded the famous Selfridges department store in London, was born in Ripon.
- Fred E. Soper, a Wisconsin State Representative.
- William Starr, a Wisconsin State Representative.
- Lyman Wellington Thayer, a politician.
- Clarissa Tucker Tracy, a botanist who taught at Ripon College and studied local plants for 30 years. She passed away in Ripon.
- William D. Turner, a politician.
- Otto Julius Zobel, an inventor known for his work with electrical filters, was born and grew up in Ripon.
See also
In Spanish: Ripon (Wisconsin) para niños
- Ceresco, Wisconsin
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Wisconsin
- Ripon, California — This city was named after Ripon, Wisconsin.
Images for kids
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Ripon City Hall and police department
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Ripon sign looking east on WIS 23
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Ripon College
