Spooner, Wisconsin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Spooner
City
Downtown Spooner
Nickname(s):  Crossroads of the North
Location of Spooner in Washburn County, Wisconsin.
Spooner Location in Wisconsin
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Washburn
Area
• Total	4.27 sq mi (11.06 km2)
• Land	4.03 sq mi (10.45 km2)
• Water	0.24 sq mi (0.61 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,573
• Estimate  (2020)	2,573
• Density	637.8/sq mi (246.26/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	715 & 534
FIPS code	55-75625

Spooner is a city in Washburn County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,573 at the 2020 census. The city is located mostly within the southwest corner of the Town of Spooner, with a small portion extending into the Town of Beaver Brook on the south, the Town of Bashaw on the southwest, and the Town of Evergreen on the west. The city's nickname, "Crossroads of the North", is a reference to the city's location at the junction of two U.S. highways, 53 and 63, and State Highways 70 and 253.

History

Originally a town in the year 1889, and thereafter officially incorporated a city in the year 1909, Spooner's history is closely interlaced with that of railroad history. In the year 1879, the North Wisconsin Railway was constructed due north of the present-day city of Spooner. Following that, the operations of that railroad were moved south where it then joined the Chicago and North Western at what was then called Chicago Junction.

The community, then initially only a station, was named by the general superintendent for the Chicago and North Western, Edwin W. Winter, for John Coit Spooner (1843 - 1919), who at the time was a distinguished railroad attorney from what is now the city of Hudson in St. Croix County, northwestern Wisconsin. Spooner would later serve in the Wisconsin State Assembly and represent Wisconsin in the United States Senate (1885–1891, 1897–1907). He was a well favoured politician of his time and even served as advisors to U.S. Presidents Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Eventually, the lines were absorbed by the Chicago & North Western Railroad. Passenger service ended in the early 1960s under the CNW ownership. In 1992, the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad was incorporated, to serve as a freight hauler from Spooner to Trego, a nearby town, with a connection to the CNW. Although the freight idea didn't work out, they began operating successful passenger excursion trains in 1997 (following the example of the nearby Duluth & Northern Minnesota Railroad which began passenger excursions in Duluth only a few years before), and were an instant success. The passenger trains were very successful, and after the 1995 takeover of the CNW by the Union Pacific, UP in 1998 announced intentions to abandon the line from Hayward Junction where it connected to the Wisconsin Central 13 miles (21 km) to the north through Spooner all of the way down to Chippewa Falls. The company bought the portion of the line between Spooner and Hayward Jct in 1999, which greatly expanded passenger operations. To this day they run very popular robbery, western style, cowboy, and buffet style as well as more formal dinner trains. More recently, the Great Pumpkin train nearly sold out and now runs annually around the time of Halloween. The old CNW Spooner Railroad Depot now serves as the town's Railroad Memories Museum.

The city was also once the hub of the Omaha Railroad Line. Its economy was once centered on the railroad and the two main lines that joined there.

Geography

Spooner is located at 45°49′33″N 91°53′28″W / 45.82583°N 91.89111°W / 45.82583; -91.89111 (45.825941, −91.891116).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.52 square miles (9.12 km²), of which, 3.29 square miles (8.52 km²) is land and 0.23 square miles (0.60 km²) is water.

Climate

Spooner has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb), typical of northern Wisconsin with warm, humid summers and relatively long, cold winters.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 2,573 people, 1,266 households, 669 families, and 1,289 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% White, 0.3% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.65% from other races, and 5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.7% of the population.

There were 1,266 households, of which 20.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 42.7% were living alone, and 47.4% had at least one person 60 years or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.58.

The median age in the city was 47 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 53.2% were between the ages of 18 and 65; and 26.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.4% male and 49.6% female.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,682 people, 1,180 households, and 666 families residing in the city. The population density was 815.2 inhabitants per square mile (314.8/km²). There were 1,302 housing units at an average density of 395.7 units per square mile (152.8 units/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.1% White, 0.3% African American, 1.9% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 1,180 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.6% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.84.

The median age in the city was 41.6 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 21.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.6% male and 54.4% female.

Attractions

An exhibit hall in the Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum. Two canoes built by J. H. Rushton, Canton, New York, are along the left wall, and the red canoe was built by B. N. Morris, Veazie, Maine.

The Railroad Memories Museum is located in the former Chicago & North Western Railroad Depot.

The Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum, a museum dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the cultural heritage of canoes and canoeing in North America, has displays of canoes and canoe-related ephemera.

The Railroad Memories Museum has a large collection of historic material and memorabilia.

Each July since 1954, Spooner has hosted the Heart of the North Rodeo, which draws thousands of fans to the area. In addition to the rodeo each evening, there is a Saturday afternoon parade, live music every night, and the cowboy church service on Sunday morning, held outdoors at the rodeo arena.

The Jack Pine Savage Days is a local festival that features live bands, an annual fun run, a 3 on 3 basketball tournament, a horseshoe tournament, and a volleyball tournament.

Jack O' Lantern Fest is an October festival that revolves around giving back to kids and families. Multiple inflatables, fundraising walk, pumpkin roll, pet costume contest, carnival games, baking contest, pumpkin carving contest and more.

Notable people

• Guy Benson, mayor and legislator
• Felmers O. Chaney, civil rights leader
• Frank Hammill, farmer, mayor, and legislator
• John Lanzendorf, renowned hairstylist, philanthropist, and one of the world's largest collectors of dinosaur art<refhttps://chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2022/6/3/23151045/john-lanzendorf-hairstylist-dinosaur-art-collector-society-vertebrate-paleontology-peter-makovicky]</ref>
• Hal O'Halloran, radio announcer and singer
• Travis Randall, actor, musician, and director
• Holger Rasmusen, mayor and legislator

See also

In Spanish: Spooner (Wisconsin) para niños