Tomah, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tomah
|
|
|---|---|
|
City
|
|
Downtown Tomah
|
|
Location of Tomah in Monroe County, Wisconsin
|
|
 Tomah
Location in Wisconsin
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Monroe |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.26 sq mi (21.39 km2) |
| • Land | 7.84 sq mi (20.30 km2) |
| • Water | 0.42 sq mi (1.10 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 9,570 |
| • Density | 1,221.1/sq mi (471.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
54660
|
| Area code(s) | 608 |
| FIPS code | 55-80075 |
| Website | www.tomahonline.com |
Tomah is a city located in Monroe County, Wisconsin, in the United States. In 2020, about 9,570 people lived there. It's surrounded by two towns, the Town of Tomah and the Town of La Grange.
Contents
History of Tomah
Tomah was started by Robert E. Gillett in 1855. It officially became a city in 1883. The city is named after Thomas Carron, a trader from Green Bay. He lived with the Menominee tribe and was known as Chief Tomah. People believed he once held a tribal meeting in the area, so they named the settlement after him.
In 1891, a special school for Native American children began to be built in Tomah. The government paid for this school. The Tomah Indian Industrial School opened in 1893 with six Ho-Chunk children. It became a very important school in Wisconsin for Native American students. The school aimed to help students learn about white American culture. They learned English and Christian teachings instead of their own traditions. Children from places like North Dakota and Oklahoma attended this school. The school closed in 1941. A report in 2024 found that two students who died at the school have been identified.
Tomah has three important places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the old Tomah Post Office, the Tomah Public Library, and the Tomah Boy Scout Cabin.
Geography of Tomah
Tomah is located on the South Fork of the Lemonweir River. This river flows into the larger Lemonweir River, which then joins the Wisconsin River. On the west side of the city, the river forms a lake called Lake Tomah. Council Creek also flows through the east side of the city and meets the river.
The city is where the hilly Driftless Area meets the flat, sandy land of what used to be Glacial Lake Wisconsin. Tomah is at about 43.985 degrees North and 90.503 degrees West.
The United States Census Bureau says Tomah covers about 7.86 square miles (20.36 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 7.46 square miles (19.32 square kilometers). The rest, about 0.40 square miles (1.04 square kilometers), is water.
People of Tomah
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 837 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,245 | 48.7% | |
| 1890 | 2,199 | 76.6% | |
| 1900 | 2,840 | 29.1% | |
| 1910 | 3,419 | 20.4% | |
| 1920 | 3,257 | −4.7% | |
| 1930 | 3,354 | 3.0% | |
| 1940 | 3,817 | 13.8% | |
| 1950 | 4,760 | 24.7% | |
| 1960 | 5,321 | 11.8% | |
| 1970 | 5,647 | 6.1% | |
| 1980 | 7,204 | 27.6% | |
| 1990 | 7,570 | 5.1% | |
| 2000 | 8,419 | 11.2% | |
| 2010 | 9,093 | 8.0% | |
| 2020 | 9,570 | 5.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2020
In 2020, Tomah had 9,570 people. This means there were about 1,221 people for every square mile. Most people in Tomah (85.8%) were White. Other groups included Black or African American (3.2%), Native American (2.1%), and Asian (1.5%). About 4.7% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
Most adults (92.3%) in Tomah have finished high school. Also, about 23.3% have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Population in 2010
In 2010, Tomah had 9,093 people. About 31.3% of homes had children under 18 living there. The average age in Tomah was 38 years old. About 24.9% of residents were under 18. The city had slightly more males (50.2%) than females (49.8%).
Transportation in Tomah
Tomah is an important place for travel because Interstate 90 and Interstate 94 meet or split here. These are major highways in the United States. I-90 goes west towards La Crosse, Wisconsin, and I-94 goes north towards Eau Claire, Wisconsin and the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Other important roads like US Highway 12 and State Highways 21, 16, and 131 also pass through Tomah. Because of all these roads, Tomah has many restaurants and places to stay for travelers.
Trains
Tomah is served by freight trains from Canadian Pacific and Union Pacific. It also has passenger train service from Amtrak. The Tomah station is a stop for Amtrak's Empire Builder train once a day in each direction.
Buses
You can take a bus from Tomah to La Crosse three times a day with Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit. Inside the city, the Tomah Shared Ride Taxi offers on-demand rides. Greyhound Lines also has a bus stop in Tomah for longer trips.
Airport
Bloyer Field airport (Y72) serves Tomah. It is located about 1 mile east of the city.
Education in Tomah
The Tomah Area School District serves Tomah. More than 3,000 students attend schools in this district. The district has seven elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, an alternative school, and a Montessori Public Charter School.
Elementary Schools
- Camp Douglas Elementary (grades 2-5)
- LaGrange Elementary (grades 4K-5)
- Lemonweir Elementary (grades 4K-5)
- Miller Elementary (grades K-5)
- Oakdale Elementary (grades 4K-1)
- Tomah Area Montessori School (grades 4K-4)
- Warrens Elementary (grades 4K-5)
- Wyeville Elementary (grades K-5)
Middle School
- Tomah Middle School (grades 6-8)
High School
- Tomah High School (grades 9-12)
Alternative School
- Robert Kupper Learning Center (grade 6-age 20)
Tomah also has two private schools: Queen of the Apostles (grades 4K-8) and St. Paul Lutheran School of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (grades preK-8).
Parks and Recreation
Tomah has 11 parks where people can play and relax. There is also a citywide trail for walking or biking. The city has an aquatic center for swimming and water fun. The Tomah Parks and Recreation Department organizes many sports and activities for kids and adults.
Notable People from Tomah
- Adelbert Bleekman, a Wisconsin State Senator
- Herbert Eugene Bolton, a famous historian; he graduated from Tomah High School
- Charles K. Erwin, a Wisconsin State Senator
- Anne Nicol Gaylor, an advocate for certain causes
- Glenn L. Henry, a lawyer and member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- Jay R. Hinckley, a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- Miles Hineman, a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- William Washington Howes, the first Assistant Postmaster General of the United States
- Kyle Kenyon, a lawyer and lawmaker
- Frank King, who created the comic strip Gasoline Alley; he grew up in Tomah.
- Mike Murray, a mayor of Tomah
- Frank Augustus Miller, who built the Mission Inn in California
- Lewis T. Mittness, a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- Charles Quigg, a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and a doctor
- Arthur Claude Ruge, an engineer
- John Emmet Sheridan, an illustrator, was born in Tomah.
- Kenneth E. Stumpf, who received the Congressional Medal of Honor
- Ed Thompson, a former mayor of Tomah and political candidate
- Bert D. Thorp, a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- James Tormey, a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo, an author and the first Samoan female educator in Tomah
See also
In Spanish: Tomah (Wisconsin) para niños
