Tomahawk, Wisconsin Facts for Kids

This page is about the city. For the town, see Tomahawk (town), Wisconsin.

Quick facts for kids Tomahawk
City
Looking east in downtown Tomahawk
Location of Tomahawk in Lincoln County, Wisconsin
Tomahawk Location in Wisconsin Show map of Wisconsin Tomahawk Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Lincoln
Area
• Total	9.46 sq mi (24.50 km²)
• Land	7.85 sq mi (20.34 km²)
• Water	1.61 sq mi (4.16 km²)
Population (2020)
• Total	3,441
• Density	433/sq mi (167.2/km²)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	54487
Area code(s)	715 & 534
FIPS code	55-80125

Tomahawk is a city in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, United States. In 2020, about 3,441 people lived there. The city is located northeast of the Town of Tomahawk. It is not directly connected to the town.

History of Tomahawk
Geography and Climate
- Local Climate
Population and People
- What the 2010 Census Showed
Getting Around Tomahawk
- Airports Near Tomahawk
Schools in Tomahawk
Fun Things to Do
Famous People from Tomahawk
Images for kids
See also

History of Tomahawk

Before 1837, the land where Tomahawk is today belonged to the Ojibwe people. They traded furs with companies like the American Fur Company. Even after a treaty in 1837, the Ojibwe continued to live and use the land.

There were Ojibwe villages near modern Tomahawk. Treaties in 1854 created reservations for the Ojibwe. But they could still hunt, fish, and gather food on public lands. By 1874, most Ojibwe lived on reservations.

Founding the City

Logging began on the Tomahawk River around 1860. After the American Civil War, this activity grew a lot. By 1880, families lived near where the Tomahawk and Wisconsin rivers meet. This area was known as Bouchard's Station or The Forks.

Tomahawk was officially founded in 1886. This is when construction started for a dam and a railroad. The Tomahawk Land and Boom Company led this effort. William H. Bradley was the main founder of the city.

The company was partly owned by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. The dam built was very large for its time. The city's layout was planned in 1887. Lots of land were sold in Milwaukee that summer. Tomahawk became an official city in 1891.

In just 10 years, Tomahawk grew quickly. It had many stores, a large hotel, sawmills, and a paper mill. Three different railroads served the city.

Key Moments in Tomahawk's Past

Here are some important events in Tomahawk's history:

1897: The first high school class graduated. One graduate, Margaret McBride, became a famous singer in New York City.
1906: William T. Bradley brought the first car to Tomahawk. He was the adopted son of the city's founder and later became mayor.
1914: The first airplane landed in Tomahawk. It landed on north Tomahawk Avenue because there was no airport yet.
1917: Men from Tomahawk joined the army. They formed Company A, 119th Machine Gun Battalion. They went to Europe during World War I.
1929: The famous Mitchell Hotel burned down. A new pump from the Phillips fire department helped save the rest of downtown.
1936: Tomahawk celebrated its 50th anniversary. The governor, Philip La Follette, visited for the event.
1941: The United States entered World War II. Many young people from Tomahawk joined the military.
1951: Einar Ingman received the Medal of Honor for his bravery in the Korean War.
1976: Governor Patrick Lucey visited. He dedicated a new paper machine at the kraft mill and a new bridge on Highway 86.
1986: Tomahawk celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Frenchtown Neighborhood

A part of the city in the south is called "Frenchtown." No one is quite sure why it has this name. However, many early settlers in Tomahawk spoke French. They came from Canada and other parts of the United States. Some early landowners also had French names.

Geography and Climate

Tomahawk is located at 45°28′28″N 89°43′53″W / 45.47444°N 89.73139°W / 45.47444; -89.73139.

The city covers about 9.34 square miles (24.50 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 1.58 square miles (4.16 square kilometers) is water.

Tomahawk is on a bend in the Wisconsin River. A dam here creates Lake Mohawksin. The name "Mohawksin" comes from parts of the names of three rivers that flow into it: the Somo, the Tomahawk, and the Wisconsin.

Local Climate

Tomahawk has a "Warm Summer Continental Climate." This means it has warm summers and cold, snowy winters.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1890	1,816	—
1900	2,291	26.2%
1910	2,907	26.9%
1920	2,898	−0.3%
1930	2,919	0.7%
1940	3,365	15.3%
1950	3,534	5.0%
1960	3,348	−5.3%
1970	3,419	2.1%
1980	3,527	3.2%
1990	3,328	−5.6%
2000	3,770	13.3%
2010	3,397	−9.9%
2020	3,441	1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

What the 2010 Census Showed

In 2010, Tomahawk had 3,397 people living in 1,480 households. The population density was about 437.8 people per square mile. Most residents (96.8%) were White. Small percentages were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 28.1% of households had children under 18. Many households (43%) were married couples. The average age in Tomahawk was 44.8 years old. About 21.5% of residents were under 18, and 21.1% were 65 or older. The population was slightly more female (52.5%) than male (47.5%).

Getting Around Tomahawk

Airports Near Tomahawk

The Tomahawk Regional Airport (KTKV) is three miles west of the city. It handles about 7,200 flights each year. Most of these are small private planes. The airport has one asphalt runway that is 4,401 feet long.

The Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport (KRHI) is also nearby. It offers commercial jet flights and services for general aviation.

Schools in Tomahawk

The Tomahawk School District serves the city. It has three public schools:

Tomahawk Elementary School
Tomahawk Middle School
Tomahawk High School

There is also a Catholic school called St. Mary's Catholic School.

Fun Things to Do

Tomahawk hosts many fun events, especially in the summer. Some popular events include:

The Tomahawk Fall Ride (a motorcycle event)
Pow-wow Days (a celebration for Independence Day)

Tomahawk is also home to the Kwahamot Water Ski Club. This club performs water ski shows regularly in the summer. They also host water ski competitions.