Waupun, Wisconsin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Waupun, Wisconsin
City
Waupun water tower
Nickname(s):  City of Sculptures, Prison City
Location of Waupun in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Dodge, Fond du Lac
Area
• Total	4.68 sq mi (12.12 km2)
• Land	4.62 sq mi (11.97 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Elevation	892 ft (272 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,344
• Density	2,455.4/sq mi (948.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	53963
Area code(s)	920
FIPS code	55-84425
GNIS feature ID	1576324

Waupun is a city located in the state of Wisconsin, USA. It sits across two counties: Dodge and Fond du Lac. In 2020, about 11,344 people lived there. Waupun is sometimes called the "City of Sculptures" because of the many artworks found around town. It's also known as "Prison City" because it's home to a large state prison.

History of Waupun

How Waupun Started

Waupun was founded in 1839 by Seymour Wilcox. He was the first person to settle along the Rock River in this area. John Bannister, a surveyor, had told him the Rock River Valley was very beautiful and fertile.

Wilcox explored the land in late 1838. In February 1839, he returned with two men, John N. Ackerman and Hiram Walker. They were interested in the strong river and good land. They quickly built a small shelter and then a proper cabin for Wilcox's family. Wilcox went back to Green Bay to bring his family. They arrived in Waupun on March 20, 1839.

The name Waupun comes from the Ojibwe word "Waubun." This word means "the east," "the morning," or "dawn of day." The city was originally meant to be spelled "Waubun." However, the state of Wisconsin made a spelling mistake, and the name was never changed.

Early Days of the City

The first town election happened in 1842 at the Wilcox home. Only eleven votes were cast back then. Fifteen years later, when Waupun became a village, 323 votes were cast in its first election. Because the village grew steadily, it became a city on March 15, 1878. John N. Ackerman was chosen as the first city mayor.

In 1851, Waupun was chosen as the location for the State Penitentiary. This was because there was a lot of limestone nearby, which was good for building. The main prison building was finished in 1854 and is still used today.

The Milwaukee & Horicon Railroad reached Waupun in 1856. This railroad line was later sold and became part of "The Milwaukee Road." This company served Waupun until 1980. After that, the line was sold to Wisconsin and became the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad.

The Waupun Library Association started in 1858. William Euen and Edwin Hillyer helped create it. Hillyer managed the library from his insurance office for 37 years without pay. In 1895, the city took over the library. It moved to a room in the Whiting Theater. In 1900, the Waupun Women's Club helped make it a free public library. The Waupun Carnegie Library was built in 1904 with money from Andrew Carnegie. This building is now the Waupun Heritage Museum. A new library building was built in 1968, which is the current Waupun Public Library.

In 1847, the Town of Waupun had a population of 956 people. By 1875, the village of Waupun had grown to 1,867 people.

Waupun During World War II

In 1945, Waupun was chosen to host a German prisoner of war (POW) camp. Even though some people didn't like the idea, the camp was built next to a canning factory. The prisoners were brought to Wisconsin to help with a shortage of workers. There were about 200 POWs at the Waupun camp. They worked for local factories and farms, helping with food production.

Geography and Nature

Waupun is located at 43°37′54″N 88°44′9″W / 43.63167°N 88.73583°W / 43.63167; -88.73583. The city covers about 4.68 square miles (12.12 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

The land in Waupun is moderately hilly. Its lowest point is about 870 feet (265 meters) at the Rock River. The highest point is about 941 feet (287 meters) above sea level.

Waupun is very close to the Horicon Marsh. This is the largest cattail marsh in the United States. It's a great place to watch wildlife. The city is a main entry point for visiting the Horicon Wildlife Refuges.

Fond du Lac County Park is on the edge of Waupun. This park has a preserved section of old-growth forest. This type of forest once covered a huge area of Southern Wisconsin. The park also offers camping for visitors.

People and Population

Population in 2020

In 2020, Waupun had a population of 11,344 people. This means there were about 2,455 people per square mile. There were 3,863 homes in the city.

The population was made up of different groups. About 80.7% of people were White. About 12.8% were Black or African American. Other groups included Native American, Asian, and people of two or more races. About 4.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average income for a household in Waupun was about $55,621. For families, it was about $67,078. About 7.7% of all people in Waupun lived below the poverty line. This included 7.1% of those under 18 years old. Most adults (84.7%) had finished high school or higher. About 16.3% had a bachelor's degree or more.

Population in 2010

In 2010, Waupun had 11,340 people living there. There were 3,485 households. About 30.8% of households had children under 18. Many households (50.1%) were married couples.

The average age in Waupun was 36.4 years. About 17.6% of residents were under 18. About 61.0% of the population was male and 39.0% was female.

Getting Around Waupun

U.S. Highway 151 goes around Waupun, with four exits into the city. The old route of Highway 151 is now called Business Highway 151. Other state highways like WI 26, WI 49, and Wisconsin 68 also pass through Waupun. Several county highways serve the area too. The city is also served by the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad.

Schools in Waupun

Waupun is part of the Waupun Area School District. This district includes several schools:

• SAGES (School for Agriculture and Environmental Studies), located in Fox Lake.
• Meadow View Primary
• Rock River Intermediate
• Waupun High School

All schools except SAGES are located within Waupun. There is also a private school in the city called Central Wisconsin Christian High School.

Waupun's Economy

Waupun has been home to several important businesses. Alto Dairy Cooperative, a dairy company owned by farmers, was sold in 2008.

National Rivet, a company that makes rivets (a type of fastener), has been in Waupun for over 90 years. Its related company, the Shaler Company, was also based there.

Culture and Art

End of the Trail statue

The City of Sculpture

Waupun is famous for its collection of outdoor sculptures. These artworks were created by Clarence Addison Shaler. He was a local manufacturer, inventor, and sculptor. Some of his famous sculptures include "The Dawn of Day," "Who Sows Believes in God," "The Pioneers," and "The Recording Angel."

A bronze copy of the well-known End of the Trail statue by James Earle Fraser is in Shaler Park. Shaler asked for this copy to be made in 1926. The statue shows a Native American person slumped on a horse. It represents the challenges faced by Native American people. It was officially placed in the park on June 23, 1929.

Notable People

Images for kids

• 

  City Hall, constructed in 1928.

• 

  Former Waupun Public Library, now a museum, registered historic place.

• 

  Waupun sign on WIS 68.

• 

  Central Wisconsin Christian School.

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  Martin K. Dahl House.

See also

In Spanish: Waupun (Wisconsin) para niños