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Wonewoc, Wisconsin
Downtown Wonewoc, July 2019
Downtown Wonewoc, July 2019
Location of Wonewoc in Juneau County, Wisconsin.
Location of Wonewoc in Juneau County, Wisconsin.
Country  United States
State  Wisconsin
County Juneau
Area
 • Total 1.12 sq mi (2.89 km2)
 • Land 1.12 sq mi (2.89 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
961 ft (293 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 816
 • Estimate 
(2019)
788
 • Density 705.46/sq mi (272.49/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s) 608
FIPS code 55-88525
GNIS feature ID 1576954

Wonewoc is a village along the Baraboo River in Juneau County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 816 at the 2010 census.

History

The name “Wonewoc” is of Indigenous American origin, probably meaning "howling hills". However, at the time of colonization, the site and subsequent town were known to the native Hocąk (Winnebago) people as Wonį́wąk, which in their language means, "wicked, bad." How this site received such a name is lost to prehistory. George and Lucinda Willard first settled the area in 1851. The town was incorporated as a village in 1878, and once the railroad was built village growth exploded. The population of the town was largely settled by Yankee colonists from New England, according to the 1860 census.

When the railroad era ended Wonewoc’s growth halted. Wonewoc is now a quiet, scenic town known for its beauty and close-knit community.

Geography

Wonewoc is located in the southernmost part of Juneau County, in an unglaciated region of Wisconsin. The resulting landscape is filled with jagged bluffs, with the scenic Baraboo River flowing next to the town.

The Wonewoc Formation was first described here and named for the village.

Wonewoc is located at 43°40' North, 90°14' West (43.654, -90.223).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.11 square miles (2.87 km2), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 635
1890 619 −2.5%
1900 811 31.0%
1910 789 −2.7%
1920 798 1.1%
1930 717 −10.2%
1940 793 10.6%
1950 961 21.2%
1960 878 −8.6%
1970 835 −4.9%
1980 842 0.8%
1990 793 −5.8%
2000 834 5.2%
2010 816 −2.2%
2019 (est.) 788 −3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 816 people, 359 households, and 215 families residing in the village. The population density was 735.1 inhabitants per square mile (283.8/km2). There were 406 housing units at an average density of 365.8 per square mile (141.2/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.9% White, 0.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 359 households, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.1% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.84.

The median age in the village was 40.8 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.2% were from 25 to 44; 26.1% were from 45 to 64; and 19.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 46.3% male and 53.7% female.

Religion

The Wonewoc Spiritualist Camp is in Wonewoc. Within the village are three churches: United Methodist Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and St. Jerome’s Catholic Church.

Tourism and recreation

Wonewoc is the midpoint of the 400 Trail, one of the area's many trails used by bikers, hikers, horse riders and snowmobile enthusiasts. The Baraboo River is used for canoeing and kayaking, as are the nearby lakes, Dutch Hollow and Lake Redstone, which also offer fishing, swimming, and other water sports. Wonewoc has a public pool, camping, and parks.

Notable people

  • Belle Case La Follette, whose father was from Wonewoc, married Robert M. La Follette, Sr., governor of Wisconsin and United States senator.
  • Job Grant pioneer, farmer and legislator.
  • Clinton G. Price, lawyer and politician. Assassinated in 1930.
  • North Dakota Governor Elmore Yocum Sarles was born in Wonewoc.
  • Robert Schulz jazz and Dixieland cornetist.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Wonewoc (Wisconsin) para niños

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