York, Green County, Wisconsin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids York, Wisconsin
Town
Location in Green County and the state of Wisconsin.
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Green
Area
• Total	36.0 sq mi (93.2 km2)
• Land	36.0 sq mi (93.2 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	1,053 ft (321 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	605
• Density	16.8/sq mi (6.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	608
FIPS code	55-89475
GNIS feature ID	1584494

York is a town in Green County, Wisconsin, United States. In 2010, its population was 910 people. The small community of Postville is part of the town. Also, the historic site of Farmers Grove, which is now a ghost town, was once located here.

History of York

Early Settlers and Naming

The first people to settle in York arrived around 1838 or 1840. Many of them were "Yankees" from New York. When Wisconsin became a state in 1848, the Town of York was named after these settlers from "York State."

The first local government board was elected in 1850. Many of these early pioneers are buried in Green's Prairie Cemetery. However, many also moved further west in the next 30 years, as moving west was a popular idea at the time.

Norwegian Immigration

Starting in 1851, Norwegian families began to settle in the northern and western parts of York. This area had more woods and hills. The Yankees had not settled these areas much, so the Norwegians could buy government land.

The hills and valleys reminded the Norwegians of their homeland. While some hilltops were open prairie, the wooded hillsides and valleys with their streams felt familiar. The land was good for farming and did not have many rocks. The clean water from many springs was also a big reason they chose to settle here.

Norwegian Community and Health

The Norwegian people in York were part of a larger settlement called the Norwegian Blue Mounds settlement. This area connected with other towns like Perry and Primrose.

Some earlier Norwegian settlements had problems with diseases like malaria. These diseases were linked to flat, swampy land and unclean water. In York, however, fresh water flowed constantly from the hills. The Norwegians chose this area for its good health and comfort.

Churches and Community Life

In 1855, a Norwegian Lutheran church group formed in York. They started building their church in 1861 at the crossing of what are now Hwys 39 and 78. Later, the group split into two because they disagreed on a religious topic. Another church was built across the road in 1885. These two churches became known as "Old York" and "York Memorial."

Meanwhile, the Yankee settlers built two churches in Postville in 1868. One was for a Free-Will Baptist group, and the other was for a Methodist group that had been holding services since 1842.

A sawmill operated from 1855 to 1868 on the east side of Sawmill Creek. It provided wood for building homes as more people settled in the area.

Post Offices and Mail Service

By the early 1900s, York had three post offices:

• Stewart (in Postville)
• Ula (at the Ula farm)
• Bem (at Strahm's Corners)

The very first post office, called Farmer's Grove, opened in 1846. Its location moved several times as different postmasters ran it from their homes. Mail was brought by stagecoach from Mineral Point to these stations on its way to Monroe. Between 1900 and 1904, the post offices combined. Mail then started being delivered directly to homes by rural routes from nearby towns.

Farming and Industry Changes

At first, wheat farming was the main business for all settlers. But by the 1870s, tiny bugs, overused soil, and lower prices made wheat farming less profitable.

Dairy farming, especially for making cheese, saved the farmers. Between 1876 and 1888, many cheese factories were built in almost every valley. These factories brought Swiss cheesemakers to the town. Swiss farmers had already started settling in the eastern part of York. There were at least 14 cheese factories in York, including York Prairie, Postville, and Farmer's Grove.

Population Changes Over Time

In 1840, only seven people lived in York. By 1860, the population grew to 904. The town reached its highest population in 1870 with 1,088 residents. Many people continued moving west, but new immigrants, especially from Norway and Switzerland, helped keep the population steady until 1900.

After 1900, the population began to drop. This was mainly because families became smaller and people moved to larger villages and cities. The population kept decreasing until it reached a low of 509 residents in 1990.

Geography of York

York covers an area of about 36.0 square miles (93.2 square kilometers). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large lakes or rivers within the town's borders.

Population Information

Based on the 2000 census, there were 605 people living in York. This means there were about 16.8 people for every square mile. Most of the people living in York were White (99.34%).

There were 216 households in the town. About 38.4% of these households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (74.5%) were married couples.

The average age of people in York was 38 years old. About 27.1% of the population was under 18.

The average income for a household in York was $50,833. A small number of families (1.6%) and people (1.9%) lived below the poverty line.

Notable People from York

Many interesting people have connections to York:

• Carl Martin Bergh: An immigrant from Norway who helped other Scandinavian families move to the Norge, Virginia area. He lived in York as a child.
• Hiram Gabriel: A Wisconsin state legislator (a person who makes laws for the state). He was also the chairman of the York Town Board.
• Elisha T. Gardner: The first white settler in York. He later became a lawyer and a state senator (another type of state legislator).
• William Comstock Green: Another Wisconsin state legislator who lived in the town.
• Isaac Milo Kittleson: He was the Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin, from 1920 to 1925. He spent most of his childhood in York.
• Todd Larson: An elected official for the Green County Board of Supervisors. He also worked for the United Nations and was appointed to a position by President Obama.
• Robert M. La Follette: A famous Wisconsin politician. His father and sibling are buried in Green's Prairie Cemetery in York.
• Oscar R. Olson: A state senator.
• Ezra Wescott: A Wisconsin state legislator who served as a magistrate (a type of judge) for the town.
• Walter S. Wescott: Another Wisconsin state legislator who lived in York.

See also

In Spanish: York (condado de Green, Wisconsin) para niños