Bayfield, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Bayfield is a city in Bayfield County, Wisconsin
, United States
. The population was 611 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Henry Bayfield, a British Royal Topographic Engineer who explored the region in 1822-23.
Wisconsin Highway 13 serves as a main arterial route in the community. It is a former county seat, lumbering town and commercial fishing community, which today is a tourist and resort destination. There are many restaurants, hotels, bed & breakfasts establishments, specialty shops, and marine services.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), of which 1.14% is water.
Bayfield is considered the main gateway to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
, a world famous freshwater sailing
, boating
and kayaking
destination on Lake Superior
. Madeline Island
, the largest of the Apostle Islands and the only one with private residences, is another popular destination near Bayfield.
of 2000, there were 611 people, 289 households, and 167 families residing in the city. The population density
was 703.3 people per square mile (271.2/km²). There were 403 housing units at an average density of 463.8 per square mile (178.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.92% White, 0.65% Black or African American
, 15.22% Native American, 1.31% from other races
, and 5.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.49% of the population. 10.5% were of American
, 10.1% German
, 9.4% Norwegian
, 8.1% Irish
, 7.4% Swedish and 5.4% English
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 289 households out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 41.9% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.64.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 33.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,266, and the median income for a family was $36,500. Males had a median income of $34,375 versus $25,875 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,377. About 10.5% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
, which is known as Gete-oodena ("Old-town"), in reference to the Ojibwa
migration.
The Bayfield Maritime Museum and Bayfield Heritage Museum are the city’s two museums. There are several art galleries.
Bayfield’s annual Apple Fest draws about 40,000 visitors during the first weekend in October. Its Race Week Regatta is in early July.
, WBSZ
and WJJH
. Television stations come from the Duluth-Superior market; KDLH
, KBJR, WDSE and WDIO.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 611 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Henry Bayfield, a British Royal Topographic Engineer who explored the region in 1822-23.
Wisconsin Highway 13 serves as a main arterial route in the community. It is a former county seat, lumbering town and commercial fishing community, which today is a tourist and resort destination. There are many restaurants, hotels, bed & breakfasts establishments, specialty shops, and marine services.
Geography
Bayfield is located at 46°48′41"N 90°49′13"W (46.811524, -90.820297).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), of which 1.14% is water.
Bayfield is considered the main gateway to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a U.S. national lakeshore consisting of 21 islands and shoreline encompassing 69,372 acres on the northern tip of Wisconsin on the shore of Lake Superior....
, a world famous freshwater sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
, boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
and kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
destination on Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
. Madeline Island
Madeline Island
Madeline Island is an island of the U.S. state of Wisconsin located in Lake Superior approximately two miles northeast of Bayfield, Wisconsin, and connected to that town seasonally by a 20 minute ferry ride or an ice road. It is the largest of the Apostle Islands, although it is not included...
, the largest of the Apostle Islands and the only one with private residences, is another popular destination near Bayfield.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 611 people, 289 households, and 167 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 703.3 people per square mile (271.2/km²). There were 403 housing units at an average density of 463.8 per square mile (178.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.92% White, 0.65% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 15.22% Native American, 1.31% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 5.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.49% of the population. 10.5% were of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 10.1% German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 9.4% Norwegian
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
, 8.1% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 7.4% Swedish and 5.4% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 289 households out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 41.9% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.64.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 33.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,266, and the median income for a family was $36,500. Males had a median income of $34,375 versus $25,875 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $18,377. About 10.5% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
History and Culture
The city of Bayfield is known in the Anishinaabe language as Oshki-oodena ("New-town"), opposed to Superior, WisconsinSuperior, Wisconsin
Superior is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 26,960 at the 2010 census. Located at the junction of U.S. Highways 2 and 53, it is north of and adjacent to both the Village of Superior and the Town of Superior.Superior is at the western...
, which is known as Gete-oodena ("Old-town"), in reference to the Ojibwa
Ojibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
migration.
The Bayfield Maritime Museum and Bayfield Heritage Museum are the city’s two museums. There are several art galleries.
Bayfield’s annual Apple Fest draws about 40,000 visitors during the first weekend in October. Its Race Week Regatta is in early July.
Local Media
Bayfield receives three radio stations from Ashland; WATWWATW
WATW is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk format. Licensed to Ashland, Wisconsin, USA, the station is currently owned by Heartland Communications Group, LLC....
, WBSZ
WBSZ
WBSZ is a radio station broadcasting a New Country format. Licensed to Ashland, Wisconsin, USA. The station is currently owned by Heartland Communications Group, LLC, and features programing from ABC Radio and Westwood One....
and WJJH
WJJH
WJJH is an American radio station broadcasting a mainstream rock format as "Real Rock J96." Licensed to Ashland, Wisconsin, USA, the station is currently owned by Heartland Communications Group, LLC, and features programing from ABC Radio, CBS Radio and Westwood One.Studio and transmitter are...
. Television stations come from the Duluth-Superior market; KDLH
KDLH
KDLH is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Iron Range area of Northeastern Minnesota that is licensed to Duluth. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 33 from a transmitter west of downtown in Hilltop Park. Owned by the Malara Broadcast Group, the station is...
, KBJR, WDSE and WDIO.
Notable residents
- Laurie E. CarlsonLaurie E. Carlson-Biography:Carlson was born Laurie Edwin Carlson on January 12, 1908 in Bayfield, Wisconsin. He attended Northland College, where he was a member of the varsity basketball team, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Carlson was also active in promoting the sport of curling and in his local...
, Wisconsin State Assemblyman, 1937-42, born in Bayfield - Norris J. NelsonNorris J. NelsonNorris J. Nelson was a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council from 1939 to 1943, after which he served in Europe with the U.S. Army.-Biography:...
, Los Angeles City Council member, 1939–43, born in Bayfield